- Title: REUTERS FEATURES: VARIOUS: ROLE MODELS
- Date: 8th August 1995
- Summary: BOUGANIM: "YES, MAYBE I DON'T KNOW I THINK SO. BUT I THINK IT NICE TO SEE ISRAELI GIRLS WORKING OUTSIDE, REPRESENTING ISRAEL, ITS A GOOD FEELING." (ENGLISH)
- Embargoed: 6th July 2005 16:53
- Keywords:
- Location: TEL-AVIV, ISRAEL/ PARIS, FRANCE/ MILAN, ITALY
- City:
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Business,Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Industry,People
- Reuters ID: LVACLCBMOJXFYLQRHZ93MBAAR3IM
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: SUGGESTED INTRODUCTION: Usually associated with violence and confict, Israel also has a more attractive face. Models emerging from there are turning out to be the news stars in the world of international fashion.
This is a part of Israeli life that doesn't make headlines.
Away from the politics and controversy, a different and more attractive export is coming out of Israel, providing the world's fashion industry with a new and original look.
Shiraz Tal is currently Israel's most successful beauty. Based in New-York, she is a familiar figure at all the major shows. Her face sells clothes and make-up, and graces the covers of top fashion magazines.
Betty Rockaway, owner of Israel's largest modelling agency, discovered Shiraz at 13.
CAPTION: BETTY ROCKAWAY, OWNER OF "IMAGE" MODELING AGENCY: "SHE IS THE CLASSICAL BEAUTY, I MEAN SHE IS SOMEONE THAT IF THEY FROZE US AND WE WOKE UP IN ANOTHER 100 YEARS THAT WOULD BE THE LOOK, THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT IT, THE WHITE SKIN, BLUE EYES, THE BROWN HAIR THE ULTIMATE BEAUTY." (ENGLISH) Nina Brosh, can expect to earn over a million dollars a year thanks to her ability to look different at every shoot.
CAPTION: BETTY ROCKAWAY, OWNER OF "IMAGE" MODELLING AGENCY: "SHE IS A VERY GOOD MODEL TODAY, AND SHE PASSES VIDEO GREAT, SHE WORKS VERY QUICKLY, IF ANOTHER MODEL NEEDS EIGHT HOURS SHE CAN DO IT IN FOUR. SHE HAS GREAT VERSATILITY...SHE CAN MOVE, SHE CAN LOOK VERY NAIVE AND YET VERY SEXY, VERY TEMPTING.." (ENGLISH) A favourite with Yves Saint Laurent, 18-year-old Maayan Keret has emerged from the classroom to the catwalks of Paris and New-York.
CAPTION: BETTY ROCKAWAY, OWNER OF "IMAGE" MODELLING AGENCY: "MAAYAN, A RED HEAD, VERY HOT TO WORK WITH RED HEADS HERE IN ISRAEL...SHE CAME IN WITH FRECKLES, NO ONE WAS EXCITED WITH HER AT THE BEGINNING EVEN ME, I SAID THEIR WAS SOMETHING INTRIGUING ABOUT HER AND THAT'S WHY I GAVE HER THE CHANCE, BUT I CANNOT SAY SHE WAS THIS GREAT SMASHING BEAUTY WHEN SHE WALKED IN." (ENGLISH) Compared with the rest of the world, Israel was relatively slow in coming into the fashion limelight.
Michaela Bercu was the first Israeli to appear on the cover Vogue in 1988.
CAPTION: MICHAELA BERCU, ISRAELI MODEL: "IN MY TIME WHEN I STARTED, ISRAEL REALLY LOOKED LIKE A THIRD WORLD FOR THE FASHION BUSINESS, AND IT WAS LIKE 'WOW THE ISRAELI GIRL; THE FIRST ISRAELI GIRL THAT CAME OUTSIDE AND STARTED WORKING.' BUT I SEE THAT IT HAS DEVELOPED SO MUCH AND THE MARKET HAS REALY BEEN OPENED UP ALOT." (ENGLISH) Now, those in the industry say it is time for local models to venture out into the world.
CAPTION: YAKI HALPERIN, ISRAELI FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER: "ONLY NOW WE ARE GETTING TO OUR PLACE IN THE WESTERN WORLD. BEFORE WE WAS TOO CLOSED, TOO NATIVE, TOO AFRAID TO GO OUTSIDE. THE WORLD DIDN'T DISCOVER US AND WE DIDN'T DISCOVER THE WORLD. I THINK ONLY NOW WE'RE GETTING TO OUR PLACE." (ENGLISH) To cater to a growing demand for the Israeli look, modelling agencies have sprouted up throughout the country. Scouts and agents now actively search for the next hot face.
CAPTION: OSCAR DE LA RENTA, FASHION DESIGNER: "WELL I THINK THAT IN THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT EMERGENCE OF ISRAELI MODELS IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET, AND YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL GIRLS HERE AND THERE IS NO REASON WHY YOU SHOUDN'T HAVE THE BEST MODELS TOO." (ENGLISH) One obstacle other supermodels don't have to overcome, can be the biggest hurdle to an Israeli model's career.
Mandatory military service, from eighteen to twenty, can take up a models' best years.
CAPTION: NURIT BAT-YA'AR, FASHION JOURNALIST "YEDITOTH AHARONOT" NEWSPAPER: "IT MIGHT HAVE HELD THEM BACK BECAUSE THEY LIKED THEM VERY YOUNG WHEN THEY START OUT, AND MAYBE NOW THE ARMY IS MORE LENIENT GIVING THEM A CHANCE." (ENGLISH) If there is something special about Israeli models it's the mixture and variety that comes with the wide ethnic blend of the population.
CAPTION: BETTY ROCKAWAY, OWNER "IMAGE" MODELLING AGENCY: "THE MIXTURES ARE SO BEAUTIFUL WE HAVE EVERYTHING HERE, RED HEAD, BLONDE, DARK, VERY DARK ...I'D SAY YOU FIND SUCH COMBINATION ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES AND BRAZIL. ISRAEL, THE UNITED STATES AND BRAZIL ARE THE ONLY COUNTRIES THAT HAVE SUCH COMBINATIONS." (ENGLISH) CAPTION: MICKY MAMON, ISRAELI MODEL: "EACH GIRL IS SO DIFFERENT TO THE OTHER, THAT'S WHY PEOPLE ARE SO FASCINATED BY ISRAELI MODELS."(ENGLISH) CAPTION: OSCAR DE LA RENTA, FASHION DESIGNER: "THERE IS A WONDERFUL LOOK IN THE SENSE THAT THE COLORING...THERE IS ONE GIRL VERY DARK SKIN AND LIGHT EYES I THOUGHT SHE WAS JUST WONDERFUL LOOKING." (ENGLISH) Shirley Bouganim, daughter to Moroccan and Yemenite parents, is already a famous face in Israel. She is said to be the next big success.
CAPTION: SHIRLEY BOUGANIM, ISRAELI MODEL: "YES, MAYBE I DON'T KNOW. I THINK IT'S NICE TO SEE ISRAELI GIRLS WORKING OUTSIDE REPRESENTING ISRAEL, IT'S A GOOD FEELING." (ENGLISH) Israeli men are also enjoying the international attention.
Yaron Fink is constantly seen in television and magazine ads, and this young up-and-coming male model has just started a campagin for Pepsi.
CAPTION: ALON REINHOREN, ISRAELI MODEL: "ONCE IN ISRAEL TO BE A MODEL IT WAS SOMETHING JUST FOR A WOMAN.
YOU KNOW THE STRONG TOUGHNESS OF ISRAELI MEN IT WAS LIKE 'YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE TOUGH, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE AN ARMY MAN. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS WORK AND SWEAT' AND ITS CHANGING. PEOPLE STARTED TO SEE THAT MODELLING IS A PROFESSION AND YOU HAVE TO BE PROFESSIONAL TO BE GOOD AND ITS CHANGING." (ENGLISH) But no matter how big they get, models know their success is temporary. Most invest their earnings back in Israel, none expect to live abroad.
After making the most of their careers, Israeli models always return home. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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