prodijee - July/August 2012

e e j i d pro Issue #4 JULY/AUGUST 2012

HOT

OR WHAT!

See who makes The Sexiest List

L.A. STORY All the best Tinseltown has to offer

RADIO INK

Sydney’s sensational electro-pop trio

FASHION DESIGNER MELINA HOLLWAY

contents 28 Strom Watches

Watches like you’ve never seen before.

30 Victoria’s Secret Sexiest List How many votes did you get?

36 Burberry on film

Burberry’s new stars make their campaign debut

40 Top Tailor - John Cutler Great suits that don’t cost a bomb.

44 Fashion: Winter Brights

Hot colours to warm our coldest season.

46 Swatch Girls Pro Surfing: France Surfing’s new No. 1 confirms her top spot.

52 PiP Comic Illusionist

Australia’s best joke-telling magician and hynotist.

58 Radio Ink

Electro pop band on their way to the top.

66 Celeb Arrivals

Our favourite stars out and about.

\ 68 Model: Laura Zamora Costa Rican beauty.

78 Partying with Playmates

World famous party comes to Melbourne.

82 New Hooters Hottie

ARTIST PROFILES 50 Diana Jimenz 84 John Calado 116 Simone Redfern

Contest voters give a hoot.

166 Nassim Sahili

86 V8 Supercar Nick Percat

REGULARS

Aussie racing’s man to watch.

4

What’s goin’ on

16 Going Postal 18 What’s hot 37 Beauty Road Test 39

Motoring

140 Travel

100 Actor: Rik Barnett Young English thespian heads to Hollywood

110 Fashion Launch: Chitra’s Closet

Take a trip back in time with these amazing vintage style designs.

118 DJ: Andreas Mihalakos

One of our very best DJs tells how he made it to the top.

128 Fashion Designer: Melina Hollway Gold Coast designer creating plenty of attention

what’s goin’ on BEAUTIFUL SOFIA VERGARA, famous in Australia for her role in Modern Family has recently launched a range with Kmart America.

The New York launch of the range ‘Sofia’ was surrounded by a fun and innovative advertising campaign featuring Sofia’s boundless energy and great sense of humour.

Just like the ad itself, the print and television ads were designed with real women in mind who want to feel confident and sexy – women who, the tagline said “Work What You Got”.

“The introduction of the ‘Sofia

by Sofia Vergara’ collection represents a significant milestone in our continued commitment to make Kmart a fashion destination,” said Robin Creen, chief marketing officer of Kmart Apparel.

“As we work to create greater relevance among a young, fashion-conscious customer, we’re focused on not only brands but messaging that will engage that audience.

‘Sofia by Sofia Vergara’ will include sportswear, dresses, handbags, jewellery, and footwear, designed for the young, fashionconscious women looking for the trend-right, must-haves of each

season, including figure flattering styles and fashion-forward prints and patterns. Reflecting Sofia’s unique fashion sensibilities, the brand is a modern and fresh approach to everyday style.

Let’s hope that this range makes it to Kmart Australia. http://www.kmart.com/ shc/s/dap_10151_10104_ DAP_Sofia (make sure you click on the behind the scenes YouTube link when you get to this page – see how Sofia just works ‘sexy’, she is sooooooo hot!)

Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara says her new fashion range is designed with real women in mind.

AUSSIE BAND BLUEJUICE has announced via facebook (www. honda.com.au/civic-sounds-winner) the winner of Honda’s ‘Civic Sounds’ competition – Muhammad Afiq Suradi.

The competition ran through Honda Australia’s website and allowed users to compose a track from sounds produced entirely from the Civic sedan. Bringing ‘symphony in motion’ to life, Muhammad compiled his track, ‘Hitchhiker’, using the interactive soundboard.

Honda Australia’s spokesperson, Lindsay Smalley, said “The competition offered Honda fans an innovative way to interact with the all-new Civic sedan and explore their creativity. Muhammad and a friend will enjoy being flown to Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival for a three day feast of musical talent.”

Muhammad shared his track with five friends via e-mail, entitling him to the top prize package, including airfares to Japan, ten night’s

accommodation, two passes to the Fuji Rock Festival with campsite accommodation and supplies, as well as $5,000 spending money.

Fuji Rock Festival 2012 is held near the base of Mt Fuji at Naeba Ski Resort in Japan and features some of music’s biggest names – including The Kooks, Radiohead and The Stone Roses – across seven stages.

BlueJuice – ‘Civic Sounds’

ambassadors – had a tough decision to make, with more than 500 entries submitted. The Australian duo also created their own Civic Sounds music track and a ‘making of’ video about the experience, that can be viewed at www.youtu.be/Ljn2hH1ktAM To listen to the winning entry and keep an eye out for future competitions, visit www.facebook. com/HondaAustraliaCars

AFTER COMPETING ON The Voice, 24-year-old singer/songwriter from Melbourne, Adam Martin, has announced his tour of the East Coast – the Fly Away Tour.

Adam’s love for music began when he performed in family theatre productions, but it wasn’t until he was 19 that he picked up a guitar.

In 2009 Adam signed a management contract with Global Artist Management and spent the next twelve months focussing on writing and recording.

Adam was described by his The Voice mentor, Keith Urban, as someone who has won the hearts of many Australians and has “a great

organic authentic vulnerability”.

Rival team guest mentor, Benji Madden of Good Charlotte, said “That kid is a huge star, he’s got something going on”.

TOUR DATES: Sunday July 29th The Metro Theatre (Lic/All Ages) Sydney Saturday Aug 4th Spensers Live (U18) Melbourne Saturday Aug 4th Spensers Live (O18) Melbourne Sunday Aug 12th The Old Museum (All Ages) Brisbane http://www.myspace.com/ adammartinmusic

GETTY IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHER Adam Pretty has won the 2012 Canon AIPP Australian Professional Photographer of the Year.

Adam claimed the title with his stunning portfolio of black-andwhite images of swimming and diving, which also won the Sports category.

In addition to the prestigious award, Adam won $20,000 in Canon EOS professional photography equipment. His winning portfolio was shot on Canon EOS-1D Mark IV and EOS

5D Mark II digital SLR cameras.

“The Canon AIPP APPAs are the most sought-after accolade in Australian professional photography and the standard rises each year due to the fierce competition,” said Taz Nakamasu, Managing Director, Canon Australia. “As the No.1 camera brand in Australia, Canon is proud to support the development of professional photographers and bring their work to broader attention as a source of inspiration and enjoyment for all.”

The Canon AIPP APPAs are

PRODIJEE IS DELIGHTED TO welcome Christine Clais to our editorial team.

Christine is a French-born skin expert, educator, speaker and author, with more than 20 years of experience in the beauty industry.

A keen advocate of living well within your skin, Christine is a highly respected and renowned industry leader.

Internationally, Christine Clais is regarded as one of today’s most well respected and sought after facialists.

Specializing in advanced skin care, Christine has treated

Hollywood A-list celebrities. She has made a positive impact on more than 30,000 womens’ lives across the globe, from France to the United States, China and Australia using her methodologies.

As a respected and renowned industry leader in the beauty and skincare industry, Christine actively contributes to corporate presentations, consumer workshops and post graduate industry training.

She is also a key note speaker for a wide range of audiences.

Look for the first of Christine’s insightful columns in the next edition of prodijee.

a celebration of photographic excellence and represent the pinnacle of Australian professional photography – also some of the best in the world.

“The interest in the Canon AIPP APPAs continues to grow each year,” says AIPP Executive Officer, Mr Peter Myers. “Again, the awards have received a record number of entries from photographers from around the country. This year more than 850 photographers submitted over 3,100 images in the competitive awards.”

Conducted by some of Australia’s most recognised photographers, judging for the awards took place over the past three days at the industry’s annual Digital Show.

Each of the thousands of images entered is critiqued in detail by the esteemed judging panel. “As the photographic landscape changes, we need to modify the categories to accommodate the volumes of work we are seeing in other areas,” says Canon AIPP APPAs Chairman and Judge, David Paterson.

In their 36th year, the Canon AIPP APPAs attract a prize pool of more than $60,000 in cash and prizes. www.aipp.com.au

Ruby Rose launches Ducati MELBOURNE’S DUCATI CITY launched the newest Ducati Superbike, the 1199 Panigale at an invitation only launch.

The event was hosted by Scott McGregor (host of Foxtel’s motoring show ‘Blood, Sweat and Gears’, and best known for roles on Neighbours, Winners & Losers and Offspring) and Ducati’s newest ambassador, Ruby Rose, who recently got her license and has become a spokesperson for the new Learner Approved Ducati Monster 659.

Ducatisti (die-hard fans of Ducati), and Melbourne identities were on hand to sample the amazing food and beverages from Going Gourmet and to marvel at Ducati’s newest design feat.

Four years of work with designers and engineers has resulted in the most extreme, most powerful, lightest and most highly advanced

superbike ever developed by Ducati.

The main goals in the new design were to increase power and torque, to enhance rider friendliness and reliability as well as tackle the arch enemy of the Superbike, to decrease weight. The bike has a power-toweight ratio of 1.19hp per kilo, better than any other production bike in the world.

The heart of any superbike is its engine and it was clear to designers from the beginning that the engine had to be 90 degree L-twin Desmo.

Ducati’s engineering history has been built on its understanding of Desmodromics and high performance.

The 1199 is the first Superbike to mount Marzocchi’s new 50mm upside down forks, pressurized and made entirely out of aluminium.

Damping, both compression and rebound, and spring pre-load are fully adjustable, and, compared

to traditional forks, provide record breaking weight reduction. www.frasermotorcycles.com.au

H&M announces collaboration H&M HAS JOINED forces with a French fashion house, Maison Martin Margiela.

The Maison has always followed its own path, often outside the conventional fashion framework.

It believes in the absolute importance of the collaborative nature of its team rather than the individual, where its ideals are founded in the desire for concept and creativity.

Constantly questioning the norms of fashion and presenting its pieces through the technique of deconstruction and transformation, the collections reinvent volumes, modify shapes, change the original use and movement of garments and derail classic notions of fashion.

“Maison Martin Margiela is one of the most important and influential fashion houses of the past three decades”, said H&M creative advisor, Margareta van den Bosch.

“I am so excited by this collaboration, which will give fashion lovers around the world the chance to wear special pieces

by Maison Martin Margiela. This collaboration will be a great and memorable fashion moment.”

The launch of this collaboration,

consisting of garments and accessories for men and women, will be November, 15, 2012 at around 230 H&M stores worldwide as well as online. www.maisonmartinmargiela.com www.hm.com

MICHAELS CAMERA VIDEO Digital has won the 2012 Imaging Dealer of the Year in an awards ceremony held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

For more than 20 years, under the umbrella of PICA, IDEA (Imaging & Digital Entertainment Association) have presented an annual award to recognise a single retailer observed to have achieved the highest pinnacles of success.

Competition is fierce with strict, wide ranging judging criteria.

The Award for Outstanding Professionalism in Photographic and Imaging Retailing is decided on the basis of superior store presentation, store merchandising and forward planning, appropriate staff training and skills, timely account payments, successful and cooperative relationship with supplier company representative and store manager/ owner and quality customer service.

This marks the third occasion

that Michaels has been honoured with the coveted award. In 1988 and 1997 it was presented to Alan Michael (father of current managing director, Peter Michael), and now to Peter in 2012.

“We look forward to continuing to

IN A MAJOR coup for the Deni Ute Muster, Kelly Clarkson is set to headline the 2012 line-up.

Considered to be the perfect choice by organisers and festival goers alike, Kelly will top the line-up of Ute Muster entertainment.

“Kelly is an amazing performer and a genuine crowd pleaser”, said John Harvie, Festival Director - Deni Ute Muster, “We’re thrilled to be welcoming her to Deni.”

Part of Kelly’s appeal is her ability to cross over; her style isn’t easy to pigeon hole. In fact, she became the first ever artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 in the Country Songs, Adult Contemporary, Adult Pop Songs and Dance/Club Play Songs charts.

“Kelly’s talents are broad ranging, just like our festival goers”, said Karla Notley, Marketing Manager – Deni Ute Muster. “Many people love that she won Academy of Country Music Awards for Vocal Event of the Year and Single of the Year this year. But other people tap into her rock-chick or soul-sister side. We think she’s just the right performer to set the stage on fire.”

Kelly Clarkson tops the 2012 lineup at Deni Ute Muster’s Saturday night gig, and will be supported by a

deliver the standards we have been acknowledged for this year and ensuring the bar remains high for customer experience and service”, said Peter Michael. www.michaels.com.au

host of other great acts.

The line-up includes Lee Kernaghan, John Williamson, McAlister Kemp, The McClymonts, Daryl Braithwaite, Morgan Evans, Amber Lawrence, Jayne Denham, Travis Collins, Doug Bruce and the Tailgaters and Bob Corbett.

“Kelly’s popularity will see tickets sell fast this year. Tickets are now on sale, so come along to a fantastic weekend of entertainment”, said John.

Karla added that a new Deni Ute Muster website has just launched, and will improve user experience when purchasing tickets.

“It’s a user-friendly site and easy to navigate. There’s also now an option to pay off their tickets in three instalments.

“There are also more great artists to be announced for this year’s line-up, so stay tuned.” www.deniutemuster.com.au

AFTER BLOWING THE roof off Brisbane in 2011, Sprung Hip Hop festival is back and bursting at the seams with the biggest line up of Aussie hip hop that the country has ever seen.

Moving to its new home at the RNA Showgrounds, this all ages event is carrying some of the biggest guns around and on Saturday November 10 they’re coming out to party.

The most explosive hip hop line-up to come to Brisbane since last year’s Sprung Hip Hop festival is headlined by ARIA winning, number one chart toppers, Hilltop Hoods.

Hilltop Hoods (above) smashed Australia with their platinum album Drinking From The Sun, which debuted at number one on the ARIA charts, and now the godfathers of Aussie hip hop are ready to rock Brisbane.

Joining the Hoods is Illy, who has become one of Australia’s most prominent hip hop acts. His first album, The Chase, debuted in the ARIA top 20 last year and this year sees him release a new album, Bring It Back, which contains his current top 50 single Heard It All. ‘Festival Song’ party man, Pez is back with a brand new live act that incorporates a fully live band. Pez has emerged as one of the most distinctive new voices on the Australian music scene and will have a new album released before Sprung Festival hits the stage – his first album in three years.

TZU is back with a new album, which will be released in August. Joelistics and the boys’ new record will contain the brand new single Beginning Of The End, which incorporates the signature electronic sounds and incisive

lyrics that have made them a mainstay of Australian live hip hop.

Since signing with Golden Era Records, Vents has gained a reputation as having an explosive live show full of raw power and bravado. . With over 54,000 facebook followers and rapidly climbing, Kerser’s popularity is undisputed. His rap battle vs 360 in 2011 has had more than 1.3 million YouTube views. Kerser will release his new single later this year and Sprung Festival will be his only Brisbane show in support of this release.

The legendary BIAS B is ready to introduce a new generation to his raw power and stage presence. Out of retirement, Sprung 2012 will be this Australian Hip Hop pioneer’s only show.

Joining this line up on two giant stages are Mantra, Spit Syndicate, Seth Sentry, the Thundamentals, Briggs and many more on a jam packed roster of 20 of Australia’s best Hip Hop artists.

Tickets are set at a low $77 (+ bf), bringing the price back to what people would have been paying for a ticket to a music festival in the 1990s. Limited advance tickets will be available and on sale to Sprung Hip Hop mail subscribers at $66 (+ bf).

This is the second Sprung Hip Hop festival production from innovative promotions company, Clockwork Entertainment, a group determined to grow the Sprung brand into Australia’s largest touring Hip Hop festival. http://youtu.be/sI17tl5T8tg

Ferrari’s super car for a super star FERRARI HAS BUILT a unique super car for rock legend, Eric Clapton, that celebrates the guitarist’s favourite Ferrari, the Ferrari 512 BB. Developed from the multi award-winning Ferrari 458 Italia, Eric Clapton’s unique Ferrari SP12 EC has been designed by the Centro Stile Ferrari in collaboration with Pininfarina and Ferrari’s engineers.

The SP12 EC was created as homage to Clapton’s career and his long lasting experience as a Ferrari owner.

Meticulous attention in terms of style and technology was paid to the proportions and architecture of the SP12 EC which is part of Ferrari’s Portfolio One-Off Programme – making this exceptional car even more significant. Just like music is

created, applying the right notes in the right places to build a musical score, so was the creative process behind the SP12 EC. The unique Ferrari SP12 EC and passions of the man behind its inspiration are explored in the latest issue of The Ferrari Magazine, copies of which are available from www.ferraristore. com or from the Apple Store as an iPad App.

New courses to take your photography to t CANON AUSTRALIA HAS launched a new education program, Canon Academy, enabling Canon EOS photographers of all levels to take their photography to the next level through an extensive series of face-to-face courses and workshops, and online courses.

Courses range from an “Introduction to DSLR” to an “Advanced e-Learning Course”, as well as specialist workshops in Architecture, Night Photography, Landscape, Studio, Fashion and Portraiture photography.

“Canon’s World of EOS is designed take people’s photography

to the next level through inspiration, creative challenges and skills development at all levels, including the rapidly growing number of first-time DSLR camera users ,” said Rebecca Pearson, Canon EOS Assistant Brand Manager.

“Canon Academy is a natural extension of this experience and we are excited to be providing a comprehensive learning opportunity in a range of formats and locations.

Canon has partnered with URCreative, the photography training division of the Creative Institute of Australia, to lead Canon Academy’s portfolio of courses.

The content will offer a variety of experiences to suit the needs and lifestyles of aspiring photographers as well as those people simply wanting to get more out of their Canon EOS DSLR camera. It will include five types of courses, six workshops and two online offerings in almost 30 locations around Australia to complement the brand’s existing online tutorials available via the Canon World of EOS. Greg Lee-Conway, URCreative Managing Director, says that students will achieve tangible improvements in their fundamental skills as well as an increased

RECORDED IN AUSTIN, Texas, Catherine Britt’s new album Always Never Enough features 13 new recordings (9 of which were written by Catherine) and is her fifth studio album.

Due out August 10, the album was produced by Catherine and Bill Chambers and features collaborations with US Country/ Folk icon and master songwriter,

the next level appreciation for the creative potential of photography.

“Partnering with Canon, the market leader in DSLR photography, enables us to broaden and elevate our learning program with the use of a range of high-quality, dynamic products and accessories,” said Lee-Conway.

“We’re looking forward to continuing to share this experience with a host of new Canon Academy students and enable more budding photographers to realise their creativity.” www.canon.com.au

Guy Clark, and Australia’s favourite indie front man, Tim Rogers.

Others that feature on the album include Grammy Awardwinning producer and musician Lloyd Maines, Carrie Rodriguez, Lucinda Williams’ longtime guitarist Gurf Morlix and Americana artists and musicians, Jimmy LaFave, Eliza Gilkyson, Carrie Rodriguez , Bobby Kallus, Glenn Schuetz, Phil Hurley, John Silva, Chip Dolan, Ray Bonneville and John Blundell.

“My nickname for Catherine is “The Real Deal”. She’s all heart and soul and trouble. She’s a dear, dear friend that I am consistently bedazzled by”, said Tim Rogers.

Since the release of her last album Catherine Britt (2010), Catherine has won numerous awards for her songwriting ability.

Her track Sweet Emmylou won Single Of The Year at this year’s CMAA Awards. It also scored second place in the 2011 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition, sitting in between Kimbra, who took home first prize for Cameo Lover and Gotye who came in third for Somebody That I Use To Know.

Sweet Emmylou also grabbed second place in the Americana

category in the 2011 International Songwriting Competition. This competition had more than 16,000 entries from 112 countries.

“Catherine Britt is absolutely amazing and is without a doubt one the most incredible talents, vocalist and songwriters that I’ve heard in years.... she is a rare treasure”, said Bobby Kallus Catherine, who also hosts the national TV show ‘Alt Country’ on the Country Music Channel, will this month head back to the US, where she was personally invited to perform at this year’s Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, which is held in the small town of Okemah in Oklahoma.

Catherine will join artists such as Billy Bragg, Arlo Guthrie, Judy Collins, Jimmy LaFave, Red Dirt Rangers, Sam Baker, Lloyd Maines, Kevin Welch plus many more to be announced.

Catherine will also head out on tour in August and September to support the release of Always Never Enough. Full details will be announced soon. www.facebook.com/CatherineBrittFans www.catherinebritt.com

ENTHUSIASTS FROM ALL over the world answered the call to party at the MINI Community’s biggest catch-up yet in France.

MINI United 2012, held in Le Castellet, pulled in the MINI faithful from almost 50 countries, who were greeted by a unique combination of live music and car-fuelled action at the Circuit Paul Ricard.

The host circuit of Formula One grands prix proved to be the ideal venue for races in the MINI Trophy and MINI Rushour race series, and

the assembled masses were also treated to a high-class line-up of live music acts and an array of sporting activities.

The programme also included stunt shows, test drives with the latest MINI models and Track Drives, which allowed MINI drivers to steer their own cars around the legendary circuit. A highlight of the weekend was an exclusive preview of the new MINI John Cooper Works GP. Rock legend Iggy Pop had the

German luxury carmaker, Audi, has launched its new film sponsorship strategy for 2012 and beyond, which incorporates all three major Australian Film Festivals; the Sydney Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival and the Brisbane International Film Festival.

Audi has also been the naming sponsor of the Audi Festival of German Films in Australia for five years.

The Sydney Film Festival, held in June, showcased more than 150 Australian and internationally acclaimed films from around the world. More than 120,000 people

visit the festival over its 12-day schedule and the appeal of such a well-supported cultural and community-based platform gave Audi the ideal opportunity to further its involvement in the film industry.

“Audi has supported the Sydney Film Festival with red carpet vehicles since 2008, however this year marks the first year of our new major partner status. The community support is excellent. It’s a festival that really brings people together in the city of Sydney,” Audi Australia’s Managing Director, Uwe Hagen said.

“For our customers, film is high

stage buzzing to the sounds of his band, Iggy and the Stooges, before Paris-based house DJ Martin Solveig whipped the crowd into a dancing throng with his infectious club repertoire.

That was followed on Saturday by a line-up including the punchy punk-pop of Grammy awardnominated duo, The Ting Tings and a sensational set from Gossip reminded us why front woman-cumfashion icon, Beth Ditto, has been anointed the “Coolest Woman on the Planet”.

Records were being broken as well as played in Le Castellet, as the number of enthusiasts from around the world attending the previous MINI United at Silverstone, Great Britain (25,000) was bettered once again this year. 30,000 fans took over the Circuit Paul Ricard during the three days.

Some even drove 6,490 km (4,032 miles) from the outer reaches of Russia to France and they mingled with fellow MINI devotees from the USA, Japan and Canada, who had also etched the event into their calendars. www.mini.com.au

on the list of leisure activities”, Hagen added.

Audi’s sponsorship of the Melbourne festival kicks off with the opening night premiere of The Sapphires on August 2 and the Brisbane Film Festival makes its premiere on November 14.

The Audi brand has been involved in the film industry for many years – from the early days of the oldschool, edge-of-the-seat car chases like the legendary Ronin, to Mission Impossible, the Transporter films, I Robot, About a Boy and Iron Man. www.audi.com.au

FOUNDED IN 2007 in San Francisco, CA, Fitbit is dedicated to delivering simple, innovative health and fitness products and services that help people lead healthier, more active lives.

Fitbit has distribution at leading retailers in the US and Europe, and on July 1 launched its websites and mobile apps in Australia.

Consisting of the Ultra Wireless Activity + Sleep Tracker, the Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scales, Fitbit.com, iPhone and Android apps, the Fitbit system allows everyday activity and fitness progress to be tracked, while wirelessly uploading information to a personal fitness dashboard.

The Ultra Wireless Activity + Sleep Tracker is much more than a pedometer – it measures your allday activity including steps, calories burned, distance travelled and even stairs/hills climbed to encourage

you to be more active. An important factor in a healthy lifestyle, Ultra also monitors how long and how well you sleep.

Worn on your waist, in your pocket or attached to a woman’s bra, Ultra gives you real-time information to motivate you throughout the day, automatically uploading data to your Fitbit.com dashboard whenever you’re within five metres of your computer.

RRP: $119.95. In blue or plum The Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scales not only tracks your weight, but calculates body fat percentage and BMI for up to eight people and wirelessly transmits this information to your Fitbit.com dashboard.

RRP: $149.95. In black or white Stockists: Harvey Norman and other selected stores www.fitbit.com

Boy In A Box inks record deal NEWLY CREATED IMPRINT label FOUR | FOUR, which operates under the ABC Music banner, has signed Melbourne band, Boy In A Box. Boy In A Box was formed in late 2010 when front man Tobias ‘Tij’ Priddle took a job building recording studios and wrote Moon Comes Up for a Blue September cancer awareness campaign on which his boss was helping out.

The band quickly picked up a slew of high rotation songs at triple j and community radio, including Moon Comes Up, Glitter, Gold, Ruin and Longest Road as well as supporting bands such as Birds Of Tokyo, British India and Calling All Cars.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Boy In A Box to the label” said head of ABC Music, Robert Patterson, “they are an amazing live act and have a killer rock sound and energy that is truly captivating.

We look forward to working with them in what is going to be an amazing career”.

It’s been a long wait for Boy In A Box fans to hear new music but the band is back stronger than ever, including full-time band mates (bassist Athan Hewett and drummer Tom Crimmins), armed with a new EP. Titled On My Mind , the 4-track

EP was recorded at Birdland Studios by iconic Melbourne producer Lindsay Gravina (Adalita, Rowland S Howard, The Living End) and will be released Friday, July 6. www.facebook.com/boyinaboxmusic www.fourfourmusic.tumblr.com

RENOWNED MAKEUP ARTIST and Estée Lauder Creative Makeup Director, Tom Pecheux, has inspired a break through new mascara based on his secret backstage technique for a beautiful, wide-eyed look.

In a worldwide first, the new Sumptuous Two Tone Eye-Opening Mascara, brings a dual approach to your lashes. The mascara combines two contrasting shades and two distinctive brushes for instantly lifted, beautiful, bright and more youthful eyes.

Top Lashes – Achieve bold drama on upper lashes with the exclusive BrushComber™ brush, which defines, lifts and thickens even the sparsest lashes with bold, weightless volume while providing a lustrous, rich bold black shade to lashes.

Bottom Lashes – Subtly define your lower lashes with a tiny microbrush specifically designed for hardto-reach lower lashes, accentuating and defining them with a softer,

more subtle, smudge-proof hue.

Sumptuous mascara’s unprecedented Bold Volume™ formula has ultra-light, lash thickening fibres, which lift and fill in even sparse lashes turning them into big, lush lashes that are all lightness

AUDI AUSTRALIA HAS launched a series of exclusive master classes, designed to bring the German luxury carmaker’s brand Ambassadors closer to its customers through bespoke experiences.

The program kicks off in Melbourne

in July with a master class with Shannon Bennett (pictured) of Vue de monde. Up to 14 guests will spend a day in the life of Bennett with a visit, by Audi limousine, to one of the country’s most-prolific, yet boutique truffle farm and wineries, Chestnut Hill, learning the finer points of growing and then harvesting the sought-after fungus.

The group then visits Victoria’s once-stately Burnham Beeches Estate, which Bennett has purchased and will completely redevelop into an organic vegetable garden, bakery and accommodation. Guests finish their day with a three course interactive truffle lunch at the spectacular Vue de monde restaurant on the 55th floor of Melbourne’s Rialto Tower.

“We want to delight our customers”, said Audi’s managing director, Uwe Hagen. “We want to be able to bring the philosophy and the passion of our Ambassadors to our owners through these master class

and flirtatious curl.

Ophthalmologist-tested and safe for contact lens wearers, this product is available at Estée Lauder counters nationwide and at www.esteelauder.com.au Suggested Retail Price: $58.00

experiences. Shannon is the perfect example.

Chef‘s master classes will be held with ARIA’s Matt Moran in Sydney and Brisbane, and Kylie Kwong of Billy Kwong in Surry Hills. Shannon Bennett will also host master classes in Adelaide and Perth.

Design afficionados will have the opportunity to interact with Collette Dinnigan at an exclusive styling master class in Sydney, while theatre-goers will join Richard Roxburgh and Cate Blanchett at a special rehearsal dinner for the cast and crew of Uncle Vanya at Sydney Theatre Company.

Customers keen on sailing will have the opportunity to learn the ropes from world champion sailors, Mat Belcher and Malcolm Page.

Audi’s sailing master classes will be held in QLD during Audi Hamilton Island Race Week and also in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

THE SEARCH IS ON for Australia’s most outstanding film and television performers, practitioners and productions, with the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts calling for entries for the 2013 AACTA Awards.

Entries across all AACTA Awards categories - feature film, short animation, short fiction film, television and documentary - are now open. The Academy is also calling for AACTA Awards jurors.

In a move reflective of the reality television juggernaut, AACTA has announced a new Award for 2013 – the AACTA Award for Best Reality Television Series.

Whilst reality TV productions could previously enter the AACTA Awards under the light entertainment category, the new stand-alone reality TV Award was created to reflect growth, industry talent and innovation in this genre.

“The Australian Academy has created a new Award category dedicated to reality TV in response to the ongoing success and evolution of the genre”, said AFI | AACTA CEO, Damian Trewhell. “Primetime programming is frequently dominated by a plethora of Australian reality TV shows engaging extensive and often enormous audience shares.

“Reality TV now takes out six of the top 10 most watched broadcasts in the last 11 years since OzTam began recording ratings in Australia, bumping sports broadcasts to the second most watched genre.

“The inclusion of a reality TV Award is just one example of AACTA’s commitment to being a modern, adaptive Academy which strives to reflect the changing face of

local screen production through the AACTA Awards.”

More than 50 Awards will be bestowed at the 2013 AACTA Awards, which will recognise excellence across a multitude of screen crafts including screenwriting, producing and acting, through to cinematography, composition and costume design.

The AACTA Awards, which are industry-assessed, aim to increase national and international recognition for Australia’s screen industry.

According to Helen Bowden, one of the producers of the multi-AACTA Award winning TV series, The Slap, being awarded with Australia’s highest screen accolade leads to new opportunities in Australia and abroad.

“We were incredibly proud to win five AACTA Awards for The Slap. As well as bringing more attention to the series in Australia, the AACTA Awards have great impact internationally. Our UK based sales agent for The Slap was literally waiting for a text from us from the Awards Ceremony, so they could pass the news straight on to buyers. They say that peer recognition of excellence is gold in the international market,” Bowden said.

Nelson Woss, producer of RED DOG, which won the Samsung AACTA Award for Best Film, said winning had been a tremendous boost to the film’s DVD release, whilst Daniel Henshall, who took out the AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor for his performance in Snowtown, said winning had already benefited his career.

“Not only is it an amazing honour to get that kind of recognition from my peers, it has also introduced me to many in the industry who had not known me beforehand, creating more opportunities both here and overseas. It has been a great experience thus far,” Henshall said.

In addition to calling for 2013 AACTA Award entries, the Academy is also calling for jurors. Jurors, who must be AACTA members, are screen professionals chosen from a cross-section of crafts, who come together to determine the nominees and winners for various Awards in the following categories: Feature Film Pre-Selection; Documentary; Television; Visual Effects; Young Actor; and Short Fiction Film & Short Animation.

AFI-Award winning actor, writer and director, Nadine Garner, said being an AACTA Awards juror is both rewarding and educational.

“It was a pleasure and a privilege to be a juror for the inaugural AACTA Awards, and a rare opportunity to sit down and view content across many genres and demographics. Being afforded the opportunity to look at all the content we are currently producing was a great education.

“I am heartened and inspired by the number of popular and well crafted productions that Australia has to offer and hope that I am able to continue to contribute to our ever expanding industry,” Garner said.

The 2013 AACTA Awards Ceremony will be held in Sydney in early 2013.

prodijee Editor Darren House darren@prodijee.com Fashion & Accessories Editor Carol Sheridan carol@prodijee.com Art Director Carolyn Stevens Contributing Writers Allan Edwards David Dowsey Angela Anderson Jenna McKenzie Contributing Photographers Matthew Wren Andrew Browne John Doig Michelle McLaren Hair/Make Up Aneta Natevski Advertising advertising@prodijee. com.au Business Support Peter Sheridan IT Support Andrew Browne Published by: prodijee PO Box 4158 Ringwood, 3134, Vic. Australia +613 9870 3816 info@prodijee.com www.prodijee.com

BE GREEN EMBRACE THE SCREEN!

No trees were harmed during the production of this magazine.

Material published in prodijee is copyright and may not be reproduced by any means of duplication without the written permission of the publisher.

going postal HALE HAYLI

I just wanted to say how awesome I think prodijee is for running the story on Hayli-Jade. I enjoyed reading the article because like her, I am no stick insect and gave up my dream of becoming a model because of it. I love that Hayli-Jade has the confidence and attitude to keep going and make her dreams come true.

Kellie Branson London, England.

Ed: We enjoyed telling her story and she was great to work with too.

Let’s hope she makes her overseas dream come true.

GIVE US A GO

Wow, I love what you guys are doing to showcase young talent.

It’s about time someone recognised people who are building careers - until you came along no one in the media gave anyone a go. My only complaint is having to wait two months for the next issue. I wish you came out every month!

Hayden Mills Brunswick, Vic. Australia

Ed: Thanks for the kind words, Hayden. There are so many talented people around, all of whom have great stories to tell and it’s a shame we can’t fit more in each issue.

Going monthly is definitely on the prodijee radar, hopefully sooner rather than later.

DRIVING AMBITION

At last, a non-motorsport magazine that actually appreciates the sport.

Formula One racing is the world’s most watched sport, yet the general media in Australia ignores it. It was great to see you getting behind our great new Aussie F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo, and I particularly liked the way you got to know the person behind the driver. Your story on the Australian Grand Prix last issue was great, too.

Mitchell Clarke Doreen, Vic, Australia

Ed: Not only is Daniel a great driver, he’s a great guy, too. Unlike many in F1, out of the car Daniel loves a joke and doesn’t take himself too seriously. No wonder he’s popular with the fans.

InDaHouse HUBBA HUBBA!

How hot is Alex Geerman?

Whoever chose him to be in prodijee gets two thumbs up from me. And he’s a fellow New Yorker, too! Give me his number and I’ll trade-in my boyfriend!

Jenna Schroder Brooklyn, NY, USA

Ed: We’d love to help you out but the girls in the prodijee office have first dibs on Alex, Jenna but I’m sure you’ll enjoy Alex’s photos for some time to come.

LOVELY LILY

I was already a huge fan of Lily Serna but after reading her story in your last issue I am even more infatuated! Lily comes across as a really down-to-earth person, not a stuck-up star at all. I loved getting to know her through the article and I’m glad you interviewed her in depth rather than doing some lightweight puff piece. And that pic of her with the surfboard is fantastic. Congratulations to your photographer for capturing such a natural image of her. I think you

should have Lily in every issue!

Molly Parsons Subiaco, WA, Australia

Ed: Molly, you wouldn’t believe how many similar emails we got in a similar vein. No doubt all of you were pleased to learn there will be more Lily on TV with her new South, Destination Flavour, also on SBS.

SENSATIONAL SUSAN

You have really unearthed a great new talent in Susan Rep. I love her designs, so modern and elegant, and sexy too, especially the main photo on page 160. I really want to try some on some of her designs; hopefully they make me look as good as the model in the story!

Molly Parsons Blackburn, Vic, Australia

Ed: We were blown away by Susan’s designs too.We’re sure Susan is going to be a big hit in New York.

GOT SOMETHING TO SAY? Send prodijee an email at goingpostal@prodijee.com

We meet dream chasers every day in this business. But even so, sometimes we are reminded of the lengths some people will go to, to make their dreams come true.

While many sit back and wait for things to happen, or lack the necessary dedication and singlemindedness needed to succeed, performers like Rik Barnett demonstrate the ‘whatever it takes’ attitude required to make it to the top.

A 22-year-old Englishman, Rik realised that to become a professional actor, he had to cross the Atlantic to the USA. Leaving his family behind and at times suffering from homesickness, Rik battled through the hard times to graduate from UCLA (drama).

Not only is he now poised to realise his dream, Rik is also close to having a stage play he has written, materialise into a New York production.

You can read more of Rik’s fascinating story on page 100 of this issue of prodijee.

Rik, of course, isn’t alone in making the sacrifices needed to become a success. In the coming issues of prodijee, we will showcase others who are attempting to make it in the toughest entertainment environment on earth.

Of course not everyone who chances their hand will make it big, but then again, not everyone wants to be a star. Many, like Rik, would be happy with a career that simply allowed them to pursue their craft full-time, without the need to earn an income from other sources. If box office success eventuates, then that’s a bonus.

Everyone at prodijee salutes the dedicated young performers who throw caution to the wind to follow their hearts. You are truly an inspiration.

DARREN HOUSE

what’s hot Perfect partnerships Best-selling author Ken Piesse tells the stories of cricket’s most successful and exciting partnerships in his latest book, Dynamic Duos.

Ken uses an easy-to-navigate A-Z format, which allows him to explore the weird and wonderful cricketing pairs through the decades. He playfully includes such combinations as the marital (Jessie and Don Bradman, under ‘B’ for ‘Bradman’s Best’), the explosive (pre-war partnership of Keith Miller and Ray Lindwell under ‘H’ for ‘Hunting in Pairs’) and the record-breaking (Sangakkara and Jayawardene’s battling prowess under ‘O’ for

‘Ohhh, That No-Ball!).

Of course cricket has been blessed to have had so many outstanding combinations, from batting masters Bradman and Ponsford, and Hobbs and Sutcliffe through to modern icons Warne and McGrath.

Dynamic Duos explores them all in a unique and compelling way which will delight both the aficionado and the novice. There’s also a foreword written by former cricketing champion, Matthew Hayden. www.fivemile.com.au

Oris helps save the sea Oris created this unique divers watch with an Oris regulator movement to support the Tubbataha Reefs National Park in the Philippines. A percentage of every Oris Tubbataha Limited Edition model sold is donated towards the conservation of the reef and its astonishing diversity of marine life.

Rising from the volcanic depths of the Sulu Sea in the Western Philippines, Tubbataha Reefs National Park is home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world. These magnificent atolls support an unparalleled variety of marine creatures. Colourful reef fish crowd corals growing in the shallows while sharks and pelagic fish haunt the steep drop-offs to the open sea.

Security is at the essence of this 50 bar/500m water-resistant Oris Tubbataha Limited Edition. With a multi-piece titanium case with crown protection and an automatic Helium valve, every precaution has been taken to ensure this unique Oris regulator movement with a small seconds hand is completely safeguarded.

The blue ceramic bezel inlay and the dark blue dial are also characteristics of the two previous Oris editions that were launched to help protect marine life.

The motif on the back displays a shark, paying homage to the endangered marine creatures, which live in the Tubbataha Reefs. www.oris.ch

Mercedes Benz says size does matter

Big wheels are all the rage in the world of bikes, their geometry offers a host of benefits for novices and experienced cyclists alike.

Mercedes-Benz’s new fitness bike sports wheels with a diameter of 29 inches (including tyres), offering greater traction, smoother running and enhanced riding stability.

The new fitness bike adopts its predecessor's striking frame design and features high-quality components such as a lockable Suntour NRX-D LO suspension fork with 63 mm spring travel, Shimano Deore gears and hydraulic Shimano disc brakes. Ergon handlebar grips, a stem offering angle adjustment and the high-quality Allay saddle ensure ample comfort even on longer trips.

The white/silver colour

combination underscores the sporty character of this bike, which is available in three frame sizes: 49 cm, 52 cm and 55 cm.

The Mercedes-Benz Bike Selection also includes a full-suspension mountain bike, a comfortable trekking bike suitable for everyday use and a high-end racing bike.

The trekking bike with mudguards, luggage rack and a Busch & MĂźller light system including Shimano hub dynamo is a trusty companion both for day-to-day needs and on more extensive leisure outings. The attractively designed trekking bike is available in frame heights of 51 cm and 54 cm. The limited racing bike weighs only 6.9 kg, thanks to its carbon-fibre frame, which is produced according to the tubeto-tube principle. The exclusive

design further includes SRAM Red gear-shifting and brake components and lightweight DT Swiss RR 1450 wheels with an emphasis on plenty of drive. The racing bike is available in frame heights 49 cm, 53 cm, 56 cm, 58 cm and 61 cm in a limited edition of 100.

The Mercedes Benz Bikes Selection is developed and produced in cooperation with Hesse-based premium bicycle manufacturer, ADP Rotwild. The range also offers high-quality bike clothing and practical accessories for cyclists. These products have been developed in cooperation with renowned companies such as deuter sport, uvex, Topeak and Sigma Sport. www.mercedes-benz-accessories.com

Canon Australia has released a new flagship addition to the entry-level EOS digital SLR camera range – the EOS 650D. Sitting above the popular EOS 600D, the new EOS 650D introduces significant quality and performance enhancements to suit hobbyists, while easy-to-use functions allow photography newcomers to take the shots that only a DSLR camera can achieve.

The imaging system is built around a new 18 megapixel CMOS sensor with fast 4 channel read-

out, and the new DiG!C 5 image processor. These combine to deliver continuous shooting speeds of five frames per second, while noise is expertly controlled at ISO speeds up to 12800, expandable to 25600 in H mode.

For the first time in an entrylevel EOS, the AF system adopts a 9 point all cross-type array for superior focusing performance through the viewfinder.

The addition of the dual-cross point in the centre allows for much faster, precise focusing for

Tom Ford has launched Neroli Portofino Eau Fraiche Body Splash, a lighter concentration of Neroli Portofino, the best-selling fragrance from Tom Ford’s Private Blend Collection of unisex, artisanal fragrances.

This refreshing new formula is an invigorating way to wear this scent that was inspired by the cool breezes, sparkling clear waters and lush foliage of the Italian Riviera.

True to Mediterranean tradition, Eau Fraiche is made to be splashed all over the body. Its uplifting and sensuous blend of citrus, floral and amber notes is crafted from

exquisite ingredients: Tunisian Neroli, Italian Bergamot, Sicilian Lemon, Winter Yellow Mandarin, Lavender, Orange Flower, Rosemary and Amber.

Neroli Portofino Eau Fraiche joins Neroli Portofino Eau de Parfum, Body Moisturiser, Body Oil, Shower Gel, Body Scrub and Bath Bar. Eau Fraich Body Splash 236 ml – RRP $190.00 Available in Australia at David Jones city stores & Chadstone only. www.tomford.com

photographers using high-speed f/2.8 lenses.

‘Hybrid CMOS AF’ technology combines the benefits of two different focusing systems – ‘phase detection’ and ‘contrast detection’ – to deliver focusing performance that is fast and accurate for stills and video, even when the subject is moving.

Another EOS first is the Clear View II LCD Monitor featuring ‘Touch Screen’ operation, placing focusing control at the fingertips.

Movie capture is enhanced yet further, with on-board stereo sound, and silent AF performance when used in conjunction with one of Canon’s new ‘Stepping Motor’ lenses.

Those who choose a Canon EOS to begin their photographic journey will find that Intelligent Auto enables them to easily capture superb shots in a variety of conditions.

As they step up to intermediate features such as Creative Auto and other Basic Zone shooting modes, the built-in feature guide will offer enough assistance to help them accomplish their photographic goals. www.canon.com.au

From here to Infiniti Infiniti, the luxury performance automotive brand from Japan and Swiss specialist time instrument maker Bell & Ross have combined to produce the Limited Edition BR02-8 Infiniti Carbon Case Purple 8 Pro Dial wristwatch.

This elegant watch has been designed to mark the continued and successful collaboration between Infiniti and Bell & Ross, two marques renowned for exceptional performance, modern luxury, technical perfection, and a unique ownership experience.

Only 200 examples from the BR02-8 Infiniti Carbon Case Purple 8 Pro Dial series are available for purchase from any of the Infiniti Centres worldwide.

Stylish yet subtle cues drawn from the partnership are evident on this exclusive piece. The seconds pointer and eighth digit which sit

on a matt black dial, sport a photoluminescent finish in the same distinct purple colour employed

by Infiniti across the globe. As a reminder of just how special this watch is, the steel case back has

Deliveries of the Ferrari 458 Spider have started in Australia and New Zealand, but do not expect Ferrari’s no compromise open top supercar to become a common sight with just ten cars arriving before the end of the year due to intense demand around the world.

Unlike so many other open top cars, the Ferrari 458 Spider is not compromised by being able to lower its roof. It is every bit as much a supercar as its coupe cousin, the 458 Italia, with the same remarkable levels of performance, handling and road holding that have been widely lauded.

This has been achieved by a combination of a unique folding roof that has been a decade in the making and a design brief that instructed the engineers to ensure nothing was sacrificed in the conversion to open top motoring.

The Ferrari 458 Spider has

a recommended retail price in Australia of $590,000 excluding statutory charges, dealer costs and delivery. The New Zealand recommended retail price is $585,000, excluding dealer costs and delivery.

been beautifully engraved with the Infiniti signature, discretely complementing the Bell & Ross insignia. www.infiniti.com.

Expressions of interest in the Ferrari 458 Spider have ensured that approximately the first 18 months of production are already spoken for. www.ateco.com.au/

Aged only 22, Cosmo Jarvis will release his third album Think Bigger on July 6. Love This, the lead single from the album is out now and already sitting in the Top 20 iTunes Alternative chart.

Cosmo will arrive in Australia on July 23 for two weeks, visiting Sydney and Melbourne for album launches and instore promos.

Cosmo’s music and films have made him an online phenomenon with his YouTube shorts being viewed almost 3 million times – his contagious shanty single Gay

Pirates, picking up over a million hits alone. It also made it into triple j’s hottest 100 this year.

Cosmo’s work has been described as unique, forthright, human and involving.

The last two albums Humasyouhitch /Sonofabitch and Is The World Strange Or Am I Strange? - have seen Cosmo hightail between many musical styles, but the new album, Think Bigger, sees him adhere to a singer-songwriter template, tinged with alt-country sensibilities and a string section sourced from Ebay.

On top of his new album, Cosmo also finished the movie, The Naughty Room. Check out the trailer here: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=fvTQIjHatIc Whilst the tone of the album maintains a steady musical course, the subject matter on Think Bigger

is intriguingly varied. There’s the roaring folkabilly of Sunshine about contemporary society’s damaging sense of entitlement; the poignant elegy for The Girl From My Village - “about my loathing at the fact she was taken when others who I am certain will do less good with their lives are allowed to keep on breathing” - whilst single-inwaiting Train Down Town is about a dystopian future akin to one of Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror satirical dramas.

The love song Lacie is revealed as an ode to Cosmo’s computer’s external hard drive - “because I am unable to express how thankful I am that while I sleep the contents of my brain are being guarded.”

Cosmo was born in New Jersey to an Armenian-American artist mother and an English sea captain father.

They moved to the UK when he was very small and Cosmo spent his formative years with his mother in Totnes, Devon after his parents split.

His teens were spent getting up to all manner of small town trouble.

He also developed a sideline in writing songs and making films.

Think Bigger is released on 25th Frame, distributed through MGM. www.cosmojarvis.com

Famed for its innovative designs and impeccable craftsmanship, the New York-based luxury accessories brand, Devi Kroell, has released an ultra-modern new wooden clutch.

The clutch is embellished with a unique combination of stingray and ash wood and finished with the signature Devi Kroell roll clasp.

Produced in Florence, Italy, every clutch is carved from perfectly matured wood that is aged for 1015 years. It takes three days to finish, with three different artisans working on it.

Retailing at $2,700, this style is available for purchase at Devi Kroell boutiques in the US as well as select specialty stores worldwide.

A French love letter The Good, The Bad and The Awkward is pianist Sally Witwell’s second album and a unique tribute to the cinematic characters to which she is most attracted - the “incredibly imperfect beautifully blemished and fabulously flawed”.

Sally’s debut Album, Mad Rush, earned her an ARIA for Best Classical Album. Sally was then faced with ‘what next?’ ABC Classics producers spawned the idea of an album of music from French cinema but the concept developed into another beast, thanks to the inspiration of the much-loved French film - Amélie.

The album is a love letter to a collection of characters via the music that has been used to describe them, their feelings and their actions. The ‘cast list’ honoured is diverse and surprising - Anne Frank, Betty Blue, Virginia Wolf, Ada (from The Piano), Mary (from Max and Mary), Salomo (from Bagdad Café), and the vampire, Lestat and of course, Amélie. www.abcmusic.com.au/sally-whitwell

The award-winning Hyundai i20 has received a refreshed new look and specification update, offering an even more energetic and affordable package.

The new model sports a newlook exterior, new six-speed manual transmission and now, standard across the range, Hyundai’s Vehicle Stability Management.

Designed at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the new i20 has adopted the family DNA with the introduction of the signature hexagonal grille.

Flowing body lines are reflected in the redesigned front end with a new sculpted bonnet and complimentary front quarter panels. The side repeater lamps are now integrated in the external mirrors.

The rear of the new i20 looks sharp and stylish, continuing the natural flow of design with the introduction of a new rear bumper design and taillights, while updated wheel designs complete the modern

new look.

The interior has been significantly enhanced as well. New seat trim is matched by a new centre fascia design with piano black inserts. A trip computer and one-touch triple turn indicators are now standard.

Adding to the new i20’s value equation is a new six-speed manual

transmission offering improved performance and efficiency to the range, and Hyundai’s Vehicle Stability Management System (VSM), which provides an added safety feature are standard across the range. www.hyundai.com.au

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Photo: Adrian Carmody

Photo: Nishimachi Photo: Rey Susanto

Highlight, define and dramatize your eyes Limited Edition Pure Color Five Color Gelée Powder Eye Shadow Palette offers a fresh palette of five seductive summer shadows in effervescent metallic sand shades complemented by a sizzling pop of aquamarine in a hot, cyber-metallic finish.

This versatile palette offers ease and flexibility to highlight, define and dramatize your eyes from a shimmering, natural look by day to a truly vivid, sultry look by night Limited Edition Pure Color Intense Kajal Eye Crayon Duo in White Sands/Molten Lava is ideal for creating the ultimate sultry summer eye look. This soft, rich formula glides onto the inner and outer rim of the eye.

For bold drama, define the eye by applying rich Molten Lava along upper and lower lashline avoiding the inner corner. Add a bright highlight with vivid White Sands in the eye corner and/or just below brow line.

Limited Edition Pure Color Gloss in Shimmering Mirage appoints lips with perfect summer shine. The luscious, high shine, sheer coverage gloss glides on lips smoothly, adding a sensual appearance, while the tack-free formula ensures that the gloss provides continuous hydration and feels comfortable throughout the day.

Complete this sultry summer look with vividly rich colour on perfectly polished nails using Estée Lauder’s Limited Edition Pure Color Nail Lacquer in a new shade of sand-hued Molten Lava.

For the perfect shimmering warm, sun-kissed glow, try the illuminating, silky smooth Limited Edition Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée.

The powder gelée provides an all-over soft sheen that builds to

a luminous pearl highlight for a sophisticated, polished glow.

Perfect for virtually any skin tone, it provides a streak-free, smooth, even application that can be worn alone or over bronzer, enhancing your natural cheek colour by adding a touch more summer radiance with every stroke.

Limited Edition Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelee $75.00 Limited Edtion Pure Color Gloss in Shimmering Mirage $42.00

Limited Edition Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Urban Auburn $45.00 Limited Edition Pure Color Five Color Gelée Powder EyeShadow Palette in Bronze Sands $90.00 Limited Edition Pure Color Intense Kajal Eye Crayon Duo in White Sands/Molten Lava $40.00 Limited Edition Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Molten Lava $38.00 www.esteelauder.com.au

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SPRING HAS SPRUNG Get ready for the new season as Clinique releases its new moisture surge products.

CLINIQUE NEW MOISTURE SURGE INTENSE SKIN FORTIFYING HYDRATOR New Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator is said to be what flight attendants use to combat the damage that long, high altitude travel can cause their skin.

Clinique claims this product repairs the skin barrier and helps your skin stay comfortably hydrated and plumped for up to 24 hours, creating the perfect base for foundation or tinted moisturiser.

RRP $80.00 MOISTURE SURGE TINTED MOISTURISER A super hydrating, lightweight modern gel-cream, this tinted moisturizer offers just enough coverage to create an even, flawless complexion.

The smooth texture blends evenly and effortlessly, leaving skin feeling cool, refreshed and completely hydrated.

The product delivers all day colour, provides an immediate boost of moisture and strengthens skin’s moisture barrier, bringing dry and delicate skin back into a healthy balance.

Available in six shades for the fairest to medium/deep complexions.

RRP $50.00

natural-looking lashes a woman could hope for. Available in: Jet Black RRP $34.00

BLUSHWEAR CREAM STICK LIMITED EDITION A modern cream-to-powder blush that blends effortlessly into cheeks to provide a natural punch of colour.

This silky, oil-free formula provides buildable coverage that can be applied anytime, anywhere.

Housed in a portable swivel up, silver case, it makes a perfect addition to any makeup bag.

A Limited Edition Black Honey shade gives cheeks a perfect-colour washed finish.

Available in: • Peachy Blush • Rosy Blush • Shy Blush RRP $43.00

ALMOST A LIPSTICK Not a lipstick, or a lipgloss. Almost Lipstick is in a category of its own.

Its sheer, smooth formula allows the natural lip colour to come through, creating a custom fit shade that is unique to each woman.

A hint of colour and the sheer payoff allows for fool-proof application.

NATURALLY GLOSSY MASCARA Naturally Glossy Mascara helps lift, lengthen and separate lashes for a naturally feathered look.

There’s virtually no clumping, no flaking or smudging. Just the most

Available in: • Black Honey • Tender Honey • Chic Honey • Luscious Honey • Lovely Honey • Shy Honey • Spicy Honey • Flirty Honey RRP $36.00 Clinique Almost Spring will be available at Clinique Counters nationally and online at www. clinique.com.au from July 8, 2012.

Time for Thought WITH THEIR MIX OF DYNAMIC DESIGN AND SWISS PRECISION, WATCHES

BY STROM DEMONSTRATE PERFECT TIMING IN THE HERE AND NOW.

W

ith a vision of a timepiece that is a form of art over a simple measure of time, Daniel Strom, designer, watchmaker and philosopher, presents a symbolic dimension to time with his latest collection, AGONIUM. Daniel inherited his passion for stylish watches from his father, Armin Strom.

He has always worked in the watch industry and is experienced in all areas, ranging from developing to producing and marketing watches that are now known all over the world.

However, he’s always dreamed of having his own label.

When Daniel imagined this collection, he instilled his timepieces with attitude, lifestyle, symbols and myths.

Most importantly, he gave them an antithetical value by making them a reflection on the march of time and the finite nature of life; creation and destruction; myths and legends, a superior force over which we have no control or influence.

“Over four years ago, I had the idea of creating a watch which could do a lot more than just tell the time. I wanted to bring a watch into being that would define life and which would express what everyone knows; that the nature of our existence is transitory.

“It has always been difficult for people to accept the transience of their lives. However, transience is www.prodijee.com

an important condition for life. And time is what orders this transience.

“For this reason, people need to recognise that there is something superior to them. Something they, themselves, cannot control, however powerful they are or will be.

“Birth and death - coming into being and passing away - are two events directly connected with one another. What lies in between is called life. And the medium for life is called time.

“So time is not a static unit of

measurement, it is rather life energy.

Time allows you to achieve your aims, to harmonize your material, mental and emotional well-being and to create something longlasting that you can be proud of. However, because time is our constant companion, it is also our

greatest critic - especially for those who try to run away from it...”

In 2010, Daniel turned his reflection into reality when he presented the AGONIUM collection and its first watch, MEMENTO MORI. An idea that had taken seed a number of years previously and which he slowly brought to fruition.

The collection, takes its inspiration and name from the festivals, which Ancient Romans celebrated several times a year in honour of different gods, to establish a connection between the divinities and the people and the celebration of life.

With his company, Strom Prestige Swiss Timepieces, SA, in Nidau-Biel, Daniel revisited time, rethought the watch, invented new symbioses and gave form to his convictions.

He designed a watch that does more than give time, a watch that also has us think about our very existence.

Dragons and skulls thus become charged with positive emotions and shed any morbid connotations.

This is art for the wrist, each unique and outside the grip of aesthetic convention.

From the very first sketches, there was no doubt in Daniel’s mind: conventional watchmaking techniques could never render this timepiece as he imagined it. And so he turned to metal sculpting and overcame the difficulty of uniting design and technique, idea and possibility.

MEMENTO MORI, like every

watch in the collection, comprises two cases. The robust and hermetic inner case houses the movement.

The outer case brings the artistic dimension and gives free rein to the sculptor’s talent.

Each one is finished by hand, never two the same, with limited editions in each alloy. A sculpture first, a timepiece second.

Two years later, and following the same inception, Daniel presented his second watch, DRACO. The collection eschews trends and superfluous decoration to reflect symbolically on the passing of time.

Behind this story lies a metaphor which Daniel reprises in his collection: Memento Mori, Carpe Diem! Remember you will die, so

seize the day!

Daniel’s timepieces remind us that we are mortal and that everything we undertake on earth is vain. With DRACO or MEMENTO MORI on our wrists, we can meditate this concept at leisure, revel in the past and seek pleasure wherever we can. www.strom-agonium.com

SEXIEST CURVES Amber Heard

I’m sexy ! t i w o n k I d an

Victoria’s Secret names it’s much anticipated list of the sexiest women on the planet.

At an exclusive VIP party held at the new Los Angeles hot spot, Mr C Beverly Hills, Victoria’s Secret announced its list of the sexiest celebrities of the year.

The much anticipated event was a celebration of the 7th annual list and was hosted by gorgeous Victoria’s Secret Angels, Erin Heatherton, Doutzen Kroes and Lindsay Ellingson.

Inspired by the 2012 What Is Sexy? List, Victoria’s Secret has curated collections of lingerie, swimwear, beauty, clothing and accessories so fans can get the

SEXIEST SUMMER HAIR Ashley Benson

sexiest looks for summer.

The summer collection features the new VS Knockout bra, a balconet push-up that gives amazing lift without the wires.

To complete the Knockout summer look, Victoria’s Secret introduces its new fragrance, Victoria’s Secret Bombshell The Summer Edition.

The new scent is luscious, tropical, and bright with drops of Jasmine Dew, a spark of White Amber and a kiss of Starfruit.

SEXIEST BIKINI BODY Anna-Lynne McCord

SEXIEST LIPS Amanda Seyfried

SEXIEST UP-AND-COMING KNOCK OUT Elizabeth Olsen

SEXIEST MOM Beyonce

SEXIEST INTERNATIONAL IMPORT: Diane Kruger

SEXIEST ACTRESS Charlize Theron

SEXIEST SONGSTRESS Britney Spears

SEXIEST LEGS Stacey Keibler

SEXIEST SENSE OF HUMOUR Emma Stone

SEXIEST SUMMER GLOW Olivia Wilde

SEXIEST EYES Jennifer Lawrence

Burberry’s new stars British Actress, Gabriella Wilde and Roo Panes, British musician, were the stars of Burberry’s new ad campaign.

In a celebration of what Burberry believes is the heart of their brand and also of London itself, they shot a series of cinematic, emotive black and white images and short films with the talented stars.

The shoot was at night under the creative direction of Christopher Bailey by Mario Testino at the iconic Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London.

Already a part of the Burberry family, Wilde and Panes reinforced the brand’s long-standing association with support for emerging talent, presenting the couple in their first advertising campaign across all Burberry touchpoints and platforms including Burberry.com, Facebook, YouTube

and Twitter.

The official soundtrack to the campaign, Indigo Home was written

exclusively for Burberry at RAK Studios in London by Roo Pines. www.burberry.com

roadtest

Revlon ColorStay Revlon has introduced two new products to their extensive range - ColorStay Crème Gel Liner and ColorStay 16 Hour Eyeshadow Quads.

Always up for a challenge, when I read that these products were long lasting I had to give them a try.

Said to be the newest innovation in eyeliner, the ColorStay Crème Gel Liner, which provides really bold colour, is said to remain smudge-free for up to 24 hours and the ColorStay Eyeshadow is now said to last an additional four hours for sixteen hours of impactful, longwearing colour.

In trying these products, I first noticed that Revlon has very cleverly changed the sizes of two of the four colours in the palette.

Giving larger quantities of the base shades and slightly smaller ones of the highlight shades, which is incredibly sensible. How often do you end up with two colours completely gone and two that are barely touched, rendering the kit pretty useless to carry in your purse?

There is also a foolproof picture guide on the back of the palette showing where and how to use the colours for perfect shading and blending.

I followed all the instructions and found that the colours went on very smoothly. They blended easily and the tones were soft but had great depth.

I am pretty useless when it comes to applying eyeliner, so I eyed this little pot of colour with disdain, fully expecting to end up with eyeliner smudged everywhere.

The eyeliner is in a neat little package with the applicator fitting neatly inside the lid. I think I was putting off the inevitable application of this product by eyeing off the

packaging for so long. When I decided to get on with it, I found that it went on very easily and surprise, surprise, I ended up with perfectly outlined eyes.

The applicator and texture of the crème-gel made this product easy to apply and the result, much to my dismay (only due to my lack of application skill) was perfection!

Now, the test of time. Would these products really live up to their reputation?

I applied the products at 10am and by 10pm, when I checked in the mirror, fully expecting to have colours smudged all over my face, my eyes still looked like I was ready for a big night out, shame the body and hair weren’t in the same condition.

Well, if these products had lasted 12 hours now, I would go against my #1 rule – never ever go to bed wearing make-up – and see how they held up overnight.

At 8am, the alarm goes off - no makeup on the pillow case, that’s got to be a good sign.

Not looking forward to that early

morning mirror, I shuffled into the ensuite and, almost terrified of what I would see, I was pleasantly surprised. I still had eyeliner perfectly in place, and the eye shadow had held up fairly well, too.

It hadn’t smudged at all, but the colour had definitely faded.

But hey, it had lasted really well for 12 hours, I was asleep for the 16 hour test, but this was now 22 hours and my eyes still looked great (shame about the hair!).

This was a really full-on product test and I have found Revlon’s claims about these products to be very true; they are extremely long lasting and very easy to use. I will be very happy to be keeping these products close at hand.

ColorStay Crème Gel Liner – suggested retail price - $24.95 ColorStay 16 Hour Eyeshadow Quads – suggested retail price $25.95

CARBON FIBRE

M E NR ACCESSO ’S IES 52

V8X 2005

Order yours today by calling (03) 9331 2608 or by visiting www.nobrac.com.au

WORDS: DARREN HOUSE

T

he evolution of the Mustang continues with the new 2013 model, a car that delivers on style, substance, technology and new driver tools.

This latest Mustang features a more aggressive design, continuing to look forward with a more powerful and modern look while remaining respectful to the model’s heritage.

This includes a significantly more prominent grille, and a more powerful splitter, while functional heat extractors on the GT’s bonnet are specifically placed and designed to move hot air out of the engine compartment.

New design elements include standard HID headlamps on both GT and V6 cars and three hightech LED bars for the iconic rear lights.

GT coupes now feature optional leather-trimmed or cloth Recaro seats that were previously available on the Shelby GT500 and Boss 302. Designed to enhance the high-performance driving experience, lateral bolsters in the cushion and seat back are used to ensure drivers have the support needed on the track during hard cornering and to deliver a comfortable ride.

The seats come complete with integrated head restraints with ample room for drivers and passengers wearing helmets on the track.

The Mustang can be specified with a six-speed auto transmission, offering a choice between automatic operation and manual control.

A new option, the GT Track Package, debuts for the 2013 model for customers who want to push their Mustang even further on the track. Available only on manual GT Mustangs with a 3.73 axle, the package gives track enthusiasts an upgraded radiator,

performance friction brake pads and the same Torsen differential that’s on the Mustang Boss 302. The package includes everything in the current Brembo Brake Package, with 14-inch vented front discs, 19-inch alloy wheels and summer performance tyres.

Mustang also offers selectable steering, allowing customers to select the steering effort depending on his or her style of driving.

A 4.2-inch LCD productivity screen lets customers access fuel economy and vehicle performance information. The screen offers Track Apps, which measures g-forces, shows acceleration times in quartermile and 0-60 increments, and displays braking times, complete with automatic and countdown starts.

Customers can use SYNC AppLink, which is the free software program that gives SYNC users voice control of apps stored on their smartphone. www.ford.com

Australia’s top tailor ‘goes to London’ WANT THE STYLE, FIT AND QUALITY OF A BESPOKE SUIT BUT THE PRICE IS A LITTLE BEYOND YOU? THEN A LONDON STYLE BY JOHN CUTLER SUIT MAY BE JUST THE ANSWER YOU’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR. WORDS: DAVID DOWSEY PHOTOS: RICHARD WEINSTEIN

J

ohn Cutler works in rarefied air. The gregarious 60-something is the go-to tailor for Australia’s elite. And when the tricky topic of price is mentioned, it’s easy to see why.

Starting at around $6,500 for a two-piece suit, one needs to be at the top of the tree simply to be able to afford one of his amazing bespoke creations.

That’s where London Style by John Cutler comes in.

London Style is Cutler’s madeto-measure line, starting at a more affordable $1,750. (Hey! We didn’t say cheap, just more affordable.)

In basic terms, the difference between bespoke and made-to-measure tailoring is that bespoke offers the customer the ultimate in fit and customisation – a paper pattern is drafted exclusively for each customer and kept on file containing all of the mysterious curves and nuances that each individual body possesses. So, the fit should be perfect.

As for customisation, the sky’s the limit in terms of fabric and trim choices, and detailing. Cutler once made a suit that was completely different one side from the other, specifically to match the whims of a famous political journalist who wanted a suit of clothes to match his polarised personality.

It’s not hard to see why then - when combined with hours of precious handwork – that a bespoke suit can cost so much and why London Style by John Cutler makes so much sense.

Commissioning one of Cutler’s made-to-measure suits begins with a fitting at his private Sydney CBD rooms of a ready-made ‘try on’ garment.

This should be close to a good fit from the get-go, but Cutler will then take notes on where small changes can be made in order to attain a close-to-perfect fit.

From there, customers can choose from a vast selection of high quality European fabric, including Dormeuil, Vitale Barberis Canonico and Loro Piana; and suit detailing like the number of vents, pocket sizes and shapes, buttons and linings, and monogramming or

embroidery. All of that information is then fed through to his partners in Europe and your new London Style suit will be ready for collection in six weeks.

John Cutler has been working in top quality tailoring for nearly 50 years and is the fourth generation of tailoring Cutlers: the firm was originated by his great-grandfather, Joseph Handel Cutler in 1884, making JH Cutler one of Australia’s oldest continually running familyowned businesses.

Over the years, Cutler has made for leading politicians (numerous prime ministers, including Bob Hawke), entertainers (Elton John and Boy George anyone?), sports stars (he cut Richie Benaud’s famous cream Channel 9 sports coat) and captains of industry (Mark Bouris and Lindsay Fox).

“I am passionate about what I do, and take great pride in producing beautifully tailored suits. When you buy a made-to-measure suit from London Style by John Cutler, you can rest assured that the fit will be excellent, the quality outstanding and the value for money exceptional.”

Cutler’s London Style suits are specifically aimed at a younger buyer. He says that each made-to-measure suit is a unique one-off garment that is custom made to fit specific measurements and body shape.

“My London Style suits are cut to my precise instructions and personalised to each individual customer’s design requirements and made from a choice of top quality European suiting fabrics. The result is a suit that, not only makes you feel good, but will go on looking good for years to come.”

In addition to men’s suits for business and casual wear, and weddings and other formal occasions, Cutler also offers casual jackets and trousers, waistcoats and overcoats.

For more information, or to arrange an appointment email: contact@LondonStyle.com.au or call 02 9232 7351.

London Style by John Cutler offers a full range of made to measure men’s suits and ou Business and casual suits – $1,750 – $2,500; Dinner suits (tuxedos) – $1,750 – $2,500; Blazers – From $1,350; Trousers – From $395 Waistcoats – From $395; Overcoats – $2,

uterwear, including: Sports jackets – From $1,350; 150 – $2,500.

WINTER BRIGHTS

It may be cold and grey outside but that’s no excuse for you to dress that way.

Brighten up your winter with some of the latest and brightest clothing to hit our stores.

GIVE WINTER THE BOOT Recently hitting our stores are the Brooks Neon Kicks. Brooks has developed five unique technology features across the range. Shoe features include an elastic band that wraps over the instep to provide an assured fit, toe flex that activates the big toe and engages the runner’s natural stability, shape that contours to the foot to provide a glove-like feel, earth-friendly midsole technology blended with DNA smart cushioning to cater to the needs of each and every runner, signature inverted heel encourages contact points to move forward, aligning the joints and creating optimal energy return. Available from www.brooksrunning.com.au and priced from $179.95 to $219.95.

SUNNY ON THE SLOPES Protect yourself against the elements with Ice Breaker Slope Style.

Ice Breaker’s Alpine collection offers much more than just brightly coloured style, it is also fast drying, warm, and itch and odour resistant.

The range has base layers, mid layers, outerwear and accessories that are designed for the weather conditions you will encounter on the slopes. Garments are made from varying material weights that cater from cool to freezing and is available for men, women and kids. www.icebreaker.com

A HOODIE THAT SINGS Keep warm on your winter walk and listen to tunes directly from your Hoody! Just plug in your device, pop your drawstrings (earphone buds) into your ears and away you go, all cosy and listening to the best tunes.

HOW IT WORKS Earphone buds are connected to the ends of the drawstrings The connecting cable is encased within the hood drawstrings and run down through the inside front of the garment A 3.5mm MP3 compatible input jack sits in the pocket of the garment ready for connection to the user’s device of choice. * Machine washable * Licensed from HB3 technology Available in men’s and women’s styles. Priced at $99.95 www.russellathletic.com.au

A FUN TIME FOR ALL SWATCH has released its new Bicoloured Collection in eyepopping bright colours that are designed to create high-impact and fiercely-modern statements.

As always, the brightly coloured and precise shapes of these gorgeous watches are complimented by technical excellence and state-of-the-art materials that the Swatch company is known for.

Dull days and dark moods are now firmly banished by the Bicoloured Collection, as these fresh ‘n’ flashy creations from Swatch fill time with a fabulous feeling of fun!

Available at select stockists and www.swatch.com at a RRP of $70.00.

LOOK COOL ON THE COURSE With Glare Tech Polarised Lenses that dramatically cut reflected light and glare, Pursuit Active sports sunglasses are great for sporting professionals including golfers, cyclists and hikers. They feature Anti-Slip ergonomic design nose pads and tips and most of the range is designed with an 8 base wrap around fit for optimum comfort.

The sunnies are constructed from ultra-tough TR-90 Grilamid and are lightweight, flexible, heat resistant and virtually unbreakable.

RRP - $39.95 www.pursuitactive.com.au

Vive la THE WORLD’S BEST YOUNG FEMALE SURFERS HEADED TO LES BOURDAINES TO DO BATTLE IN THE HOTLY CONTESTED SWATCH GIRLS PRO FRANCE

Surf

Clockwise from top left: California’s Sage Erickson, Hawaii’s Malia Manuel, France’s Canelle Bulard, Grade 3 Pro Junior champ, South African Bianca Buitendog, France’s Maud Le Car.

T

he new number one in the Association of Surfing Professionals Women’s World Rankings and Swatch Proteam member, Courtney Conlogue has been crowned champion of the Swatch Girls Pro France at Les Bourdaines, Seignosse.

Surfing with all the confidence of a surfer already with two major tour victories under her belt this year, the 19-year-old American posted a series of excellent scores, including a perfect 10 in her quarter final for three lethal backside hits, before edging past the dangerous fellow American, Sage Erickson in the semi’s.

That set up a one-sided final with New Zealand’s Paige Hareb, held in tricky strong onshore conditions favouring the right-handers, Conlogue opened up with an 8.83, and backed up with a 7.0 to secure her maiden tour win in Europe.

“It feels amazing to come out with a win here. I’ve always loved coming to France and I had my sights set on taking out a win this year,” said Conlogue. “The waves were really fun this morning when it was glassy and I felt like I got into a good rhythm. I had some tough heats with girls like Alessa (Quizon) and Sage (Erickson) surfing super well, and I managed to snag a couple of decent rights in the final.

The waves were really good this morning, but even with the onshores in the final there were still fun ones out there.”

Conlogue picked up $US8000 and 3500 points for her efforts.

With the final day dawning to a strong increase in swell and the tide filling in over the contest bank giving an extra kick to the swell, the biggest and best surf of the week witnessed some excellent surfing.

“If I was going to lose to anyone, I’m glad it was Courtney, she’s surfing really well”, said third placed Sage Erickson (USA). “But I’m stoked with a semi anyway; it’s been a great contest. We’ve always been taken care of really well at this event, and this year we’ve had amazing weather as well. This has

been the funnest event in France for me for sure. Big thanks to Swatch for putting on such a great contest for us.”

Runner up, Hareb, was similarly gracious in losing out to the inform surfer of the event. “I would have preferred a first (place) for sure,” said the Kiwi goofyfoot, “but making the final is still a great result for me. I guess Courtney has been pretty unstoppable here, she’s on such a roll right now and this is really her kind of surf. It looks like Huntington Beach.”

Hareb collected $US4000 and 2640 points.

Hawaii’s Leila Hurst, 17, was one of several rising stars of the

women’s tour, competing in both junior and open divisions and earning an equal third place for an impressive showing that ended in her semi with Hareb.

“I’m stoked to get a third place here. France is a rad place and this event has been really cool. The waves have been small but really fun, I’ve had a blast.”

The grade 3 Pro Junior event was wrapped up shortly after the final of the main event, where South Africa’s Bianca Buitendag continued her strong showing by beating Reunion Island’s Canelle Bulard, with Hawaiian Leila Hurst and Australia’s Philippa Anderson placing equal third.

Top: Hawaiian Leila Hurst finished equal third in the Pro Junior comp. Above: Fellow Hawaiian, Alessa Quizon.

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO PHOTOS: Guillermo Flores (main image) and Adolfo Padilla Fotografia

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? I grew up in a small town in Mexico, called Jalostotitlan. It is a very typical, conservative, traditional town; only 30000 people live there. I am the oldest of four girls. My parents are a great couple; they have been married for 30 years. I was a very happy girl, having my sisters with me I never felt alone. We all get along and love each other very much.

represented the Mexican national drink: tequila, and I have become an ambassador for our Casa Centinela, the maker of Mexico’s number one selling Tequila, Cabrito. I like to teach the world about our incredible drink and I am very passionate about it. I am a spokesperson for the brand, and for tequila, and I present seminars and perform other public relations activities.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO MODELLING? I started in beauty pageants, I was Miss Jalostotitlan, and when you win this contest, you immediately go to Miss Region de los Altos (or Miss Highlands of Jalisco). This region is formed by 26 towns. I was then the beauty queen of the State of Zacatecas, and I finished in the top 10 in Miss Mexico. Once there, I was selected to represent my country in Miss American Continent. I started modelling when I was 19 and I combined it with my school work and the pageants. It came very naturally to me. I always liked the stage work and being photographed. I work in television, hosting several TV shows, including a lot of beauty pageants.

WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER INTERESTS? Besides pageantry and tequila, I like pilates. I love to decorate, hang out with my friends and listen to music, I enjoy life!

HOW LONG HAVE YOU MODELLING? It’s been more than nine years now, and I have enjoyed every minute of it!

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT MODELLING? I enjoy all of the fun that you have, the people that you meet; the countries that you visit - the food and the different cultures around the world.

WHAT MODELLING HAVE YOU DONE? I have been in runway shows for big brands such as Baby Phat, Diesel, Nike, Adidas, Puma and important stores in Mexico like Palacio de Hierro and Liverpool.

I have done a lot of TV commercials in Mexico and in the US for brands including Tupperware, Muebles Plasencia, Dportennis and Camara nacional de Emprendedores, I have appeared on Fashion TV as a host, and in a photo shoot.

WHAT WORK DO YOU WANT TO DO? Right now I am performing the job of my dreams.

For the last 5 years, along with modelling, I have

WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES? In modelling I would say it is Giselle Bundchen. In the late 1990s, Bündchen became the first in a wave of Brazilian models to find international success. She is an alien that made it in another country; that tells you a lot. Mexican journalist, Lolita Ayala, is also an influence. She is involved in charity events and concerned about the Mexican people. Lolita is an iconic, independent, successful woman in my country.

She is the best. Gwyneth Paltrow’s elegance and flawless performance in film make her my favourite actress. She is beautiful both inside and out. She is also involved in a lot of charities and serves on the board of the Robin Hood Foundation, a charitable organization which attempts to alleviate problems caused by poverty in New York City.

A TRIPLE THREAT WITH A DIFFERENCE, COMEDIAN, MAGICIAN AND HYPNOTIST PIP KNOWS HOW TO PLEASE AN AUDIENCE, ESPECIALLY WHEN PLAYING FOR AT AN EXCLUSIVE LAS VEGAS PLAYBOY PARTY.

PiP Comic Illusionist RECENT ‘AUSTRALIA’S GOT TALENT FINALIST, PIP COMIC ILLUSIONIST, HAS BEEN WINNING OVER AUDIENCES WITH HIS UNIQUE COMEDIC WIT AND CHARM, MASTERY OF PRESTIDIGITATION AND HILARIOUS HYPNOTIC SKITS. AFTER HONING HIS CRAFT IN THE TOUGHEST OF ENTERTAINMENT ENVIRONMENTS, LAS VEGAS, PIP IS PREPARING FOR A NEW SHOW AT THE SYDNEY OPERA. WORDS: DARREN HOUSE

YOU’RE JUST ABOUT TO EMBARK ON A NEW TOUR. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT? The show in Sydney is called Hypnolarious. It’s the hypnosis show I have been touring around for probably four years now. It is a lot of fun, I really enjoy it. It’s interactive with people being on stage hypnotised but as I was saying before people leave saying ‘oh I wish I had got up and been a part of the show’.

The skits I get people to do are thought out and they are really clever. This show will have the best skits of all time. I’ve changed the skits over the years so this show will be a combination of all my favourite skits.

And production value wise, it is going to be bigger than what I have ever done before, so if you have been to a show before, it’s going to be a lot bigger than anything else I have done anywhere in the world.

HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO COME UP WITH NEW ILLUSIONS? It’s quite tricky. I like to keep it as fresh as possible, which is hard, because basically, everything has

been done before. I try to keep it as original as possible and come up with new ideas.

IT MUST BE HARDER THAN COMING UP WITH A NEW COMEDY ROUTINE? Comedy is a little bit different because you can think up anything and say it the next night. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, whereas if you want to come up with a whole new trick you really have to sit down and brainstorm and work on it because as soon as you build it and it doesn’t work, you have to start again.

A MAGICIAN WHO DOES COMEDY SEEMS AN INTERESTING COMBINATION. I was going to be a serious magician. When I was 19 I was in Vegas for World Magic Seminar and I met one of my idols who is one of the head guys on Chris Angel, Mindfreak. He and his wife said to me “you are really quite funny, what kind of magic do you do?” I said “I am actually doing serious magic,” and they said “no, stop doing that. You need to get into funny magic.”

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF LAS VEGAS? It was amazing, it was absolutely fantastic. It was one the best times in my life. I will never forget it. I made a lot of great friends that I am still very good friends with now. It was a whole new experience.

Magic here in Australia is very different. It opened my eyes seeing the big shows, I got to meet some of the best people in the industry. It was amazing how supportive they were of people they didn’t even know, and what they gave me was a beautiful thing.

AMERICANS CAN BE VERY WELCOMING. It’s a lot more welcoming in American than here. I was sitting with a very famous guy named Lance Burton at one of the biggest shows in Vegas. He had given 30 teenagers, $70 tickets to his show the night before. I went and saw his show and the next day he came to this little seminar. Someone asked him how a trick worked, he sat down and he told us, not only how the trick worked but why he did it, how he came up with it, and why he put it in that part of the show.

I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE MORE GUARDED. Once you get to a certain stage, you kind of know how everything is done, but still a lot of magicians will hide what they do from other magicians. It’s a funny little society.

HAVE YOU WORKED IN THE US? I have done comedy clubs and travelled around and performed on the street and just had fun.

I have started my career at a very bad economic time in the world.

Although I can get sponsored and go over to do shows, Vegas was one of the hardest hit in the GFC and it still hasn’t completely recovered.

It is definitely my plan to go back to America to perform, but I really want to build up what I am doing here in Australia before I head overseas.

YOU ARE VERY HARD WORKING. HOW DO YOU COPE WITH DOING SO MANY SHOWS?

I love it. I get up at 8am and then I will work all the way through to 1am the following morning. I just don’t stop. I’ll be driving somewhere and I’ll be designing something in my head or writing new jokes. I just love what I do. It is hard work but I don’t see it as draining or unbearable.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO MAGIC? It’s been something I have done my whole life. I have been a musician and an actor. I went to a performing arts high school for music and I had always been into magic. I started to get into performing and I really just started to fall in love with performing magic.

I was on a trip with my school to America, playing music and I just walked into a magic shop, bought a couple of tricks and when I got back to Australia thought, ‘I’m probably not going to do music for much longer’.

YOU’RE NOT GOING TO COMBINE MUSIC WITH COMEDY AND MAGIC?

A lot of people have asked me to but I haven’t been able to work out a way of doing it.

My music knowledge definitely helps with putting the show together music wise but I’ve never thought of a way to play the trombone while doing a magic trick. Someone suggested some sort of explosion out of the bell but I have heard some horror stories of people who have tried that and it hasn’t gone well.

DID YOU ENJOY YOUR TIME ON ‘AUSTRALIA’S GOT TALENT’?

It was an amazing experience. I met a lot of amazing people on set; the whole team was fantastic to work with. It was hard work getting ready for it.

I was meant to be on semi-final 8 and they moved me to semi-final 1, so I literally finished the props I was using for the semi-final an hour before they were picked up to ship to Melbourne. It was nerve wracking.

And then a box broke, it had been damaged in transport and we had to rebuild it and the team pulled together and they fixed everything up.

DID IT DO ANYTHING TO FURTHER YOUR CAREER? I think it is too early to tell. We have got a lot of hits on YouTube. We just have to see over the next six months what happens.

About a week after I did the show I was out in the country doing a gig for a friend of mine and it was quite funny walking into the pub and people were yelling out, ‘Oi, do a magic trick’, so that was nice.

Everyone was really supportive there and the results of me getting through to the next round hadn’t come out at that stage, so being more recognised is something that has definitely come from it, but career-wise I am not sure yet. We haven’t seen the full impact.

I have got a lot more to offer than what I presented on the show, I am just going to continue doing that.

YOU HAVE SOME INTERESTING PR PHOTOS. I like to keep it a bit different. I don’t want to be the boring guy with the assistant falling over in the photo.

That photo-shoot didn’t turn out the way it was meant to. We got back from a nightclub about 2 hours before the shoot, the models and I had been partying the night before so it really was the morning after photo.

IN A SIMILAR VEIN, YOU HAVE ALSO PERFORMED AT A PLAYBOY PARTY. When I was living in Vegas back in 2007. It was at the Palms casino and it was definitely an interesting night.

I have never seen a group of men not upset that they couldn’t use a pool table because there were some ladies sitting on top of it. We were doing magic for people and it was a really fun night.

Our neighbours were bartending for the event, they said they would love some magicians there. People were paying $2000, $3000, $4000 a ticket depending on how much they conned out of you to be at this party.

We got invited for free and we got to stay afterwards. It was an amazing casino to party in, too.

I IMAGINE HYPNOTHERAPY WOULD BE A GOOD SKILL TO HAVE AT A PLAYBOY PARTY. It isn’t something I started doing a lot of back then but a lot of people think I use it like that, but it is very tiring. I only do it when I am performing a show.

DOES IT ALWAYS WORK? I have always worked with people in the audience that want to be hypnotised. It is definitely a risk, you are right.

Even if you walk into a room of 1000 people there might be 1000 people that don’t want to be hypnotised. You talk to the audience beforehand and they have to like you and if they like you they will let you hypnotise them. If they don’t like you then no way is it happening.

I don’t do anything horrible to people when they are hypnotised.

I’ve heard some stories of things have just disgusted me and it’s not

funny at all.

A lot of people leave the show saying when you have the next one I want to be hypnotised because it looks so much fun, that is the important thing for me – people say ‘I wish I had got up on stage and been a part of the show’.

For a chance to win one of two double passes to Hypnolarius at the Sydney Opera House on July 31, 2012 email your answer to the following question to info@prodijee.com “At what age did PiP travel to Las Vegas for the World Magic Seminar?”

The first two correct entries will win. Tickets can also be purchased at: www. sydneyoperahouse.com/ whatson/hypnolarius.aspx

RADIO STARS

FROM ENTERTAINING THE TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN WEARING BULLET-PROOF VESTS TO HEADLINING SHOWS FOR TINSELTOWN’S ELITE IN LA, RADIO INK IS WINNING NEW FANS ALL OVER THE PLANET.

RADIO INK AUSTRALIAN ELECTRONIC POP TRIO, RONNY CLARK, DIC MONEY AND MISS S HAVE PERFORMED AS RADIO INK SINCE 2009. THE INDIE BAND QUICKLY GAINED RECOGNITION FOR THEIR INFECTIOUS SOUND, WINNING THE 2010 NA2R POP CROWN, THE 2011 UNSIGNED ARTIST OF THE YEAR (RADAR RADIO), AND THE 2012 POP ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2012 (MUSICOZ).

INVITATIONS TO JOIN SELL-OUT NATIONAL TOURS FOLLOWED AFTER THE BAND CAUGHT THE EYE OF INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS, INCLUDING UK LEGENDS DURAN DURAN, DANISH POPSTARS AQUA, USA’S ‘ANIMAL’ HITMAKERS NEON TREES, AS WELL AS HOME-GROWN HEROES, THE POTBELLEEZ. DARREN HOUSE FOUND OUT WHAT’S NEXT FOR RADIO INK. HOW DID THE BAND GET TOGETHER? Ronny: Dic and I had been DJs in Kings Cross for a number of years.

We had both been in different bands that sort of fizzled out and we just started writing some music together. Originally Dic was the vocalist in our band so it was a lot different, but then things started to get a little more serious and we thought we might start looking around for a proper front person.

Not to say that Dic isn’t a proper front person. I think he thinks he still is sometimes; he tries to take on Miss S a little bit.

We saw her singing with another DJ in a club in Kings Cross one night and after the show we got chatting. She was keen to write some of her own music because the DJ and the other band were just playing covers.

She came into the studio one day and laid down some vocals and then it just gelled, it really worked, that was about three years ago.

YOU’VE ALWAYS BEEN INTO MUSIC? Dic: Both Ronny and I grew up in metal bands, teenage angst music, that’s what we were playing when we were younger. We found electronic music as DJs, that’s how

we became friends and from there Radio Ink grew. We have come through from traditional bands playing instruments; we are not just DJs pressing buttons or whatnot.

WHAT IS MISS S’ BACKGROUND? D: Miss S has been singing forever and a day. She is a classically trained jazz singer.

R:. Her idols are Kylie Minogue and Rihanna so she is right into that whole pop scene, whereas Dic and I are a little bit more in the indie scene, which I think provides a good contrast. I think if you take away the vocals on our track it’s more like an indie sort of pop-style dance but then when you add Miss S’ vocals it adds a real pop sort of angle to our music, which is great because radio likes pop music.

WHERE DOES THE NAME COME FROM? D: We wanted something to represent our sound. It is an electronic pop act. We chose two words that gave us a softer meaning and then more hard core approach and merged them. Radio is the pop angle and INK is like in a tattoo, which is a little bit truer, more to the heart. I’d love to give you some deep and meaningful explanation

like we were sitting in the forest one day and looked up in the sky and these two things… no, it didn’t happen that way (laughs).

HAVE YOU FOUND IT HARD WORK TRYING TO MAKE IT IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS? D: It’s definitely not easy. It comes easier to some more than others and that could be because people write a hit or they have a better idea of what they want to achieve; they execute it better than other bands or they have better connections or partners in the industry. We have been lucky to have a lot of doors open for us to get us to where we are. I t also comes down to hard work and being focussed on what you want to do and setting out to achieve it. For us that is writing great music and presenting our band in the best possible light to our fans, making sure we are as true to that as possible, but also having some fun along the way.

As you become more successful it becomes more of a business than a passion, but you have to keep the passion going or you lose it.

R: It is so true. It’s a Catch 22 situation. It is not until you get yourselves to a position where

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business people want to work with you. We are lucky enough to have a team of people working with us - management, booking agencies, publicists, radio promoters, but in the first two years we had to do all that ourselves. It takes years to learn the business and by that stage it’s too late for a lot of bands, they miss out on opportunities.

FINDING GOOD MANAGEMENT MUST BE HARD BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF SHONKS OUT THERE JUST WAITING TO TAKE YOUR MONEY. D: One hundred per cent. It’s something that we played around with for a while and we ended up going with a group of people that we thought believed in what we were doing and who would best represent our style of music and our band well. (But) involving all those parties I don’t think makes it easier, I think it makes it harder because they open so many doors that you’re even busier than you were. It leads to more eyeballs on you and more work.

DO YOU FIND RUNNING A BAND IS MORE ABOUT BUSINESS THAN MUSIC? D: For sure, so you do have to take time out to write new music and to be creative, It is pretty hectic in the Radio INK camp these days.

R: Managing our social media is a full time job these days. You could spend your whole day just doing that.

D: We’re not saying it is a bad thing. It’s great. We are able to talk to our fans and engage them, share photos and content and let them know the ins and outs of what we are doing. I think that’s great because if you haven’t got people supporting what you are doing, coming to your shows, liking your music and possibly purchasing it then you’ve got nothing. But it is busy; as soon as you open that can of worms you can’t stop it.

WHEN YOU GET PEOPLE INVOLVED, DO THEY WANT TO MESS WITH YOUR CREATIVITY? D: No, not really. We have got management advising us on what they think, but being unsigned, we are an independent act, we are funding it and doing it all by ourselves, the buck stops with us.

We decide when, how and what we

want to release and we really like that. Sometimes we would probably like to be lazy and just sit there and be told what to do, and where to go, but being independent in this day and age has a lot of positives.

WHAT ABOUT IF YOU GET SIGNED TO A BIG LABEL? LOSING CREATIVE CONTROL? R: I don’t think we would ever sign a deal like that. We are going to have to cross that bridge when it comes but it is a real concern to most independent bands that have an opportunity to sign with a major label. That’s probably one of the biggest detriments that could happen to a band, losing some of that creative control.

D: It does happen. We have written all of our music to date. On the latest single (Who we are tonight), we collaborated with a whole bunch of people in a whole bunch of different ways. We travelled to the States for a show and finished up the project over there with another mixer called Joe Zook, who has worked with Katy Perry, Pink, The Hives and a lot of really big pop acts and indie bands. Involving one of the world’s greatest writers, Shelly Peiken was also really cool.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING WITH THOSE PEOPLE? D: It was fantastic. It has given the single a bit more of an edge. We travelled to LA thanks to Qantas for G’day USA. It’s a week of pitching Australia to the US and we played

a couple of really cool parties over there and also at some Qantas VIP functions. We got to finish our latest single over there at the same time.

R: We were lucky enough to play the VIP party for Miranda Kerr as she was announced the new ambassador for Qantas. Pretty much every Australian celebrity who was in LA was at the party, as well as a lot of US and overseas celebrities as well.

D: On the dance floor in front of us we had John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Miranda Kerr, Ryan Kwanten, Rachel Taylor, Chris Joannou from Silverchair, he was there rocking out while riding the mechanical bull.

R: You had to pinch yourself and ask if this was dream or was I

actually looking out to all these people dancing to our set right now, it was a real buzz.

GOT ANY PARTY GOSS? D: What Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta did in Grease many, many years ago, they can still do on the dance floor now. Miranda Kerr loves to get down and dirty on the dance floor, she loves to fist-pump to the big tunes. She loves it, she’s great even though she is married and she’s a mum and all that stuff.

She’s fantastic.

IT’S NOT ALL VIP PARTIES. YOU ALSO MADE AN APPEARANCE ON CHANNEL 10’S READY STEADY COOK. D: I’m sorry about that.

R: I was just in the crowd watching it. On tour I am the only one who has cooks. Miss S and Dic Money are the take-away kings. I don’t know why I wasn’t on that show; I

would have kicked your arses.

D: I won very convincingly but the prize that I won was not as good as the prize Miss S got. Miss S got some amazing wine from South Australia and a subscription to something, I got some dinner plates. If you are going to give the winner something, especially when they know you are involved in music, give them booze. How could you say no to a case of wine?

IS IT HARD TO CEMENT YOURSELF HERE BUT BUILD YOURSELF OVERSEAS AS WELL? R: Our music is suited to the overseas market, Europe in particular, but we had a huge response when we were in the US. We are considering going to Europe at the end of the year. There have been some offers in Japan but we have always wanted to be successful in our back yard and reach our full potential in Australia first, that

is what we are trying to do at the moment. We want to release an album this year and that will present opportunities in Australia as well.

WHO ARE YOUR INFLUENCES? R: I grew up listening to rock and metal, as did Dic. After turning 18 and being able to get into the clubs, I moved into DJ’ing and that introduced us to electronic sounds and house music and then grew into wanting to write our own music I still have an eclectic taste in music I love everything from folk to hop to rock. I try to see a different band every week in Sydney and I guess all those influences come into our music a little bit.

D: I like anything that is good, except for country. No, I am kidding. Everything from Nine Inch Nails to Marilyn Manson and all the way down to squeaky clean pop acts like Katy Perry and Jessie J.

need to do, it’s as important as getting your song listed on iTunes.

My biggest issue with it is putting it together, being an independent act, it all falls down to the band and in the past that’s been my thing to take care of. It is just a nightmare trying to involve a thousand different parties that are needed to get a video happening.

We’ve had a lot of issues with videos in the past, trying to get them finished, and released on certain dates, where I have been pulling my hair out, that is why I hate videos. I’m sure if Miss S was here she would answer that question differently. Her favourite thing in the world is videos and photo-shoots.

AC/DC but I would have loved to have seen Michael Jackson. We take a little bit from everyone. I think if you are not doing that you are possibly not staying ahead of the curve and writing something a little different to everyone else.

AS AN INDIE BAND, YOU RISK YOU’RE A LOT OF MONEY WHEN YOU MAKE MUSIC. D: If you don’t give it a shot then you are never going to know so no matter what the financial cost, we are having a go, and we will think about the money later.

R: People probably don’t realize how much it costs to release a single properly to commercial radio. There are a whole number of people you have to get onboard and pay, from radio promotion, publicity, distribution to manufacturing CDs. The video clip costs, a ‘million dollars’ and doing that on a budget can restrict.

That’s one of the advantages of being with a major label, you probably have more flexibility.

WHO WOULD YOU REALLY LIKE TO SEE LIVE THAT YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY? R: I would love to see Skrillex. I still haven’t seen David Guetta and I would love to have seen Jessie J as well. If we had the opportunity to go to see Kylie Minogue, I would have as well. So, everything from hard core dance music to down to good pop acts D: I’ve kicked a few goals lately and seen some iconic bands like

DO YOU ENJOY MAKING VIDEOS? D: I need to pass on this one because I am about to swear at you. I’ll just say one thing. I hate videos!

R: Our film clips have been the most stressful experiences of Dic’s life. As you will see from our latest video, Dic and I aren’t in it. It’s just Miss S and a bunch of different actors in it, which we loved.

D: Videos are something that you

WHO COMES UP WITH THE CREATIVE IDEAS FOR THE CLIPS? D: We collectively sit around and chat about ideas, especially with management now, about what the song is, what the meaning is. Generally Miss S’ idea and treatment of the clip would be upwards of a million dollars every single time to produce, we are talking spaceships flying through the sky, 3D animation involving Steven Spielberg and a whole bunch of other people to shoot it, unfortunately we have to say no.

R: Instead we need a cardboard spaceship from a prop shop and fly it with string and light it with your bedroom light. In the past we have done a lot of pop film clips.

For our latest clip we wanted to do something very indie. For me the message we got across in this film clip, is that music is a universal language. It focusses on an Amish community that finds a record player that happens to have our tune, Who We Are Tonight, and they start playing it in secret out in a field and dance to it.

YOU PLAYED FOR THE TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN. HOW WAS THAT? R: We thought our management was joking when they asked us if we wanted to play in Afghanistan, but we found out they were serious.

Dic and I were on-board straight way. Miss S was a touch concerned about some safety issues, but we had meetings with the ADF and they convinced us it was safe.

It was probably a little scarier than we anticipated. There were tactical

landings in planes. That was a lot of fun, dropping from 30,000ft to zero in about 5 seconds seeing how quickly you could get out of the (anti-aircraft) rocket firing range.

I think if everybody got to do a trip like that they would have so much respect for what Australia is doing in Afghanistan. We met amazing people and they were so grateful that we were over there entertaining them.

It was an international contingent that turned up to the gigs - US, French and English. We were the first electronic band that had ever been there. Usually they get a lot of folk or rock bands.

D: Our first show over was to a completely sober crowd of about 500 troops. Usually we are performing to 500 people who are totally off their face. Half of the soldiers were still on duty still and had their weapons. It is probably the toughest crowd we have had to work to, but it only took a few minutes and we got them grooving.

TELL ME ABOUT THE ALBUM YOU ARE WORKING ON. R: It is a work in progress at the moment. That’s the reason Miss

S couldn’t be here today. She’s backtracking vocals for it. Hopefully be released by the end of the year.

We have pretty much got all the pool of tracks ready to go, it’s just a matter of finishing them in the studio.

D: The album for us is something that we have wanted to do for a long time. We’ve got enough tracks to release the whole lot as one record right now but that would be too easy. We like to take the hard route with everything generally, so we go out and write some new material rather than just rehash our previous work and packaging it up.

We are excited about some of the new ways of recording stuff, instruments that we are using and how that is going to organically translate onto the stage when we play it live. We can sit in the studio and write something elaborate with electronic music, and the way that we write stuff these days on computers and with controllers and software, but translating that into a live sense generally doesn’t sound that great DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME YOU HEARD YOUR MUSIC ON RADIO?

R: It was Wish You Were Here.

It got played on Today FM which is the biggest commercial radio station in Sydney and it was 10pm.

We had just come out of rehearsal for the single launch. We all came out and we had a van and absolutely cranked it the car park of the rehearsal studio.

It was an awesome feeling; I think I actually started dancing. There were definitely some high fives and man hugs.

D: I can’t remember a man hug!

The only way we find out if our stuff is being played on the radio now is via texts from friends, we don’t get to listen to the radio that much because we are always busy somewhere. When we are driving in cars the radio is always on but it is kind of weird hearing your stuff on the radio for the first time, or even a new song. It’s great R: Sometimes it comes on and you go ‘oh I know this song, holy shit it’s us!’ Another good feeling is when you walk into a club and there is a DJ playing a remix of your song or something like that. That’s just as good a feeling. www.radioink.com.au

celeb arrivals

Renault delivered Hollywood’s finest to the Cannes Film Festival in France. Top: Eva Longoria looked gorgeous as always. Above left: Action man, Bruce Willis. Above right: Alec Baldwin and new bride Hilaria Thomas look every bit the Hollywood couple.

SEXIEST LEGS Stacey Keibler

SEXIEST S EXIEST E XIEST EY EYES YES Y ES JJennifer ennifer La Lawrence awrence a wrence

B Burberry is a celebrity favourite when travelling as all these shots ttaken in airports show. Clockwise from top left: Jessica Alba, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Kristen Stewart, Miranda Kerr, Emma Stone.

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WHEN YOUR HEART IS SET ON MAKING IT BIG AS A MODEL, THERE’S ONLY ONE PLACE TO BE - DOWNTOWN NEW YORK. ABBEY SIMS HAS THE BIG APPLE FIRMLY IN HER SIGHTS.

Natural Beauty TRADITIONALLY KNOWN FOR IT’S BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE, COSTA RICA IS ALSO CREATING ATTENTION WITH IT’S GORGEOUS MODELS.

LAURA ZAMORA DESPITE BEING BULLIED FOR HER LOOKS AS A CHILD, LAURA ZAMORA HAS BUILT A SUCCESSFUL INTERNATIONAL CAREER THAT HAS CROSSED OVER INTO TELEVISION PRESENTING AND EVENT HOSTING. A CREATIVE SOUL WITH A DEEP CONNECTION TO NATURE, LAURA IS ALSO BUILDING HER OWN FASHION ACCESSORY BRAND. WORDS: DARREN HOUSE. PHOTOS: ROB SCHWARTZ. MUA: FERNANDO MENDEZ. JEWELRY: EMILIA RODRIGUEZ.

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or Central American beauty, Laura Zamora, modelling is a lot more than just a profession – it’s a way of life. Perhaps that’s not surprising, as it is also something Laura has been doing for most of her life, after proving herself a natural at age of 13.

“Modelling is art and passion.

I feel transported to fantasy and joy, when I do my job,” Laura told prodijee. Photography takes me to fantastic worlds. The runway produces streams of energy that

feel great in every movement I make. When I see the people’s faces connected with my path and my energy there is a feeling inside me of satisfaction for a good job done”.

Born and raised in Costa Rica, a country of beautiful beaches and rain forests, Laura, began her career 16 years ago when she won an event at the Costa Rica Models and Designers National Convention. Three years later Laura, whose professional name is Lhavra,

was invited to travel to Oranjestad, Aruba, to participate in a fashion contest. She then participated in fashion shows in cities that introduced her to the fashion world - New York and Miami in the US, and Santander and Madrid in Spain.

While she quickly became a favourite with fashion houses and advertising agencies, there was a time when Laura would never have considered herself model material.

“Since I was a little one, people

around me used to make fun of my thin build, so I started to believe that I was not pretty. I was born slim, flexible and exotic, but the same attributes that I thought people did not like about me turned out be attributes that distinguished me from the other models on runways.

Later on I understood that a person’s beauty comes from inside.

That was a great discovery. After that, I never stopped. It has been through modelling that I have developed a firm personality and an identity.”

Laura has appeared in many publications, including magazines El Economista and Vanidades

(New York), Vogue, FEM, Metro Life, Perfil, Living Costa Rica and Cosmetología, as well as newspapers La Prensa Gráfica (El Salvador), La Nación (Costa Rica), La República (Costa Rica), El Nuevo Diario (Nicaragua), and El Diario Montañés (Spain). Recently she was selected as the main model for international designers Lamazares y de Delgado, Fall – Winter Campaign of 2013 in Barcelona, Spain Her charisma and charm has also led to TV appearances on CNN en Español, E! Specials (E!entertainment television), Telebahia (Spain), Televisión Española (TVE), Univisión and Radio Nacional de España.

Laura was also invited to host events such as New Face Model Look 2007 (Spain), Chico & Chica modelo ( El Salvador), II Edición Centroamérica Moda - CA Moda (El Salvador), 1000 ideas 100 mujeres (Costa Rica) and Miss & Mister Cantabria 2009 (Spain).

Laura has fronted campaigns for Aldo Nero Leathers (Central America and Miami), Hotel Presidente and Hoteles Barceló and has worked alongside international designers such as Nidal Nouaihed (Venezuela), Bárbara Palacios (Venezuela ), Guillermina Baeza (Spain), Hélene Breebart (Panamá), Laurence Rassin (Nueva York), Anand Jon (India), Claudia Bertolero (Perú) and Adesso (Russia), just to name a few.

Along with the joy of creating art, Laura says it’s the people she’s worked with along the way that have made modelling so enjoyable.

“I have met wonderful people who have taught me about life that have proved to be of great help in my day-to-day living. To meet with different cultures and people, and to discover new places is an incomparable experience that I have enjoyed very much. Those experiences become part of you.”

Expanding her creative endeavours, Laura has combined her natural art and design talent and skills, and her love of fashion

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“To meet with different cultures and people, and to discover new places is an incomparable experience that becomes part of you.�

to create Lhavra Artcessories, her commercial brand for fashion accessories.

“Creation and art is another part of me. I love art and feel very comfortable when I am connected to it.

I enjoy what I do now, working in commercial campaigns and runway, which I enjoy a lot but I also want to keep working on Lhavra Artcessories, where I see good opportunities for me. I always want to be creating. Creation is a big force in the universe!

“I’m an artist at heart and I do not want to put that feeling away. Right now, I would love to the opportunity to study arts abroad in order to fill that space in my life.”

Laura is also working to help the growing of the fashion industry in her home country.

“There are lots of talented people here in Costa Rica who deserve an opportunity in a country that is still developing in the industry.

While Laura has worked with some amazing people and learnt much from them, she says her greatest influence comes from another source.

“There have been always people who inspire me, but mostly it is observation of nature, the universe and imagination, as well as the behaviour of people and animals.

That keeps me grounded. They are the forces that move me to accomplish my goals.”

PHOTOS: MATTHEW WREN

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lobal Designer Brands (GDB), the exclusive Playboy Licensee in Australia for Fashion Stores, Bars, Clubs, Hotels, e-Commerce and Events has hosted its first Playboy Mid Summer Nights Party (MSND).

After securing the rights in April, GDH felt it should kick of the celebration of the new deal with Playboy by staging a major party, which took place in Melbourne’s Docklands precinct.

The night was all about creating an enchanted wonderland of beautiful creatures and GDH certainly pulled that off. The dress code was glam fantasy and most of the patrons were only too happy to get into the spirit of the night.

People came from all over Australia for the event, with more than 1500 people attending, all of whom had a fantastic time.

The entertainment included great music from DJs including Crystal Harris, Hugh Hefner’s ex fiancée, Vogue Williams and singer Qwote.

There were also three Playmates from the USA , Irina Voronina, Summer Altice and Kimberly Philipps who mingled with the crowd all night.

The MSND angels were equally gorgeous and they also made sure everyone had a great time.

It was a very successful night and GDB is looking forward to putting together a national calendar of Playboy events soon.

MELBOURNE’S FIRST PLAYBOY MID SUMMER NIGHTS PARTY WAS THE HOTTEST TICKET IN TOWN. THE GOOD NEWS FOR THE MANY PEOPLE WHO MISSED THE GLITZ AND GLAMOUR OF THE NIGHT IS THAT MANY MORE ARE PLANNED.

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Boca Raton, Florida native outshone Miami Beach during Hooters 16th Annual International Swimsuit Pageant.

Amanda Jemini, 21, was selected out of 100 Hooters Girl contestants from around the world to represent Hooters for the next year as Miss Hooters International 2012.

Jemini won $50,000 cash and will be featured in Hooters Calendar, national marketing campaigns and TV commercials.

Jemini has worked at the Hooters of Boca Raton, Florida location for three years.

“This was my first time participating in the Hooters International Swimsuit Pageant and it was an unbelievable experience,” said Jemini. “The week leading up to pageant day was filled with early wake up calls, hair and makeup and all-day photo shoots, but the real highlight was meeting wonderful kids at the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. It was special to spend time with them and help to lift their spirits.”

The Hooters 16th Annual International Swimsuit Pageant was held at the Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater. Willis McGahee.

The Hooters Girl contestants were selected from more than 18,000 Hooters Girls who presently work in the 430 Hooters restaurants worldwide. The contestants received a spot in the pageant by competing in local swimsuit contests or were selected as the top Hooters Girl to represent their markets.

Evelise Giorge de Souza from Hooters of São Paulo, Brazil, was selected as Miss Hooters World, representing Hooters 27

international markets.

Meanwhile, Hooters of America, LLC announced that Fort Smith Hooters Girl, Kaylee Farris (right), has been named Hooters Girl of the Year 2012.

“I could not be happier for Kaylee,” stated Tommy Yardy, Director of Operations for Hooters of America, LLC. “She encompasses everything a Hooters Girl stands for with energy, beauty, personality and most of all a willingness to help her fellow employees and customers.”

In addition to being a corporate trainer, Kaylee has a long list of accomplishments as a Hooters Girl: representing Fort Smith at the Hooters International Swimsuit Pageant twice, being featured in the 2011 and 2012 Hooters Calendar, pictured on two Hooters billboards and making multiple appearances in Hooters Magazine.

Most recently, Kaylee has been featured on Hooters Dream Girl TV Show and is currently in the running

to add another title to her Hooters career. With the support and votes of her fans at www.FoxSports.com/ Hooters she has advanced to the second level of the bracket, with the hopes to ultimately beat out the other contestants and be named 2012 Hooters Dream Girl. www.hooters.com

john calado NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

I was born and raised on Long Island, East Meadow.

Growing up for me was truly hard. I didn’t have a lot of friends, nor did I have good looks. I was bullied a lot because I was overweight, had acne, bad teeth and just got made fun of for everything I was. I guess that brought me down to a level where I was severely depressed and became suicidal, and it’s been that way until a couple of months ago when I went out and got help. Now I feel great. I truly couldn’t have made it without my mother. If it wasn’t for her, I can guarantee I wouldn’t be alive today. My mother’s name is Margarita Velez and she was born in Ecuador. My father is from Portugal. I was always closer to my mother growing up.

She made me the man I am today and I thank her so much for it.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO ACTING AND MODELLING? I was scouted at the mall while walking with my mother one day and it changed from there.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN ACTING AND MODELLING? About seven years now, and I love it.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT ACTING AND/OR MODELLING? I enjoy seeing myself in pictures and magazines. It’s a really cool feeling because growing up I’ve always dreamt of modelling and always wanted to see myself in magazines, and now it’s finally happening.

WHAT ACTING AND/OR MODELLING WORK HAVE YOU DONE? I have done a lot of print work, such as Seventeen magazine, OHM magazine, American Apparel catalogues, book covers and more. I have also appeared in a couple of commercials and TV shows like Unforgettable on CBS, and World’s Most Astonishing News, which airs in Japan.

WHAT WORK DO YOU WANT TO DO? I want to focus my life on modelling more than acting.

My goal is to model for Dolce & Gabbana, GQ magazine, Details magazine, and to be featured in Vogue Hommes.

WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER INTERESTS? One of my other interests is cooking. I love to cook and I can make anything! I’ve watched my mother cook and saw the way she did everything, so I just did the same, and watched cooking channels and learned.

WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES? My biggest influence is my mother. She’s always worked hard for what she wanted and she never gave up.

Watching her has made me work hard for what I want my future to be and that is to be a successful model.

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PHOTOS: Ben Auld INETPICS/Mark Horsburgh Edge Photographics

CHARGER

HOLDEN YOUNG GUN NICK PERCAT WENT FROM ZERO TO HERO, WINNING THE BATHURST 1000 ON DEBUT JUST A FEW YEARS AFTER HIS RACING CAREER LOOKED OVER.

NICK PERCAT A RACE DRIVER FOR MORE THAN HALF HIS LIFE, 23-YEAR-OLD SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NICK PERCAT, ENTERED MOTORSPORT THROUGH GO KARTS IN 1998. AFTER PROGRESSING TO AUSSIE RACING CARS IN 2006, PERCAT’S CAREER LOOKED OVER WHEN HE RAN OUT OF MONEY. A STUNNING FINAL DRIVE CAUGHT THE EYE OF WALKINSHAW RACING AND HIS STAR HAS BEEN ON THE RISE EVER SINCE. AFTER RUNNING THE V8 SUPERCAR DEVELOPMENT SERIES, PERCAT WAS PAIRED WITH GARTH TANDER IN THE HOLDEN RACING TEAM FOR THE 2011 ENDURANCE RACES, ACHIEVING THE RARE FEAT OF WINNING BATHURST AS A ROOKIE. BUT IT HASN’T ALL BEEN EASY, HE TOLD DARREN HOUSE. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A BATHURST WINNER? It still hasn’t really sunk in. I didn’t even have a chance to watch the race on TV until the Christmas break, and I couldn’t remember how a lot of it played out so it was good to watch it over and understand that I did actually win Bathurst. It’s a crazy feeling. It’s something I have dreamt of doing my whole life and, now that it’s actually happened, the feeling is unbelievable.

WINNING AS A ROOKIE IS PRETTY SPECIAL, TOO. It’s not something that happens very often. I knew the car was quite good, because I had driven it during the year and driving alongside Garth (Tander) was easy because he has mentored me for a few years now. We know each other quite well and we get the best out of each other.

There was never the stress of driving an HRT (Holden Racing Team) car because I’m in the team

the whole time and, basically, it was just a different coloured car to what I normally drive. So, from that side of things, it was much easier than people probably think. But, to win Bathurst and go through all that emotion is pretty crazy.

THOUGH YOU ARE STILL YOUNG, IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. I started (racing go karts) when I was seven and raced through until 15. We got out of it before I went to seniors.

Percat was thrown in the deep end for his Bathurst debut, driving for the factory Holden team.

26 PRODIJEE RODIJEE

As in 2011, Percat will drive the Coates Hire Holden in this year’s V8 Supercars development series.

WHAT PROMPTED THAT DECISION? A lot of guys in karting who go to seniors never leave because they never progress. We didn’t want to get stuck in karting, so we made a decision just to go to the end of juniors and then go into cars with Formula Ford (FF).

HOW DID YOU FIND THE TRANSITION INTO CARS? We started off in the South Australian FF state series, with an older car. It was just me, my Dad (Marc) and a friend of ours, Ian Hall.

In my first year of car racing we won the SA State Championship, even though we had a very limited budget. It was a pretty cool thing to win in my first year of cars.

WERE YOU THINKING ABOUT A CAREER THEN, OR JUST SEEING HOW FAR YOU COULD GO? I always wanted to race for a career.

It is what I have wanted to do ever since I can remember, so there was a lot of determination and drive there to somehow make it all happen with what (little resource) we had.

In the early days, a lot of the time, we were racing against guys who were in newer cars and things like that, so we fought quite hard and made every moment count.

HOW DID THAT LACK OF RESOURCE AFFECT YOU MENTALLY? I think I might have been hungrier

for it than other guys. It’s just the way I am. I did the best I could and that was good enough for us to win at a state level in 2005. Then we went into Aussie Racing Cars (ARC) in 2006. We were just going to do a few rounds and see how we went because we didn’t have the budget to do it completely. ARC is a

Percat rose to the challenge of partnering Garth Tander.

category where all the cars are the same and have even performance.

The first round was at the Clipsal 500 (Adelaide) in 2006. I had only done half a day of testing in the car and we ended up finishing fourth overall for the weekend. It was quite a promising start against guys who had been in the category for years.

BEING IN A SUPPORT RACE ON THE V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT WAS A BIG STEP UP. It was my first attempt at driving on a big stage in front of a lot of people and with 40 cars on the grid. It was a very different situation for me.

We went well and managed to get some sponsorship, and did the whole season. We were leading the championship going into the last event on the Gold Coast, but it became a round full of mechanical issues with the car.

We didn’t get to start two of the three races, so that destroyed the championship.

At that point we thought, ‘We have run out of money, we haven’t really got anything left’. We weren’t even going to run the last race of the meeting. It started raining and Dad said, “I think we should go out and have a go; you’re quite good in the wet”.

I started in 40th place, because we hadn’t finished the previous two races, and won by about six seconds in a six-lap race. It was good to get a win, but it also got the interest of Walkinshaw Racing (HRT).

From then on I have been under Walkinshaw’s wing. They have helped me in every aspect; financially, my training, everything.

It is a credit to them that they have taken a punt on a young guy. I have been with them since 2007 and it has worked well for both of us.

DID YOU KNOW THEY WERE WATCHING YOU? From what I understand they halfknew my name because I had won a lot of the races towards the end of the year when I started getting the hang of the car, so they kept hearing my name mentioned over the (public address) speakers.

At the Gold Coast a lot of people ended up watching that race because the commentators were

Winners are grinners. Tander and Percat on the Bathurst podium.

With so much money at stake, the pressure to win is intense.

With the job done, Percat and Tander enjoy the spoils of victory.

quite into it, watching someone go from 40th, and last on the grid, to the lead and then just drive away.

It got a bit of attention and the very next day I got a phone call from Walkinshaw.

WHAT WOULD YOUR LIFE LOOK LIKE IF WALKINSHAW HADN’T CALLED? Before that we were like, ‘Well, we gave it a shot. Hopefully, we might be able to race something next year’. Otherwise, we would probably be go-karting and I’d be working in my Dad’s mechanical workshop in Adelaide.

Walkinshaw helped us get into the national FF series. I spent three years there and won the championship in 2009 and they helped me step up to the V8 Supercar development series in 2010.

WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN ONE MINUTE YOU ARE LOOKING AT GIVING IT AWAY, THE NEXT A FACTORY RACE TEAM WANTS YOU? I was quite young, I was only 17.

It was all a bit crazy because we thought it might have just been someone playing a bit of a joke.

We went to a meeting with them on the second morning after we got the phone call and it was all legit, and it has been good ever since.

It has been a big commitment from us too. I moved to Melbourne by myself when I was 17 to be near the team and have been living by myself ever since. If I wasn’t going to training or I wasn’t performing, if I wasn’t getting the results it would have all ended a long time ago.

They didn’t let me have it easy and I wouldn’t expect anyone to.

I have had to work very hard.

Towards the end of 2007 I wasn’t even sure if I would be there the next year because I didn’t have a great year. Part of the deal was that I had to win the championship to continue, so to keep me on was a sign of faith and eventually we won the title.

YOU ALSO GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO RACE IN ENGLAND. In 2008, I did the FF festival, which is like the world championship of FF. All the best FF drivers from around the world come to race each other.

The cars in the UK are different to the cars in Australia and we rocked

Percat celebrates Bathurst victory with the HRT crew.

Tander claims a narrow 2011 Bathurst victory over Craig Lowndes.

up without doing much testing.

We got there the week before and I worked on the car myself with my engineer.

We managed to get the car sorted and even with a bit of jet lag we won the semi-final against guys who had been racing those cars all year.

That put us on pole (position) for the final race of the championship, so we went into that with a good chance. But we had a mechanical drama on the first lap, so the race was pretty much all over before it began, which was a bit upsetting.

But it was a good experience to learn from. Going over there and racing against these guys made me a better driver because it was a different level.

DID YOU APPROACH THE EVENT ANY DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE OF THAT? No, I always approach a race

A relaxed moment during an intense Bathurst campaign.

68 PRODIJEE

“I MOVED TO MELBOURNE WHEN I WAS 17 TO BE NEAR THE TEAM AND BEEN LIVING ON MY OWN SINCE. IF I WASN’T PERFORMING, IT WOULD HAVE ENDED A LONG TIME AGO.” meeting with the same frame of mind. Even when I went to Phillip Island and Bathurst with HRT this year I treated it the same way as if I was in my car at Clipsal. I was racing against guys in the UK that do a lot more testing and a lot more miles than what we do in Australia.

They weren’t necessarily any better than what we have in Australia; it’s just the amount of testing they do. They were on the pace straight away. We were probably on the back-foot there because it was an unknown car and unknown tyres, but once I got close to our rhythm I was the quickest there.

AND LAST YEAR YOU RACED AN OPENWHEELER IN A SUPPORT RACE AT THE INDIAN FORMULA ONE GRAND PRIX. India was quite good. I hadn’t driven an open-wheeler for two years. I went there with Walkinshaw Racing. Ryan Walkinshaw, who is Tom Walkinshaw’s son and now looks after Walkinshaw Racing, and his Mum, Martine, invited me to go over there and race. It was just a one-off kind of thing. I didn’t expect to do as well as we did because again, I was racing against guys from all around the world, but we gave them a really good run.

We qualified on pole by about 1.6 seconds and won Race One by about seven seconds. That was a pretty good feeling because it didn’t matter if I was driving a (V8) Supercar or an open-wheeler, I was quite quick. I could go up against these kids in any car I wanted to. It was a good experience and good to learn another track. It is an awesome track. It would be good one day if the V8 Supercars could race there.

AS A PROFESSIONAL RACER, WHAT ARE YOUR OFF-TRACK COMMITMENTS? There are sponsorship commitments. Coates Hire is my major sponsor and before every round we generally go to a Coates Hire location in whatever state we are racing at and do an autograph signing. They also put on a bit of a BBQ and do a Q&A with me, so there is that side of things.

There’s training every day of the week doing various things – gym, running, cycling. Then I go in the (race shop) a fair bit, not to work on the cars, but more to talk to the team and try to find out where we can improve and how we can make our package better.

Before each round we have a sit down together, all the engineers and drivers, and we plan for the weekend. We go through the different things we might change on the car and when we get back from the race meeting we will have a big debrief to see what areas we can improve on, what we did well and what we didn’t do well. We don’t just rock up on the weekend and have a bit of a bash. A lot of people don’t really understand what goes into it and how much money is invested to get there.

AND OF COURSE THE SPONSORS WANT A RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT. The team has sponsors and everyone wants to do well for them.

If it wasn’t for the sponsors 90 per cent of the teams wouldn’t be there, so you really have to look after them. They want results, but it’s not just that; the whole team is working to get the car to the track and make it as fast as possible. It is definitely a team sport.

PRODIJEE 69

AS A BATHURST ROOKIE, DID YOU FEEL ADDITIONAL PRESSURE TEAMING WITH GARTH TANDER IN AN HRT CAR? There was probably a bit more pressure in those two (endurance) races, but I don’t mind having the pressure on me; I probably get a bit more performance out of the way I drive. There was never a point where I thought, ‘Oh God, I have to perform’. It was just jump in and drive the way I normally drive.

Obviously, it was good enough because we won Bathurst.

Once you try to make one race meeting different to the others, things can go wrong. You feel the pressure more because you put so much on the one race meeting.

I treated those races the same as any other race, did the same preparation and had the same mentality leading into them and drove the car the way I normally would. I was quite quick, so I don’t want to change that.

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR SLID INTO THE WALL AT TURN TWO WHILE LEADING AT BATHURST? Lowndesy (Craig Lowndes) was behind me for a while and he kept putting his nose in, so eventually I thought ‘I’ll just let him go past and I’ll follow him’ because he was no quicker than me; I could just sit on his rear (bumper) bar without losing any time, I wanted to follow him and learn, because he is a guy who has been around Bathurst as much as anyone and he does it quite well.

That was all well and good, but there were a lot of marbles off-line and the outside wheels got into them a little bit and from then on I was a passenger; I just had to chase the car all the way out to the wall and make sure it didn’t cause too much damage when it hit.

WERE YOU WORRIED THE DAMAGE MIGHT HAVE BEEN MORE SEVERE THAN IT WAS? I knew it was a decent hit. I gave the car a bit of a wobble to make sure the Watts Link wasn’t broken at the back of it. As soon as I realised that was okay it probably took me a lap to get back into a rhythm because the car had quite a big vibration through the wheels, which were damaged on the left-hand side from making contact with the wall. Once I got used to having a big vibration I was straight back into it; the pace

was straight back to what I was running before and as soon as we put the next set of tyres on, the car was absolutely fine. The car was in a top running position and it was all good.

WHAT DID THE TEAM SAY TO YOU OVER THE RADIO? They watched it on the (TV) monitor

and once it hit the wall I just said to the guys, “I’ve hit the wall at Turn Two”, they came back on the radio and said, “Yep mate, saw that.

You’re all good; just get back into your rhythm. You’ve got 20 laps to go till the end of your stint, so keep your head down and keep going”.

The person talking on the radio can’t get all fired up and angry at

the driver because he’s never going to get back on track. Both of us were quite calm, so we were fine.

HOW WOULD YOU SUM UP YOUR 2011 SEASON IN THE FUJITSU SERIES? It served its purpose. It was to give me more laps in a V8 Supercar because I was one of the most inexperienced guys teaming up with

a guy who could potentially win the biggest race of the year. We wanted to be up the front or winning in Fujitsu, but it was used more to give me experience and keep me learning about V8 Supercars. It is the closest car they could give me to the HRT car and we tried to make all the setups similar, but they could never be identical. It was a good

year though; having Coates Hire on board and being associated with them was a big deal. It’s a good place to be at the moment.

YOU ARE RACING IN THE DEVELOPMENT SERIES AGAIN THIS YEAR. ANY TALK OF WHEN A FULL-TIME MAIN SERIES DRIVE MIGHT EVENTUATE? I want to make sure I don’t go into

the main series underdone. When I go to the main series I want to be competitive. I don’t want to be floundering around in 18th or 19th position. It has been a joint decision between me and the team to go another year of the Development Series and see where I am. www.nickpercat.com.au

An Englishman in LA A YOUNG MAN WITH BIG AMBITION, RIK BARNETT KNEW HE HAD TO MAKE THE MOVE TO CALIFORNIA TO FURTHER HIS ACTING CAREER. THREE YEARS ON, THE DECISION IS STARTING TO PAY OFF.

Rik Barnett RIK BARNETT IS A 22-YEAR-OLD ACTOR AND A NATIVE OF ENGLAND. HE HAS RECENTLY FINISHED HIS STUDIES AT UCLA AND HAS BEEN WORKING HARD ON DEVELOPING HIS OWN PROJECTS IN LOS ANGELES, INCLUDING ‘BOSIE’, A PLAY ABOUT THE LIFE AND LOVE OF LORD ALFRED DOUGLAS. THIS WORK NOW HAS THE INTEREST OF THE TONY AWARD WINING BROADWAY PRODUCER ADAM EPSTEIN. RIK WON BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR AT THE IBIZA FILM FESTIVAL IN 2010 AND HAS JUST SIGNED WITH A TOP MANAGEMENT FIRM FOR ACTING IN LA AND IN NEW YORK. DARREN HOUSE CAUGHT UP WITH RIK IN LOS ANGELES WHERE HE DISCOVERED WHAT MAKES THIS EXCITING NEW TALENT TICK. LA IS AN INTERESTING PLACE FOR AN ENGLISH MAN FROM CHESHIRE. I grew up in Cheshire in a town called Macclesfield which is the countryside, rolling green hills, sheep, and chickens. It’s small; you can walk from one end of the town to the other in about an hour.

There’s not much to do. It was very quaint but I got out of there at 16.

I needed to go to a city and be amongst people and around things that were going on, so I moved to Manchester and went to drama school; I would always go back home to Macclesfield, I will always call it home because it is perfect.

It is where I want to raise children when the time comes.

My family is still there, my mum and dad. It is interesting because I never thought I would leave my town because my family, all my siblings, my grandparents and my cousins all live ten minutes walking distance. It’s a really small, tight knit community and now I am a million miles away so I am desperate to go back.

DO YOU COME FROM A FAMILY OF PERFORMERS OR ARTISTS? Not at all. My mum is a chef, my sister is a teacher, and my dad is an

architect. My older siblings are all into the arts but it’s textile art and animation and writing, so I am the only one wanting to do this acting malarkey but I love it.

WHERE DO YOU THINK THAT LOVE COMES FROM? I do not have a clue. All I remember is watching TV one day and thinking that it was something I desperately wanted to do, and I did everything I could to do it. I remember once in primary school - I must have been about 7 years old - I wrote a little script and I had the people in my class perform it. I remember thinking passionately that this is what I want to do and I have been driven to do it ever since.

DID ANY PARTICULAR TV PERSONALITY INSPIRE YOU? People from Macclesfield have a northern accent and I look back to old videos and my accent was so strong. I remember watching Dawn French on the television and she said she went to drama school to begin her career in acting. I remember thinking wow, if that is what I have to do, then that is what I am going to do. But she said her accent held her back and I

remember thinking that I had to get rid of my accent. I started to listen to the BBC news presenters and I began to morph that and ended up with a plain accent. But it was Dawn French that gave me my inspiration, which is hilarious. That was the biggest tip of my life - get rid of your accent.

The Americans really pick up on it when I say covers (couvers) or butter (bouter) and they say, “Oh you sound just like John Lennon”. I don’t sound anything like John Lennon WHAT ACCENT DO YOU WORK WITH HERE IN LA? Normally, if I am going for an American role I will speak with my management and go in as an American Rik Barnett, born and raised in California and no one needs to know any different.

Otherwise they get a bit stuck on the fact that I’ve got an English accent and they can put up a bit of a blind before I audition.

But if I am going for an English role I just go in as myself.

SO, YOU PROVE YOURSELF AS AN ACTOR

BY PRETENDING TO BE AN AMERICAN EVEN BEFORE THE AUDITION BEGIN. It’s funny because some of the

rounded look at the entertainment industry, which I think it is very important. I did pre-production and post-production so I understand the basics but you need to know who to approach and what you need to say.

In Los Angeles is it an entirely changing format, the medium has changed entirely with webisodes and suddenly money is coming in from different areas. It’s no longer just Sony with Mandalay Pictures making X-amount of pictures a year. It’s the individual who puts something out online and it gets picked up into a TV show that then gets turned into a film, so everyone has got the chance now, which is good.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE MOVING COUNTRIES AT 19 YEAR OLD AND HAVING NO FAMILY HERE. It was terrifying and I still get very home sick sometimes. Thank God there’s Skype. It was something that I felt I needed to do because I’d been to Manchester, I’d been to London, I’d visited New York, I’d visited Los Angeles; I needed to make this move and I am going to gain so much from it but I would have drawn the line at going somewhere that was foreign speaking.

things I have gone in for, several roles in one particular film, I’ve gone in for the American part and have had a call-back but they want me to read for an English part, so I just go in and say that I am actually English, so this might work out better.

WHILE LA IS THE ENTERTAINMENT CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, SURELY THERE ARE GOOD DRAMA SCHOOLS IN THE UK. WHY COME TO HOLLYWOOD? I feel like it ran its course in England just because it is so theatre heavy.

I did two years of theatre training, I did my RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) Shakespeare and I

felt I needed to do something in TV and film because that is where the money is. It’s where I can do something that is short-term that is going to benefit me in my career, rather than treading the boards eight shows a week, which is exhausting, so I decided to go to UCLA to do training there.

It was great because not only did it help with TV and film work, it helped with law. I took classes in entertainment law that were amazing, I learnt things I never knew. Now, someone can put a contract in front of me and I’ll understand it.

So it gave me a far better-

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO UCLA? I went to the Lee Strasberg Institute prior to UCLA and that was still very heavy into the theatre because it is the only place in America where people can get theatre training, in my opinion, here in LA anyway.

After a term or two I needed to do something that was more substantial (because) I was repeating everything I had done back home, so UCLA was the perfect choice. It was nice and it had a fun vibe to it.

WHAT WAS THE ENROLMENT PROCESS? Thankfully I didn’t have to audition.

I just sent over my tapes and my resume, along with some letters of recommendation from directors that I had worked with. I then met with some of the teachers and they accepted me, but then I had to find the money to pay for it.

HOW DO YOU GET BY FINANCIALLY? With a lot of help, a lot of favours and personal loans. I owe a lot of

money to my parents. I owe them a trip around the world.

WHAT WAS UCLA LIKE AS A UNIVERSITY? It was nice. At 18 -19 years of age, the American kids had not been exposed to living alone. They are not allowed to drink, not allowed to have sex and then they get to this place and it’s like freedom, let’s go out and stay out until 5am.

I didn’t want to go out, I just want a cup of tea and a book, and leave me be. I’ll go out next week. I had already done that whole thing back in the UK at a far younger age. I think because I started so young.

At 16 I was working in a pub and I grew up too fast, I guess. It was fun though. I really enjoyed it.

ARE THERE MANY FOREIGN DRAMA STUDENTS AT UCLA? In my class I would say it was 50/50 but in other classes it could be as high as 70/30. The universities get to charge three times more to a foreigner so they are raking it in.

WERE YOU A STRAIGHT ‘A’ STUDENT? I actually was, for the first time in my life. It was because I was doing something I liked, apart from my training back in the UK. That was graded in a different way, but I still got distinctions. Here, you take exams and I did well. Study works!

Who knew? (laughs).

WERE THERE ANY TIMES WHEN YOU QUESTIONED IF IT WAS WORTH CONTINUING? Yes. I was halfway through my time at UCLA and I remember thinking I was exhausted because the examining was intense. They were examining three things in one term, so I had nine exams.

I remember thinking how intense it was and that I didn’t need to be there, I wasn’t happy in Los Angeles.

I had a rough patch but I saw the light at the end of the tunnel, thankfully.

It just got a bit much and I was missing home, but I pulled through and I am glad that I did, because I am in a much better place because of it.

WHAT DOES GRADUATING MEAN FOR YOUR CAREER? It’s rare that you ever meet an actor under 25 that has had training in

“The Americans really pick up on it when I say ‘covers’ or ‘butter’.

They say, ‘You sound like John Lennon”. I don’t sound anything like John Lennon.” theatre. They go to acting class, maybe once a week, but no one really goes and studies at a conservatory full-time or anything like that.

I think it is a benefit to me because I feel like I have got a good foundation, whereas everyone else is a bit whimsical. It’s like they feel, ‘Oh, I got off the bus and I auditioned’, without having a real strong foundation to work on.

DO YOU FEEL YOU CAN NOW BUILD A SUCCESSFUL CAREER? I feel very confident that I am going to make a successful career. And I am quite happy not to be a big star as long as I can work on a consistent basis. I just want to do what I love and be rewarded for it.

I feel that, with the meetings I have been taking, that I am getting very close to being compensated for the time that I am putting into it, that is so important to me.

THE USA HAS SO MUCH MORE CAREER OPPORTUNITY BUT ALSO MORE COMPETITION FOR ROLES. HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THAT? Yes, but the thing is when there is a part for an English-accented person there are only a handful of English accented people available here, so there is more opportunity for me here because there is a less saturated market of English accented young men.

YOU WON AN AWARD AT THE IBIZA FILM FESTIVAL. That was very exciting and it was for a film that I did called Rebel

Without A Clue, which was shot on the English moors. It was meant to be set during summer time but was shot in September/October/ November, so it was absolutely freezing in a T-shirt but it was really fun.

I got to work with some actors who I had worked with before in Manchester on some theatre work and so it was a kind of reconnection on that level.

When it was released, it was shown at some festivals and it did well in Europe, Spain in particular.

At the Ibiza film festival it took home some awards and one of those was the best supporting actor award for me. Jacqueline Bisset gave the award to me - that was exciting. I loved it. It is a fairly new festival but it is going to do very well because everyone knows Ibiza.

YOU HAVE NEW REPRESENTATION IN THE US. Yes, I just signed with these people.

The people in England I just sort of got tired with. They weren’t pulling their weight but these guys are amazing. It feels like family.

They cover both coasts and all my projects. If I want to write, if I want to produce and there is something I like but I don’t necessarily want to get in front of the camera, they are willing to represent me with it all.

It is a boutique agency but they have some amazing clients like Halle Berry. They have about 50 people on their books and I am the only caucasian male that is under 25, which means I am the only one from the company who is going out

for those roles.

HOW DID YOU COME INTO CONTACT WITH THEM? I sent them a really nice covering letter and a link to a YouTube video of some work that I had done.

Someone called me from the office and asked me to come in for a meet and greet. I did, and they really liked me.

I went in all English and they asked me, “Could you just put this to tape for us”, and it was some sides from American Horror Story, so I recorded that in an American accent.

When they saw it they loved it and four of the members of the team and the main guy said, “Well, we want you. Here’s the contract”.

There were certain things that I didn’t like and wanted changed and they accommodated me. It was very easy, which was odd. It was something I wasn’t expecting.

HAVE YOU DONE ANY WORK HERE YET? I am changing my status at the minute, again, so I have told them that I need to put that on the back burner while I sort that deal with the play I have written, Bosie because that is where my time has been going.

I have been out for one or two auditions because (the agency) wants to concentrate on feature films and turn me into Daniel Radcliff or Robert Patterson.

That is fine but I want to do TV or something that is going to get me working every day. There are already things happening but I have

to wait and find out.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE GENRE? I miss the stage terribly so I am looking forward to doing (my) play.

It’s really where my heart is but I also love doing film because it is, so different every day. It is not a repetitive thing.

IS THERE MUCH STAGE WORK IN LA? There is some over in the NoHo (North Hollywood) Arts District and the theatre district down Hollywood way. There are some great small theatres if you want to trial your work and see what people’s responses are but most of the actors don’t want to be doing stage, they want to do TV and film.

DO YOU ALSO SING AND DANCE? I’m no triple threat, I’m not going to lie. I can’t do it, I am just an actor.

SO HUGH JACKMAN HAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT? Australia has got some amazing talent. I wish that Caroline Reid (Pam Ann) would make it bigger in the States than what she has, because in the UK she is huge. I

am desperate for her to come back over and do some more shows.

Also, Chris Lilley is genius. When I saw Summer Heights High I though this man is genius. Maybe one day I’ll work with him. I’d love that.

YOU’RE NOT PLANNING TO DO NEIGHBOURS IN AUSTRALIA? You know, it’s funny, every Australian, including a friend of mine, Alexandra who was in Home and Away and Neighbours for a long time, puts it down. In the UK it is huge! I remember my sister watching it every day. Of course I would do it. Being in Australia - working - why not? I’d do it for a few months until they killed my character off (laughs). As long as I knew there was an end date.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT AUDITIONS? It is very casual. Everything in Los Angeles is very casual and laid back. You can go and have an audition and someone is sitting there eating nuts or having a sandwich and it’s like, ‘Hi, nice to meet you’. It’s nice. It puts me at ease because in the UK it can be a bit more rigid.

It is funny because in the US you can go and audition and there might be just one person in the room or you can go in and there is a table of 12 people in front of you that you have to read for. You never know what you are going to see when the door opens. It’s fun, exciting. I like it.

ARE YOU COOL IF YOU DON’T GET A CALLBACK? The great thing is my management always calls up and asks for feedback. They have such a good rapport with the casting agents, who are very honest. They will say, “Well he didn’t have the right look”.

That is the main thing that normally comes back; you weren’t what they were looking for. I don’t mind. I have another audition tomorrow.

YOU ARE ALSO A WRITER. That is one of my main passions.

This play is called Bosie. It’s about Lord Alfred Douglas. I have finished it but it is still being tweaked and seeing what areas can be improved.

I have had some people read it and they passed it on to some other people – these things always

happen through connections - and it has landed in the hands of some producers who really like it. It’s now really moving, which is scary but exciting. I am more scared about that because I am going into the unknown in the American theatre realm. I am used to the UK (scene), I know the route, and I know the strategies. With this, a higher power takes over.

COULD IT BE A SCREEN PLAY AS WELL AS A STAGE PLAY? It’s one of those things where, if the play does well, then yes. They are also talking about doing a reality show or documentary - I say documentary because I don’t want to do a reality show - about the development process and bringing it to its final stages. That is a little daunting but exciting. It is another thing that I am terrified of because it is not just me in front of a camera acting. It is me being myself.

TELL ME ABOUT BOSIE Lord Alfred was Oscar Wilde’s lover.

He was pretty much the catalyst for bringing Oscar Wilde down; got him imprisoned and ruined his life.

It’s a story that hasn’t really been told from his point of view.

He is a really malicious, nasty sort of character and it is something that I thought should come to the attention of people because it is a great story. It’s a dark script but there are funny elements. It’s very English. It’s that dark humour.

WILL YOU STAR IN BOSIE? If (the producers) said this is an amazing script but we don’t want you, if they wanted Zac Efron or someone else, then I’d say sure, if that is going to bring in tickets sales.

I can do it somewhere else. That’s fine as long as they don’t alter the script to too much.

ARE YOU WORKING ON OTHER PROJECTS? There are a few other things but they are on the back burner for now.

There are some TV shows that I am probably now going to take down the webisode route, just because it’s easier, it’s quicker and you can get a worldwide audience instantly. The funny thing now is that you can do this webisode and if it gets a good reaction and a good following then you have an audience already built

if you wanted to take it to a network and say let’s do a pilot.

WHAT ARE YOU INTERESTS AWAY FROM ACTING? I like reading a lot and I like going to the movies. Los Angeles is great for going to movies, because LA shows all the classic films continuously. I saw Jaws the other day on the big screen, and Annie Hall, and next I am seeing The Shining. It is nice to revisit classic films. It’s something that I love to do. I like swimming a lot too. It’s nice to have the sea nearby, though

Jaws is still fresh in my memory!

YOU ARE GOING HOME SOON. YOU MUST BE EXCITED ABOUT THAT? I was going to go home this summer but I might just push it back. My sister is giving birth and she is getting married so I might push it back to Christmas.

I have not seen my sister or other family members for two years now.

It’s a long time. It was nice to see my parents when they came here for six weeks. I have got some brothers who are coming this summer so I am seeing them little by little.

PASSENGERS, WELCOME TO CHITRA’S CLOSET AIRLINES, PLEASE STOW YOUR LUGGAGE IN THE OVERHEAD LOCKERS AND TAKE YOUR SEATS. FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS AND PREPARE TO TAKE OFF INTO A WORLD OF ULTRA-FEMININE WHIMSY. WORDS: CAROL SHERIDAN

O

ur world of fantasy began the minute we stepped inside the door of the Lux Foundry in Brunswick and were handed our boarding passes for the journey ahead.

Our pre-flight entertainment was listening to the dulcet tones and nostalgic tunes from a very talented singer and piano accordionist, while we sipped on delectable wines and wondered where our evening was going to take us.

The bubbly flight attendants ushered us to our seats and with the help of our senior flight attendant, Amy Jenkins, gave us our safety instructions, making sure we were comfortable, properly dressed and ‘made up’ for our flight of fancy.

Our journey was about to begin, the journey into the past, the journey to the world where women’s curves are celebrated and the feminine form is always the star. The journey into the mind of the independent fashion designer, Chitra Mangma,

for the Autumn/winter Fashion Show 2012 for Chitra’s Closet.

‘You don’t have to travel the world; let the world travel around you’, Chitra once said during an interview for her ‘Tea Party 2009 Spring/Summer collection’, and this was certainly the case for this evening of timeless and elegant designs from the 1930s and 1950s.

This season’s collection draws inspiration from the New Look and features the 2012 predominant trend of colour blocking. Chitra’s love of daring contrasts of fabrics, prints and colours, as well as hand stitching, contrasting trims and covered buttons was displayed on tailored pants, figure hugging pencil skirts, flamboyant shirts and classical jackets. Her attention to detail and the finished product is truly commendable.

Chitra’s Closet garments celebrate old world style, grace and elegance; with silhouettes to accentuate and flatter womanly

curves. As well as being vivid, eclectic and flattering to the figure, Chitra’s collections are recognisable for the daring contrasts of fabrics, prints and colours, as well as hand stitching features, contrasting trims and covered buttons. All garments are made from one hundred per cent natural fabrics.

Chitra Mangma has been designing clothes for her boutique in Brunswick since 2003, developing a loyal clientele who are drawn to her ultra-feminine, colourful vintage designs. Her designs are proving to be extremely popular with style conscious, elegant women in Melbourne.

“My clients aren’t distracted by flashy fashion, they appreciate romance, fantasy and they want everything in their life to be beautiful”, said Chitra.

Chitra’s range is available exclusively through her Sydney Road boutique. www.chitrascloset.com.au

Simone Redfern YORK, UNITED KINGDOM PHOTOS: Rebecca Keenan

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? I grew up in Australia and the United Kingdom. I was in Australia when I was in Kindergarten then moved to the United Kingdom and went to primary school here.

Then I went to secondary school and did Year 7 and moved to Australia, completing middle school and high school over there. I am now permanently living in the United Kingdom. I have loved moving countries as it is interesting living in different places, meeting new people and experiencing new things.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO MODELLING? I have always been told by shop assistants, hairdressers and friends that I look like a model. That got me thinking about maybe becoming a model but the one thing that definitely inspired me was when I watched a documentary about Miranda Kerr's life. Seeing this made me want to become a model even more and chase my dream.

I decided to start modelling when I finished school, and this was when I had moved from Australia to the United Kingdom in 2011. As soon as I got to the United Kingdom I began contacting modelling agencies and soon I got an email back asking me to attend an interview with Base Models in London. I am now represented by them.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MODELLING? I have been modelling since January 2012.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT MODELLING? It is so much fun creating different moods and looks, plus I love fashion. My parents have been so supportive with my modelling and they know it is a dream of mine to one day become well-known in the industry.

WHAT MODELLING WORK HAVE YOU DONE? I have not done much yet as I have only been with Base Models since December. I have modelled for Studio Time Photography in a Fashion Group Workshop where photographers could practice their photography skills with models. I have had a photoshoot with Life in Images by Rebecca Keenan in Australia and I have also had a photoshoot with Pro Image Studios Photography

by Jarek Duk. WHAT WORK DO YOU WANT TO DO? I want to be an editorial model. I hope to one day be

in magazines such as Vogue. I would love to model for high fashion brands.

WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER INTERESTS? My main interest is definitely fashion. I love searching for new trends and piecing outfits together. I buy Vogue every month to see what the new styles are for every season. I also look at the models to see what poses they do; this gives me inspiration for future photo shoots. Topshop, Zara and River Island are my favourite stores to shop at for fashion.

WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES? I am mostly influenced by Miranda Kerr. She was one of the first models I had seen in magazines and on the TV when I was living in Australian because she is Australian. I had learnt about her career as a model by seeing a documentary on her on TV. She has been booked for print magazines such as: Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar and many more. I would love to be booked for these magazines; it is definitely a dream of mine!

When I moved to the United Kingdom I heard about Alessandra Ambrosio, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Kate Moss and Gisele Bundchen. I have seen them model for many campaigns. They all influence me because of how far they have come with modelling and how well they work with the camera.

HE’S ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S BEST BEAT MATCHERS BUT THERE’S MORE TO ANDREAS MIHALAKOS THAN SPINNING DISKS AND PUSHING BUTTONS.

AFTER HONING HIS SKILL FOR MORE THAN 12 YEARS, ANDREAS MIHALAKOS IS ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR DJs, BUT HIS CONSIDERABLE TALENT DOESN’T END THERE. A DANCER AND MASTER SHOWMAN, ANDREAS IS FIRST AND FOREMOST AN ENTERTAINER. AND NOW HE IS WELL ON HIS WAY TO BECOMING A PRODUCER, CREATING ORIGINAL MUSIC AND HAS HIS SIGHTS SET ON CREATING A PLATINUM RECORD. WORDS: DARREN HOUSE PHOTOS: CESUR SANLI

W

ith such a strong passion for music, there was never any doubt that Andreas Mihalakos would build a career in the entertainment industry, but it took him some time to find his place in the world.

Now that he has, Andreas has become a living monument to the notion that hard work, a willingness to learn and doing what you love can take you to the top.

After starting as a bassist in a band at school, Andreas is now one of Melbourne’s top DJs, playing to packed houses of dedicated fans all over the city as part of DJ guru, Mark Pelligrini’s company, Rocksteady Entertainment.

Andreas is now adding music production to his repertoire and has his sights set firmly on an international career.

For Andreas, the art of DJ’ing is a lot more than spinning discs and pushing buttons. His shows are total entertainment, encompassing dancers, lighting and a well thought out theme.

0 Andreas was in Year 7 at school when his passion for music began to take hold.

“I played the bass guitar and we

entered a Battle of the Bands. There were six of us in the group, which was called Different Colours; the reason for the name was that I am Greek, our singer was Portuguese, our keyboard player was Italian, our other singer was a New Zealander and our guitarist was Australian. We came third in the competition and from there I just felt I had a feel for music.

“I also played drums but that was hard for me. I used to play football as well but that fell through.

I played Aussie Rules for 17 years and played for the Victorian State League for a while with the Calder Canons.

“Life began to fall into place after a chance meeting at a club with Mark Pellegrini.

“I had just turned 18 when I met Mark. We were at the Heat nightclub at Crown Casino and I just was just like a little kid standing there observing,” explained Andreas. “The more I watched him, the more I wanted to do what he did. I went home and hired my own equipment and practiced, practiced, practiced.

“One night Mark had to leave early and he asked if I could play

for the rest of the night using his music. I panicked because this was my first time playing in front of a group of people. I did parties but a nightclub is very different. He left at 11pm and I was playing until 7 in the morning. He said to take my music home and I burnt myself a copy. When he went to pay me I said, I don’t want any money, you just gave me the best opportunity anyone could give.

“From there Mark and I developed a friendship and he has been my friend for more than 16 years. He’s my boss but outside of work, he’s my best mate; my mentor.”

While it might seem as though Andreas has had a dream run, it hasn’t been that easy.

“I have worked hard. To be where I am today I had to prove myself to Mark and show him what I could do. He saw that I was persistent and eager. I was hungry and I am still hungry now. I am on the verge of making it slowly but I am not getting ahead of myself. I’ll take two steps back to take four steps forward.”

Andreas also had to overcome moments of self-doubt.

“At times I thought I couldn’t do

this but now I have developed to the point where I believe there is no such thing as can’t. You try and if you don’t succeed, there is always another path.”

The key to Andreas’ success was a willingness to learn from others, something that continues to this day.

“Every club I walked into, I sat, I listened and saw what the performers gave to the audience, and that was enjoyment,” he said.

“And I am still learning every day. I can sit beside Mark now and watch him play and I will learn. I will throw that into my set and develop something on top of it and make it my own.

“I also ask a lot of DJs for feedback. Out of 10, three of them might say I didn’t like a particular bit of it and maybe I will change it for the next remix. People might say feedback lowers their confidence

when someone doesn’t like it, and they want to give up. I get hungry for feedback. I am going to make you like it.”

Andreas even turned a European vacation into a learning experience.

“When I went to Mykonos I took nothing but my music – not even my contact list. I approached club owners saying I am a DJ from Melbourne; I don’t want any money, I just want the experience. They gave me the benefit of the doubt and I played.”

While Andreas plays at many clubs these days, his main gig is Strut, the Saturday night show at Trak nightclub in Toorak. Claiming he “gets paid to party”, Andreas clearly loves his work.

“I DJ three or four nights a week and see people enjoying themselves and that brings a smile to my face.

I became a DJ to express myself

and people like it, so to be on their wave length where I am making the crowd dance, the people are drinking, picking up, having a good time, is fantastic.

“I start off the night, then there is another DJ, Jason Serini, followed by the band, Collective (Live), featuring Chloe Maggs that plays ’90s house music. Then Mark will have his Brazilian floor show Mark DJ’ing, with Brazilian dancers and a percussionist and we end the night with Danny Merx and Henrique Santos.

“To have the audience up at such a high level until 3 in the morning is incredible. Anyone can play a set; it’s whether you can start off a night.

That’s the position I have been put in for the last two years here, and I’ve had the crowd loving what we do. They know what to expect from me from now on.”

Getting to the top of your field isn’t the end of the journey – Andreas says you have to continue working hard to retain your place in the crowd’s heart.

“The genre changes every six months so three or four times a week I chase up music charts because you have to adapt with the crowd. You have to play what the crowd wants.”

Part of pleasing the crowd comes from the theatrics - expressed through a dance - that he has introduced into his routine.

“Not only do I play, I like to dance. There are three of us onstage, myself and two girls, Bree and Melinda.

Bree is the choreographer and she thought of the idea of calling (that part of the show) Unmasked.

I am masked and after each show, I take the mask off and it’s like ‘whoa’. They don’t expect it to be the DJ dancing.”

Andreas was introduced to dance at the age of 15.

“A friend of mine and her sister danced and I would go and watch them. My best mate, just for a joke, said we should have a go. While we weren’t the best dancers, we were pretty good (but) I was a cabinet

maker as well back then and it was just too much.

But I’d been getting itchy feet, so I called Bree and said let’s do it and we put a show together.

“It’s worked well. The feedback I have received and the amount of views we’ve got on YouTube has given me more drive to do something else. I want to take my career and the people I work with to a whole new level.”

Andreas’ club success has led to invitations to perform at major festivals, including this year’s Melbourne Creamfields.

“Mark called me and said, “Do you want the good news or the

good news?” and I had no idea what he was talking about. Then he said, “Congratulations, you are officially a DJ for Creamfields”. It was more experience and another stepping stone.”

Working for Rocksteady Entertainment means more than just being a DJ and managing Strut. Andreas is now 2IC of the business, making him responsible for everything from organising the talent to driving the marketing.

“I have 11 guys who work for me; they do all my private functions that I can’t do on the weekends and they have been following in my footsteps.

I use the feedback I get to develop

them, so they are like apprentices.

The crew that we have got together is like a family and that is what has kept us strong”.

It also means taking control of Strut, which is run by Rocksteady Entertainment, meaning he not only headlines the show, he manages the entire night as well.

“We subcontract the club so we own the night,” explained Andreas.”

Competition is strong so we come up with marketing gimmicks. For instance, Saturday nights at Trak are called Strut, so we say ‘Why walk when you can Strut?’ You can put the word strut into songs - there’s a few Madonna songs that we

“When I play, I tell a story.

There’s an intro, there’s a middle and there’s a conclusion. If you listen to the story, it’s pretty much what I have gone through in my life.”

have put strut into and it’s catchy.

We have 10,000 Facebook fans and many of them put photos of themselves strutting on Facebook.

“For Easter I got a friend of mine, who owns a chocolate factory, to make me a big chocolate stiletto and girls love that.”

Andreas also works hard to bring international crowd-pulling acts to Strut.

“We had Wickid Force perform here; they are the best break dancers in the world. The current generation doesn’t think of break dancers that much but they thought the show was unbelievable with the guys standing on their heads, twirling, doing helicopters… These guys won the championship five years in a row.”

Andreas has also been supporting DJ to big name act such as DJ beauty Havanah Brown, Potbellez, Denzel Park, Inaya Day, Qwote, Timmy Trumpet, and trend setter John Course, most of whom have also performed at Strut.

“So, we like to give the crowd

a show that keeps them guessing and thinking, ‘Oh my God, what are they going to give us this time?’

Mark has two Brazilian dancers and a percussionist singing along and chanting, which gets everyone chanting. It’s awesome to have a whole club of 1000 people chanting.

“We go out of our way to give them good music, a good show and a good host. We look at what others are doing and we better it.

We innovate in what we do. We like to be one step ahead.”

Andreas has recently begun music production and is excited about where this next stage of his career could take him.

“I want a gold and a platinum record,” he confessed. “Whether that’s going to happen tomorrow or 10 years down the track, I’m going to get them once my production tightens and I become more knowledgeable.

“I have just started producing in the last year and I have done my own remixing, which is good but to

have your own original is something else. If it doesn’t work in Australia, I’ll go straight to Europe where all the big names are.”

Andreas has already made a few recordings and again Mark has been only too willing to assist him.

“If something is out of beat and if I can’t figure it out, I’ll give it to Mark and ask him to give me an

idea, then I will leave it for a day before I get back to it. When you are frustrated you have to give yourself time and be patient. It’s about caring for the product and I have found with recording, I have to care a lot more.”

“I liken producing to a woman putting on make-up to glam up.

When I am doing my music, I like to add synths, which would be like applying lipstick. Adding a colour to her hair would be like adding an extra beat.”

In Andreas’ mind, there is no doubt he is creating music but occasionally finds people who dispute that he is a musician.

“If they like to think I am not a musician that is entirely up to them, but you get behind a console and try to beat match something to play to thousands of people. People think it is easy but it’s not. If you don’t mix the songs properly you’re going to get booed.

“When people sing, they tell a story, how they feel inside and I explain my feelings through music.

“I do play instruments and I do all my arrangements on a mini keyboard. Just because I am a DJ doesn’t mean I can’t do it. I know how to play bass guitar and I can play drums.”

In October, Andreas will take another leap forward when he and Mark head to Europe to attend the Amsterdam Dance Event, the world’s leading electronic music conference and the biggest club festival for the many electronic subgenres.

“It’s where record labels and artists come together and there’s a big party after the seminar. There will be 25 of the world’s top DJs playing at this thing, so it’s a good stepping stone for me. Mark goes every year and he said ‘let’s do it’.

“He has just released seven originals with a singer and percussionist and he is set to promote that, but for me it’s a meet and greet with a few labels.

“I haven’t done any originals yet but I might take one or two remixes to show what I’ve done and ask them to tell me what they think.”

Damsel in this dress

RECENTLY RECOGNISED FOR HER CAPTIVATING FLAIR AND DISTINCTIVE TALENT TO CREATE DESIGNER DRESSES AND ACCESSORIES, MELINA HOLLWAY IS NOW HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER BY FASHION INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS.

Melina Hollway A SEL F-TAU G HT FA SHI ON DESI GN ER WITH AN EXCEPTIONAL FLAIR FOR D E SI G N I N G AN D CREATING UNIQU E , ONE OF A K IND, H IG H LY SOU G H T AF T ER S T YL ES, GOL D COA ST DESIGNER M ELINA H OLLWAY D RAWS H ER I NSP I R AT I O N FROM THE LUMINOU S TROPICAL SURROU ND INGS TO TH E FAR R EM OV ED, DA RK A ND MY STERIOU S, ROMANTIC SCENES OF TH E BACK S T REET S O F PA RI S. WORDS : CA ROL S HE RIDAN

F

rom being homeless to living in a multi-million dollar mansion, Melina Hollway has used her raw and untrained talent to move to the top of the world.

The Gold Coast based designer has been designing for her whole life, but a head-on car accident that rendered her family homeless made the talented young woman turn to her skills to build a career.

Having never had a sewing lesson or design lesson in her life, Melina’s exceptional flair for creating unique

48 PRODIJEE

designs has made her garments highly sought after. Her label, Damsel in this Dress, is a product of Melina’s imagination and her love of all things Europe.

All of the garments have been hand sewn by Melina herself but her husband Clint is now helping put together these magnificent creations.

I asked Melina what inspired the range that opened one of the runways at this year’s Gold Coast Fashion Week.

“I wanted to do something very European. I would love to go to Paris, I have ideas of what it is like, the embellished garments; the dark, romantic and mysterious backstreets.

“In my head I have an idea of what I would like to see over there, whether it’s the same as what I imagine, or not. That’s why we opened the show with the latest European sensation, which is guys dancing in high heels.

“We took our inspiration from a

it too hard to deal with them.

Now, these beautiful designs can be bought by women everywhere through her facebook page, or for international shoppers, she sells through US.Trendy With more than 19,000 people on her fan page and lots of very regular customers, Melina and her husband are kept busy creating Damsel perfection.

Having met Melina at Gold Coast Fashion Week, I asked her what the re-emergence of this event means to her.

“I have been selected to do quite a few interstate things, I’ve made it into the top 10 of Spirit of the Little Black Dress, which is part of the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival, but I feel that doing something on the Gold Coast, something local to me, is so much more rewarding.

“I think that what the girls (Michaela Fitzgerald and Danielle Daquino) have tried to do here is put the Gold Coast back on the map for fashion.”

“I love doing backless designs.

The back of a woman, the shape, is amazing and I try to accentuate it.”

European sensation called Kazaky, which is a singing and dancing group. The group we used here is called Epica. They did a great job.”

Melina’s designs feature heavily with laces, chiffons, organza’s and netting; they are floaty and capture femininity. “I really like to impress people and give that wow factor”, Melina told prodijee.

Bustiers are also very prominent in Melina’s range. “You can put a bustier on a tiny young woman and she can still have that bigger, busty Victorian feminine style”, said Melina.

“I love doing backless designs.

The back of a woman, the shape, it’s amazing. I try and accentuate what I feel is pretty.

‘Whatever I do, people just seem to love, and I go with that. So, if I’m on a roll, I stick to it.”

Melina laughed when telling me,

“I pretty much live in my own head of fantasy and that comes out in my clothing.

“When I am day dreaming I see lots of embellishments and flowers and if I could, I would wear all that I have horded over the years at once.

(But) that would scare people, so I put them onto the garments and match up the colours and not overdo it, just enough to make them amazing.”

Melina uses her creative genius to decorate shoes by adding incredible embellishments to match her beautiful clothes, which tops off the perfect romantic look.

With fabrics sourced from overseas and Australia, and embellishments picked up from wherever Melina travels, her garments are in hot demand.

However, selling through shops wasn’t rewarding and Melina found

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when o best w

only the will do

WHEN YOU WANT THE BEST, YOU HEAD TO RODEO DRIVE. AND WHEN YOU HEAD TO RODEO DRIVE, YOU STAY AT THE BEVERLY WILSHIRE HOTEL. CAROL SHERIDAN FOUND IT THE PERFECT RETREAT AFTER A HARD DAY’S SHOPPING.

Beverly Wilshire IT’S HOSTED PRESIDENTS, ROYALTY AND CELEBRITIES BUT YOU MAY KNOW IT AS THE HOTEL THAT FEATURED PROMINENTLY IN THE MOVIE, PRETTY WOMAN.

W

e first experienced the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in 2006 and have been regular visitors ever since. The reason is quite simple - for luxury, service, ambience and location, it’s hard to beat.

During our most recent stay, we sat down to breakfast with the Beverly Wilshire’s Director of Marketing, Rob Sapp in the hotel’s The BLVD restaurant, and talked about this magnificent hotel, its reputation and history.

9500 Wilshire Boulevard, on the east side of South Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills is the location of the Beverly Wilshire. Built on the site of the former Beverly Auto Speedway, this magnificent building was completed in 1928.

Constructed from a special Tuscan Stone and Carrara Marble, the design followed in the Italian Renaissance architectural style.

At the time of construction, the population of Beverly Hills was less than 1,000 and it was still undiscovered by Hollywood’s incrowd.

“Originally this area was a large motocross track with lots of motor

cycle and car racing going on, there were also a lot of farms and ranches here,” Rob told prodijee.

“Wilshire Boulevard was the connector from downtown, thus the entertainment industry and the studios gravitated to these ranches and farms to do on-location filming.

They eventually established their studios out here – Fox, Columbia, Paramount etc.”

The hotel was renovated in 1940 when a ballroom, which attracted many of the big bands of the day, was added. An Olympicsized swimming pool, where at age 12, Elizabeth Taylor learnt to swim, was also added, along with championship-size tennis courts, complete with well-known tennis champion, Pancho Gonzalez, as its tennis director.

In 1971 the Beverly Wing was built on the space that had housed the tennis courts, cabanas and pool. El Camino Real is a private cobblestone driveway created

by Italian artisans, lined with 38 gaslight lanterns imported from a castle in Edinburgh and covered by a domed porte-cochere that gracefully joins the two buildings

near the entrance.

Rich in history, the Beverly Wilshire has withstood major earthquakes in 1933, 1971 and 1994 and was designated an air raid shelter during World War II. For many of us, the movie Pretty Woman would have brought the hotel to our attention, but this film only used the exterior of the hotel the interior scenes were replicated in a studio.

Many other films and television shows have been filmed here including scenes for Valentine’s Day, Indecent Proposal, Entourage, The Bachelor, Sex and the City movie and TV episodes.

“We are very selective about what we do here. We are a luxury leader in the city and we feel that we would want to put the hotel forth in a manner that makes our clientele feel good about the representation.

“Sometimes there’s a lot of credit given for collaboration, sometimes people just recognise where things are taking place”.

When it comes to disruption to the guests during one of these events, Rob said, “It’s really a twofold proposition. We are very deliberate

and cautious about how we operate, whether it’s up on the floors, in suites or in the public areas.

We choose the times that we do these film events as not to be disruptive to the guest experience but conversely, our guests, I believe, get a great deal of satisfaction and interest out of things happening in the hotel that are unique and kind of cutting edge in the creative world. It’s always interesting when you have something going on, a filming, an interview, a top of the line event.”

Celebrities, royalty and presidents have known about the Beverly Wilshire for a long time.

Elvis Presley lived here while filming several movies.

His female fans used to send up balloons containing love notes to his terrace suite.

Warren Beatty lived in the Veranda Suite of the hotel for 10 years during the 1960s and 70s.

Steve McQueen lived here in the early 70s when he was going through a divorce. He lived in the back tower and grew a beard so that he could blend in with the crowd. He would ride his Indian motor cycle and then take it up to his room in the elevator.

The acting legend decorated his room very rustically and stayed for a few years. In 1977, he met his wife, Barbara Minty, at the hotel.

The BLVD restaurant (formerly the Lobby Lounge) opened in March 2005; it is open all day and the perfect spot for people watching.

The outdoor patio is on Wilshire Blvd, right at the end

of Rodeo Drive where celebrities are often seen doing their boutique shopping.

“BLVD restaurant is a fabulous place to meet people, because of the street. You can sit indoors or outdoors, it’s quite the visual scene,” said Rob. “There is always a buzz that goes on in here. We have a lot of entertainment agents that meet their clients; it’s a very international gathering. It’s a big room with a beautiful bar and serves three meals a day. We have a lot of entertainment and occasionally we will do something a little bit more special.”

This includes turning The BLVD into a night club that had patrons lining up down the street and around the corner waiting to get in. When we talked to Rob, the management was working on plans to turn the restaurant into a Supper Club and were having Margo Rey (Virgin Records recording star) entertain guests for the evening. They are always doing different things, reinventing, animating and creating interest for their clients.

CUT is Wolfgang Puck’s first steak restaurant; it was opened in the hotel in 2006 and is a huge drawcard and hot spot. Along with being judged by Esquire as the best steakhouse in the country, celebrities including Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Jennifer Aniston, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Elton John, Mary J Blige, Eddy Murphy, Rod Stewart, Steven Spielberg have dined here.

The in-house salon – Lea Journo’s - has a client list

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that includes Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, Kate Bosworth and Barry Watson.

The Spa at the Beverly Wilshire, opened in June 2006, was created by removing several sleeping rooms. The spa is more than 743 square metres (8,000 square feet), with nine treatment rooms (seven with in-room showers).

The reputation and grandeur of the Beverly Wilshire are not the only customer benefits.

“Certainly the location is really one of the most legendary and iconic intersections in America,” explained Rob. “We have tremendous access to fashion, the boutiques, clubs, restaurants and museums are very close by.

“There are areas that you can go – parks, studios, sporting events and the beach is only 8 miles (13km) away. If you want to go to the ocean you can take surf lessons, sail, and head over to Malibu for wineries. So this is a real centralised location.

“People also like the service in the hotel. We are a very international hotel, we operate 24 hours a day, we have guests on different time

zones and there is a lot of activity in the hotel around the clock.

We have a staff that is very good at providing anticipatory service to these guests by understanding their culture and where they come from.

We try to arrange things up front that will meet their needs in terms of travelling from another time zone, culinary preferences, preferences in accoutrements and amenities in the rooms, foam pillows versus down pillows, sheets, pillow cases, and soaps.

“If they have been here before, we carefully record those preferences and deliver them to the guest when they come back. We have a tremendous guest history program here and each morning we gather in a meeting with 25 to 30 team members and we walk through all the guest arrivals for the day. We talk about when the guests are coming and what their needs are.

How are they arriving transportation wise, do they have children, what type of view do they want from their room, what has happened for them in previous stays, what to expect from them?

How do we wow and delight them, how do we not only get their stay right, but how do we do the little extra things for them that are unexpected and please them? It makes the statement, we know who you are, we know what you like, we appreciate you as a client and partner and we want to continue to do the things that make your stay very enjoyable and memorable.”

It must be a massive job trying to understand so many different cultures.

“We have a wide variety of staff members, managers and team members from many countries such as Russia, China, Europe etc and that helps us service the guests.

We have a room service menu Rooms Dining, but if you wanted something that was not on the menu, like buckwheat noodles, spicy chicken, tandoori chicken or something that was more suited to your cultural tastes, and you wanted that at 3am, we would deliver that to you, to the best of our ability.

“We are very flexible, but I don’t know how our supply of Vegemite is! (laughs) We would do our best to

Clockwise from top left: Rodeo Drive shops are on your doorstep. A poolside cabana is the perfect place to relax. The lobby features a $35,000 crystal chandelier. The Presidential Suite living room.

get to you though; we might have to run out to find it first!”

Making something grand is easy – you simply throw money at it – but it’s the service here that makes a real difference.

“There are many places that have mahogany and marble, there are many competitors in the

neighbourhood that have beautiful accoutrements, lobbies, and rooms but it does get down to the service delivery. It’s a daily competition to make sure that we are wowing our customers so that they feel the experience and the atmosphere and the recognition here is better than an alternative choice. We work very

hard at it; it’s all in the details.

“There is the old saying, that when people go to restaurants, you think they go for the food, but I think they go first for recognition, they go second for atmosphere and they go third for food.

“When people go into an environment or an atmosphere and they are made to feel recognised, appreciated and welcomed, it’s pleasing and it does a lot to enhance their experience and it does a lot to build a loyalty and a bridge to that hotel or product. That is what we really strive to do, make each person feel like an individual.”

The Beverly Wilshire certainly made me feel that way. The parking valets are there for your every need and they make you feel welcome.

They call you by your name, you get escorted to the front desk and then you are then escorted to the elevator. Those little touches make Left: The Beverly Wilshire Penthouse Suite was immortalised in the movie, Pretty Woman. “It’s the best,” said Edward Lewis (Richard Gere). At left is the living room while the stunning dining room is pictured below.

Left: The Beverly Wilshire has been home to many celebrities, including Steve McQueen. Top right: Shopping is only one of the local attractions. Above right: Rodeo Drive excess is all around. a massive difference.

Rob responded, “Each guest wants something different and each guest appreciates something different. Not everyone wants a lot of attention when they arrive, some people just want to get to their room quickly and have their favourite bottle of water there.

That’s what we call ‘getting the guest right’, providing them the little things that are customised for their experience.”

We spoke to many members of the staff, barmen, housemaids, waiters, pool attendants, who all seemed to be incredibly happy in their job. Many of them had worked at the Beverly Wilshire for years and felt that it was like working in a family environment.

“It very much is,” added Rob. “The Beverly Wilshire, because it’s been one of the leading hotels in the city, if not the leading hotel in the city, has always been a desirable place to work. Four Seasons who has been running the hotel since 1992, is recognised as one of the top 100 employers by Forbes

magazine annually and I think we are in the Hall of Fame because we have been recognised as such for 10 consecutive years. It’s an interesting place to work, something different happens every day. It’s not plain vanilla, its prestigious groups to high end suite guests, royal and presidential visitors, a lot of international visitors; it makes for an interesting work place.

It’s impossible to go out into the region, the state, the country or the world and find somebody who doesn’t recognise the Beverly Wilshire, so I think when people say that they work at the Beverly Wilshire, they are incredibly proud of being part of that business.

There is great loyalty and pride attached to this organisation and this building.”

My experiences with the Beverly Wilshire Hotel and its restaurants and staff, have been incomparable.

Everything Rob has said about this hotel, its staff and services is 100% true. You are treated like royalty, but only if you want to be.

This hotel is everything you

could ever imagine and more.

Just walking into the main Lobby is an experience on its own. It has a crystal chandelier imported from the Czech Republic that weighs more than 327 kilos (720 pounds) and is worth over $35,000. It comprises 266 crystal balls, 340 crystal rods and 922 crystal octagons.

The unique centre table is a one-of-a-kind piece composed of Walnut on Movingui and Calacatta Borghini marble from Italy.

The sleeping suites offer every comfort you could want and the beds are like clouds of comfort.

The food in the restaurants is divine, the wines are magnificent, and the atmosphere is of impeccable luxury, every whim and desire you may have will be met by visiting the Beverly Wilshire.

If nothing else, you would be doing yourself a great disservice if you did not have a drink at The BLVD bar, soak up the atmosphere, and enjoy the luxury. I cannot wait until I next get to Beverly Hills so that I can have this incredible experience again.

California Dreaming

EVERYONE WHO COMES TO LOS ANGELES HAS A DREAM. AND NO MATTER WHETHER THAT DREAM IS TO BECOME A MOVIE STAR, EXPERIENCE DISNEYLAND OR SIT ON A SUN-SOAKED BEACH, YOUR TRIP IS SURE TO BE MEMORABLE. WORDS: CAROL SHERIDAN PHOTOS: DARREN HOUSE

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L

os Angeles is the largest city in the state of California.

Its wonderful climate and beaches are just a small part of what attracts many visitors.

The vibe of this city changes at almost every new corner block; there are more than 200 languages spoken by LA residents and the city has dozens of areas that reflect the various international cultures.

Yet, you talk to many Australian tourists and they will tell you that they hate LA. My theory behind it is that many tourists stick to only doing the ‘tourist’ thing there. They get on the buses that take them through the streets of Beverly Hills and Hollywood and see the homes of the stars, or more to the point, they see the fences of the homes of the stars. They won’t see the real life of the city.

Los Angeles is massive but if you can find your way around, I am sure you will come to love it.

Here are a few hints from the things I have learnt about LA. Getting there – We flew Virgin Australia. We booked flights that departed from

Melbourne, flying direct to LA (LAX) and a direct flight home again.

I have flown with this airline before and have found the flight crew to be absolutely wonderful. I couldn’t ask for better.

The meals, well, they are those pre-packaged airline meals, they are edible, but please, VA, is there any way you can do something about the butter? It is rock hard and unspreadable, especially with the plastic knife!

Arriving at LAX can be a bit daunting; its right up there with the busiest airports in the world, but the ground crew at the airport are very competent and helpful at directing you to where you need to go.

I know it can be very difficult after a long flight - 14-plus hours from Melbourne - but when you are going through immigration, do not crack jokes or seem vague. You must be concise in your answers.

They will want to know your reason for travelling to the USA, the period of time you are staying, where you will be staying, and your exact date of departure.

You will have your finger prints checked and your eyes scanned; it’s

strict and daunting, but strangely comforting, too.

Once out of the airport, you will need to find your way to wherever you are going.

Public transport in LA isn’t great. A lot of hotels will have shuttle buses to pick you up and take you back to the hotel, but that doesn’t help with getting around after that.

The only real option to getting around the city is to rent a car. If you are coming from Australia, where we drive on the left-hand side of the road, you will feel that you are driving on the wrong side of the road on the wrong side of the car. It is easy to forget where you are.

The road rules are a little different to ours too; you can turn right on a red light if there is no traffic coming from your left and the traffic lights are often not where we would expect them to be.

Wherever you are in LA, you won’t be far from a freeway. These can be up to eight lanes wide in each direction, which is mind blowing to see. They drive very fast, yet the drivers are a lot more courteous than those in Australia. Everyone seems to understand that if you are

Clockwise from top left: Hollywood’s Walk Of Fame. Argentinian tango on the Santa Monica Promenade. Disneyland’s famous tea cups remains a popular attraction. Grabbing a photo op on Hollywood Boulevard. There’s always something to see at Venice Beach.

in the right-hand lane and you need to get into the left, other drivers will slow down and let you in.

It’s quite common to see a mass of spiralling and curving overpasses from other freeways and getting from one freeway and onto another can be very confusing. The exits are well marked, but you can often have an incoming ramp very close to an exit ramp where traffic is flying onto the freeway and has to merge with traffic that is slowing to get off the freeway.

You will definitely need a satnav for getting around LA. We bought a Tom Tom in America for just over US$100; this is a much cheaper option than getting one with your rental car as you pay in the vicinity of US$14 per day for a hire one.

Traffic can be horrendous, particularly in peak hour. You might think that getting from point A to point B will take you 30 minutes but it can take up to an hour and a half, so allow plenty of time.

WHERE TO STAY? There are so many beautiful places and quite a few not so beautiful places... North, South, East or West, it’s hard to choose.

Prices can vary a lot, from the

ridiculously cheap to the ridiculously expensive.

It’s only a few hours to drive to beautiful Santa Barbara, Anaheim, Palm Springs and San Diego. Santa Monica and Malibu are only about 30 minutes from the airport.

Here are a couple of places I have stayed in LA, I won’t include pricing because that varies so much depending on days of the week and seasons.

LAX Radisson – This place is tired and in desperate need of refurbishment but it’s very close to LAX which can be very handy.

Best Western Plus Pepper Tree Inn in Santa Barbara has nice comfortable rooms and is in a great location for exploring the beautiful shopping district and beach.

Holiday Inn at Santa Monica. The location is wonderful, right at the end of the famous Santa Monica Pier and only a few minutes’ walk to the promenade, but, if you want anything more than location, don’t stay here. This place is ridiculously expensive for what you get, they charge a fortune for parking.

Best Western Carlyle Inn in Los Angeles. This is almost a boutique hotel. It’s certainly not fancy but has good comfortable (but very small)

rooms. Our room was overlooking the main street, and whilst there was some traffic, the noise didn’t bother us at all. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The location is convenient but again, you will need a car. You are only a few minutes’ drive to Rodeo Drive, freeway entrances are really close by and a restaurant district is also just a few minutes’ drive away.

Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills.

What can I say about the very famous Beverly Wilshire, other than totally magnificent! If you want service, luxury, super attentive staff, great location and great service, then this is the place for you. It’s right at the top of Rodeo Drive, making it a great place to rest your head after a day of very expensive shopping.

WHAT TO DO? There is so much you can do in LA and surrounds. Here are a couple to whet your appetite.

LA is the home of amusement parks – Disneyland, Universal Studios, Los Angeles Zoo, Pacific Park, K1 Speed Torrance, Raging Waters, Hurricane Harbour, Magic Mountain, Disney’s California Adventure, Knott’s Berry Farm,

Soak City, Lego Land, Seaworld San Diego… these, and many more, can be reached easily from LA. Beaches here are clean and vibrant places to visit, there is always something going on.

Malibu’s beaches are a great place to ‘star watch’; you never know which celebrity might be soaking up some sun right next to you and the surf is said to be fantastic.

Venice Beach has sand, water, sun, but it has so much more. Take your skateboard, skates, bike, musical equipment, dance moves; whatever you want to do here is just fine. Everyone is out and about, particularly on a Sunday afternoon, doing ‘their thing’. Some are doing it for money; some are just doing it for the fun of it.

The boardwalk is a place for market like shopping, cafes and legal, medical marijuana!

Just off the sand you will find the Muscle Beach Gym. This is one of the treasures of Venice and a place that was once the home gym of bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Spend a few minutes here watching the over tanned muscle builders doing their workouts; it’s kind of interesting in a weird freaky way, but weird and freaky is what Venice is all about.

Topanga State Beach is a fairly quiet beach. It has fairly decent surf and is a favourite place for catamaraners, windsurfers and kite surfers.

A little bit further away you will find Leo Carrillo State Beach. It has wonderfully clear water, awesome rock formations and dozens of rock pools to explore.

Hollywood Bowl is a world famous venue for chart topping acts. Check online well before you leave home and maybe you will be lucky enough to get tickets to a show your friends will be seriously envious of.

Visit the Queen Mary in Long Beach, the history of this now permanently docked ship is huge.

It is also a hotel and is said to be haunted, so visit at your own risk!

No trip to LA would be the same without making a visit to Hollywood Boulevard.

Walk along the Hollywood Walk of Fame and see the stars of all

Top: Clever marketing at Universal Studios. Above: Kids love getting close to Goofy at Disneyland. Left: The Hollywood Bowl has hosted everyone from The Beatles to Coldplay.

your favourite celebrities set into the pavement, handprints and writing are set in concrete of the most famous people in the entertainment industry.

Bustle with the crowds at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and have your photo taken with the many ‘celebrities’ such as Batman, Michael Jackson and Cat Woman.

Do some research before leaving home and see if you can get tickets to the filming of a television program at NBC like The Voice or America’s Got Talent.

Most studios won’t send tickets to non US residents, but if you are lucky, you might just happen to swing it, especially if you give them the exact dates you will be there.

If you can’t get tickets before you leave, just turn up at the main gates; tickets are often available, but you probably won’t get your choice of show you will see.

Restaurants and eateries are everywhere, and contrary to the common myth that you can only buy burgers in America, you can get any type of food imaginable. Here are a couple that I have found that are a

little bit of fun.

House of Blues in West Hollywood is a great music venue with a lot of character. It’s dedicated to educating and celebrating the history of southern culture and African American artistic contributions to music and art.

You will find a huge range of acts that appear here, from Santana to Dita Von Teese, but whenever you go, feature act or not, it’s a great place to visit.

They have just introduced a new menu that includes jambalaya, baby back ribs, shrimp and grits, and key lime pie. www.houseofblues.com Hooters, famous for its curly fries and wings, hasn’t been accepted all that well in Australia but there are lots of them in America.

The waitresses, known for wearing figure hugging singlets and shorts, have bright personalities and are lots of fun. Regardless of what some people have to say, it’s a great, cheap place to eat. You can also join the locals and cheer on your favourite team while watching sport on their huge screen televisions.

Don’t expect high level cuisine,

but if you love what we would call ‘typical’ American hamburger style food, you have to go to Hooters. www.hooters.com Cheesecake Factory, made famous (in Australia) by the crew from Big Bang Theory, is also a great place to eat. It’s a buzz eating at a place that is mentioned so often on television, but the food is pretty good too. The menu is huge but leave room for the cheesecake, it’s absolutely divine. http://www. thecheesecakefactory.com Boa Restaurant, on Sunset Boulevard is a place for the new ‘Rat Pack’. They serve great steaks and seafood and also have a fantastic wine list. The décor here is vibrant yet moody, it’s a great place to sit and relax while you enjoy a great meal and maybe even spot a star or two. Watch out for the paparazzi outside, they are also hoping to spot a celebrity at Boa. www.boasteak.com/balboa Being a lover of Indian Cuisine, I was delighted to find Bombay Palace in Beverly Hills. Stylishly decorated, magnificent food and helpful staff had me visit

Clockwise from top right: Street performers at Santa Monica beach. Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell left their impression on Hollywood. House of Blues is a great place to catch a show and a meal. Venice Beach is a great place to spend a Sunday. The iconic Capitol Records building has launched a thousand careers.

this restaurant twice in my most recent trip to Los Angeles. www. bombaypalace.com If you love the nightlife, try the Viper Room in West Hollywood. This is a great club that showcases the hottest of rock bands and is said to be owned by Johnny Depp.

Another popular club is Skybar at the Mondrian Hotel, which is also in West Hollywood.

It has amazing views of Los Angeles and has an open air pavilion that is perched above the pool and outdoor living room. It is designed as a lounge room with custom-designed furniture and you feel like you are floating in the clouds.

This club is very exclusive and the bouncer is tough, but, get on the right side of him and you may find yourself rubbing shoulders with the most famous celebrities.

Shopping LA is the place to get the best bargains or to spend the biggest dollars. Rodeo Drive has top end stores with top end prices, but there is nothing like walking down the street with the celebrities doing your day-to-day clothing and accessories shopping!

If the prices here are a little out of your range then there are amazing factory outlets, Premium and Citadel and heaps of flea markets such as the world famous Rose Bowl Market.

Things in Los Angeles are very cheap. Yes, there are the super expensive places, but overall, you will pay a lot less there for food, drinks and parking. We recently paid $25.00 for 3 hours parking in Melbourne. In Los Angeles, you can park all day for $5.00.

You can also buy a can of coke from a vending machine for $1.25; here in Australia you pay more than $4.00!

Yes, you will pay tips. Salaries are low for a lot of service industries and people need to live off their tips but you will generally find your service to be excellent.

These things are just a sampler of hints, a mere titbit of what Los Angeles has to offer. Do your research, try your hardest to get away from those tourist buses and get out and explore this amazing city. There is so much to do and see, I will guarantee you will have a great time.

Berry Good Fun! WITH MORE THAN 165 RIDES, ATTRACTIONS AND SHOWS IN FIVE THEMED AREAS, KNOTT’S BERRY FARM HAS IT ALL WHEN IT COMES TO FAMILY FUN. WORDS: CAROL SHERIDAN PHOTOS: DARREN HOUSE & KNOTT’S BERRY FARM.

Knott’s Berry Farm IT’S KNOWN AS THE THEME PARK THE LOCALS GO TO AND ITS EASY TO SEE WHY. EASY TO GET AROUND, NO LONG QUEUES AND A GREAT RANGE OF ATTRACTIONS SEPARATES KNOTT’S BERRY FARM FROM THE COMPETITION. TAKE A HIGH THRILLS RIDE ON THE WINDSEEKER OR XCELERATOR, STROLL THROUGH THE PARK’S OLD WEST GHOST TOWN OR HANG WITH THE PEANUTS GANG IN CAMP SNOOPY!

F

rom the minute you park your car at Knott’s Berry Farm Theme Park, you know it’s going to be a different experience to other parks like Disneyland.

You can walk from your car to the main entrance and buy your tickets easily, no need to wait in queue for a shuttle bus or wait for hours until you can get in the gate. It has a feeling of being easy, of comfort, and of casual fun.

You don’t need to spend hours planning a trip here; you just get in your car and go. The park is relaxed yet caters for so many different needs and for so many different age groups; it’s a place for family fun.

“We are predominantly known as the place that the locals go. That’s appealing to international visitors; you will find a lot of Orange County people that come here because this is the park that they call theirs, their home” says Jennifer Blazey, Senior Publicist at Knott’s Berry Farm.

There are more than 165 rides, shows, attractions, restaurants and shops in five themed areas that shape the Knott’s experience and suit every member of your family, from world-class thrills like Silver

Bullet to the action-packed Old West Ghost Town.

Knott’s Berry Farm has recently added to its already impressive line-up of thrill rides with the introduction of WindSeeker.

Rising over 90 metres (300 feet) in the air, WindSeeker takes passengers to new heights as it ascends above the theme park and then spins passengers for a ride like no other.

There are other exciting rides like, Xcelerator, a high-speed 1950s themed coaster that catapults guests from 0-131kph per hour (0-82 mph) in 2.3 seconds; the longest wooden coaster in the Western U.S. – the GhostRider - and for stillmore thrills, there are the Supreme Scream, Boomerang, Montezuma’s Revenge, Perilous Plunge and Rip Tide.

Camp Snoopy is 24,000-plus sq mtrs (6 acres) of rides, shows and adventures that are specifically designed for children under 12, and Snoopy, the cuddly puppy, wanders around giving out his big warm cuddles.

Camp Snoopy is extremely popular with the children, unlike

other parks where the rides can be hidden and dark, the rides here are open and bright, the children can see what to expect and what they are getting onto and into.

Dozens of stages throughout the park offer nonstop live entertainment, including big-stage seasonal productions in the Charles M. Schulz Theatre; legendary Wild West Stunt Shows in the Wagon Camp; spirited saloon shows at the Calico Saloon; and Native American dances and presentations in Indian Trails.

We spoke to the stars of the Calico Saloon, Dakota Dan, Cameo Kate and Fingers who plays the piano. Dakota Dan and Cameo Kate tell the story of their love, but Dakota Dan has managed to avoid the question of marriage and out of frustration Cameo Kate flirts with a handsome man from the audience, thus causing more chaos in their relationship. With the help of Fingers and his piano, they work through resolving their differences, involving the audience in their decisions.

The show is a lot of fun and the audience participation can take the

: Opposite page: The Perilous Plunge. Above left: Knott’s Soak City, a 13-acre water park adjacent to Knott’s Theme Park. Above right: The Calico Saloon.

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show in many different directions.

The cast have many a time found themselves laughing so hard at the stories revealed by the audience that they can be lost for words.

Children in the audience are often so involved in the situation that they are upset that Dakota and Cameo are having relationship problems, cheering for them to work things out.

For many children, live theatre like this is something they have never experienced. Yes, they can get interactive behaviour from computer games but in reality, the computer game will still continue to move in one direction.

Here, with live theatre and the children’s involvement, the whole storyline can change with their comments and input.

“TV doesn’t know the children are there, the show will be the same whether the children are there or not. With this, it’s different, it’s real life, without 3D glasses, the audience input can very much change the dynamics” said Dakota Dan. While Fingers sits at his piano and acts very innocent, he is in fact

quite a bit of a woman’s man. He is wearing a very sexy garter to hold his sleeve up and became quite sheepish when questioned about it.

Apparently he had a bit of a ‘fling’ with a showgirl/s at some stage!

The cast of this show told us that they loved working for Knott’s, “it’s like working with a big family” said Cameo Kate.

The show changes often and they were just beginning rehearsals for their Summer show when we spoke to them. The new show features the stars that we spoke to and can-can girls which Knott’s is famous for.

They will also soon be starting to rehearse their Christmas show.

There is an original 1880 steam train that is operational. Rail fans come here as do boy scouts where they can earn one of their special badges working with the train. You can have lessons in panning for gold and in blacksmithing.

The park offers guests more than 40 places to eat where you can find what your appetite craves from grilled hot dogs, hamburgers, fajitas, barbeques, roasted corn, and the famous Mrs. Knott’s Famous Fried Chicken.

You will also find Johnny Rockets restaurant, TGI Friday’s and Pink’s Hot Dogs on site.

There are more than 50 shops offering everything from classic souvenirs to PEANUTS collectibles, fine gifts and Native American handmade crafts.

“It’s a huge challenge to appeal to such a broad range of people”, said Jennifer Blazey. “Parents are looking for a place where a good time can be had by all, not just kiddy park and not just coaster park – something for everyone – it’s hard to balance but it’s fun.

“We try to involve our customers; we reach out to them and ask them what they want.

“We recently had a facebook contest, asking them what they would like to see on a funnel cake.

What is a funnel cake? It’s fried dough that looks like woven cake batter, it’s traditionally served with powdered sugar and boysenberry jam. Our competition winner came up with the idea for a funnel cake that was made with chocolate and bacon, we were surprised, but it’s been a huge seller!

“We like to keep a mix of original

Clockwise from top left: Staying at the Knott’s Hotel makes it easy to explore the park. Timber Mountain Log Ride. The 118-ft high GhostRider roller coaster. One of the many Ghost Town shows.

and new events. We have different events to celebrate different holidays and seasons. We have ice shows with professional skaters in our 2100 seat theatre at Christmas and parades, craft fairs and Santa Clause, again, catering for everyone.”

Knott’s also hosts some of the most famous events in the amusement park industry. October nights means Halloween Haunt at Knott’s Scary Farm, the world’s largest theme park Halloween event.

In 2012 Halloween Haunt

will celebrate 40 years of being THE largest annual event in the amusement/theme park industry.

With mazes, 30 makeup artists working to create 1000 monsters, theme shows and scare shows, the park is completely transformed to celebrate Halloween.

Top left: Indian Trails showcases Native American and Aztec culture. Right: We don’t want any trouble, ya hear!. Above: Dakota Dan, Cameo Kate and Fingers put on a show at the Calico Saloon.

Left: The Birdcage Theatre has launched many careers, including legendary comedic actor, Steve Martin. Right. Peanuts character Snoopy is a popular Knott’s Berry Farm attraction.

A piece of US theme park history K

nott’s Berry Farm has evolved from a roadside berry stand, run by Walter Knott and his wife Cordelia in the 1920s, into one of Southern California’s most popular theme park destinations, attracting more than 5 million visitors each year.

The original 20 acres of land in Buena Park, LA, was farmed by the Knott’s and used to grow rhubarb, corn, strawberries and boysenberries, which they sold at a roadside stand.

Even though Beach Boulevard, where the roadside stand was situated, was the main route to the beach from LA inland, passers by did not always stop. When times got tough, it was hard to make ends meet and provide for their family.

Walter came up with the idea for his wife Cordelia to cook her incredibly delicious chicken and sell to the people who stopped to buy berries.

The first chicken meals were served on their wedding china in their living room. Word-of-mouth soon turned this part of their business into a thriving industry where people would queue for 2-3

hours dine on the Knott’s delicious food.

It was hard to keep up with the demand for chicken and the family had to add more and more rooms to seat the hungry diners. Walter came up with the idea that if people were waiting such a long time to eat the chicken, they should have something to do while they waited.

That’s how Ghost Town started.

In 1940 Walter travelled to Arizona, where he collected bits and pieces, door and window frames and the like, bringing them back to the farm where he built authentic looking buildings to create a western town, now known as Ghost Town.

The success of the park caused the whole area to grow to accommodate travellers. Shops, hotels and service facilities were built and many thriving businesses were created in the area, where there had originally been nothing but a berry farm.

Walter Knott and Walt Disney were friends, and Disney had been a few times to check out the Knott’s theme park before Disneyland opened.

Walter and Cordelia attended the Disneyland opening but were worried it would mean their business was over.

When they got back to their park, the parking lot was full. Now, with Disneyland, there was another reason for people to come to the area - go to both attractions.

Business did not slow at all for Knott’s Berry Farm.

The park was managed by the Knott’s family for many years and grew bit-by-bit. If a member of the family thought a gypsy camp, a board walk area, a roaring 20s area would work well, it was built.

But market expectations increased and the family, wanting to keep updating for new generations and be ever-changing for those who visited frequently, realised they were no longer up to the task.

They interviewed several companies to buy Knott’s Berry Farm, but wanted to make sure the purchaser reflected the family’s business values.

Cedar Fair Corporation did this and now owns the park. www.knotts.com

Nassim SAHILI LYON, FRANCE PHOTOS: Capucine Mayot

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? I was born and raised in Lyon, France, the country’s second biggest city located just next to Paris. This is a great town to live in, not too small or big and next to pretty much everything in Europe. I’ve never left this city and unfortunately, I’ve never had the opportunity to travel a lot. This is probably the primary reason for my trying to make a living from modelling. I have an older brother and a younger sister. It was a lot of fun growing up with them. I had (and still have) the chance to be really close to my siblings so even today we’re kind of a team, helping each other when it’s necessary.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO MODELLING? I sent some pictures to one of my city’s agencies. After a month or two they contacted me to meet with them.

I then did my first test shoot with one of the agency’s photographers and since then they’ve taken care of all my contracts.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MODELLING? I signed up with my agency in June 2010 but I really begun to work one year later in 2011, so I’m pretty new to this business. Hopefully the best is yet to come.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT MODELLING? I think the most interesting part of the job is meeting and working with new people. You have to work with photographers, make-up artists, stylists and other models. It is really a fun thing to do as every job is different and you must adapt to the part and deliver a different performance. Every member of the team should bring their ‘A Game’ and this is the connection that makes the job so exciting.

WHAT MODELLING WORK HAVE YOU DONE? I’ve most notably worked with Nike in several showrooms, presenting new collections for their clients.

I have also worked for a French underwear brand called “Lejaby”; I was one of the models chosen for their new male selection. Basically my contracts revolve around the sports and underwear/swimwear fields.

WHAT WORK DO YOU WANT TO DO? I would love to work outside of my country. For me, this job is all about travelling. I think the most entertaining part is to meet new people and try to figure out how

I can learn and improve my modelling as a result of those trips. I envisage me appearing on a billboard in a big city like Paris, Tokyo or New York and maybe get on stage at a fashion week or represent a brand of cologne. I let myself dream big and hopefully one day I will fulfil those dreams.

WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER INTERESTS? My two main interests are sports and the arts. I’m a personal trainer but I also have a degree in fine arts.

When I’m not practicing or training one of my clients, I try to work on my painting, drawing, everything that has a connection with arts. I’m also a big fan of cinema, so I enjoy getting out with friends to watch a good movie.

WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES? In the fashion field I would say Tyson Beckford. He for me is the perfect model - great presence, great physique and very charismatic. In general, I love the state of mind of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Will Smith and Muhammad Ali but my biggest inspiration is Arnold Schwarzenegger. The man managed to be successful in every aspect of his life, and his motivation and determination remain for me unmatched.

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