NEW BOOK NEW LOOK: Felix Wong Edition

My new Portfolio is coming along quite nicely. I was lucky enough after shooting with the famous Rick Day in New York to come home and get in touch with Felix Wong.

Felix is Toronto's New Jeff Barenger: young, sought after with an individualistic style of Natural and sobered beauty captivated in each face.

I had been told so many times that I need to look more relaxed, and be more myself on camera as opposed to what, not myself? I tend to be a bit crazy and abstract with my posing. Sharp lines with the arms, animated faces and colourful wardrobe. New look New Book Project has given me a clear perspective on who New Look Renee should be in front of the lens. so I called my good friend Felix to bring on the natural beauty and he answered to the call of duty quite enthusiastically.

Felix has shot every model in the city and sometimes shoots models in New York. Models who arrive to be on the development boards at the big agencies like: New York Models, IMG and Marilyn's often start their books over, just like I am. Felix's pictures are a great way to showcase a new model and hertrue beauty in her raw likeness whilst offering a sharp beginning to a new book. Its the perfect foundation for a model new to the business or to reinvention to have pictures that aren't too made up or contrived.

Peter Lindbergh is the world's most famous photographer for doing just that: "The model is not just in the picture, the model is the picture." Its about the personality, the realness, the innocence, the rebirth of the face when these photographers take the model's imprint to their film.

I wanted to start fresh and I got fresh shots. Hot off the press are 6 shots I chose from Felix's shoot. Just simple, calm, unexcited but very exciting. Tamed passion with a bit of vulnerability. Not many people can bring that out in me. Felix makes every model very comfortable. all the agents love his work and he never seems to run out of ways to style subtly but compliment the model in her own way.

Thank you Felix for making me beautiful. New Look New Book Project is very Lucky to have you. See these and all the newest additions of my New Look New Book project at www.runwayrenee.com

AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL IS COMING TO TORONTO: Guess who is a Finalist?

How crazy is it that all I went to the auditions to do was shoot the Behind the Scenes for Reel2Runway and maybe do a few on camera interviews with Guest Designer Joey Bevan and the Kryolan MakeUp Team, etc.

Little did I know I was going to be invited to compete with Toronto's most beautiful Newbies I have ever seen. Some of the girls have even been kind enough to give Ree2Runway a shout out and they are all very sweet.

My friend Rj Dailey from Gwop Shop Ent, who also manages my "UNDERCOVER MUSIC PROJECT" had called me months before asking me why I wasn't doing anything for America's Next Top Model Live. I had explained that I wasnt aware and had been working so much on New Book New Look that I never heard about it. He aggressively encouraged me to look into it and that's when I started Tweeting to find out who could fill me in. Nontheless there is no fashion event I can let pass by without being there to cover it of course.

After I found out when the auditions were I decided to pack up my team and we headed down to see what all the excitement was about. The auditions were held at the Intercontinental Hotel Metro Center in Downtown Toronto.

I walk up to he registration table where Designer Joey Bevan grabs me within an instant and storms through the audition room with me in hand like a Louis Bag, and he says " Cecilia this girl is amazing, absolutely stunning." Cecilia Tement is a wonderful friend, and the program manager for America's Next Top Model Live. We tweeted all day about the Auditions and before you know it she was inviting me down to cover and then I was plucked to enter.

I said " Why the heck not? It would be nice to show the agents what I've got and have them see me in the field to get the right exposure and maybe they will take me this time."

After about 3 hours of walking for the judges and doing group stage exercises, the group was narrowed down to 8 gorgeous girls including myself.

Photogrpaher Valter Mendes, local Toronto photographer was on the side, all ready with his mobile set to take pics of the finalists. He was great fun to shoot with and boy can he create angles! The finalists whose pictures get posted on the site are the final chosen for the ANTM Live Schwarzkopf Main Stage Fashion Shows on May 4th and 5th and on the 6th they will announce Sutherlands Model Search Winner.

I sure hope this is my chance to really show Toronto that I am ready to get back in the game full speed ahead and I am so excited to have my family there to support me in this new start. Hopefully this will get me in London, or back in New York. That means MORE FOOTAGE. YAYYYYYY!


A BIT ABOUT THE ANTM EXPERIENCE
Visitors to America's Next Top Model Live will be treated to free makeovers, given a chance to strut their stuff on the Open Catwalk, shop for the latest and best brands, watch incredible fashion shows, get beauty advice from industry experts, find out how to break into the modelling industry, and maybe even get discovered! America's Next Top Model Live will feature celebrity appearances, live entertainment and a full weekend of the Top Model experience!

A BIT ABOUT SUTHERLAND MODELS
Established in 1985, Sutherland Models is one of Canada's most prestigious agencies. Located in Toronto, Sutherland Models represents women, men, and children. Clients include magazine editorial, catalogue, advertising, commercial print, and television & film. Affiliated with international agencies in all the major fashion markets, Sutherland Models is considered a force both at home in Toronto and around the world.