Congratulations to all of our talented February Featured Members! If you would like to be considered as a featured member for an upcoming month, please email featured@modelwirenetwork.com with a link to your MWN profile. We are extremely interested in potential wardrobe stylists, makeup artists and hair stylists, so send us your information!
MODEL OF THE MONTH: MARI
Marina Ponomareva was born in Russia and currently lives in New York. She has been modeling for 9 years and loves her job! Her hobbies include travel, cycling, zumba, yoga, swimming, and rock climbing. Mari leads a very healthy lifestyle - is vegan (fruitarian and low-fat high carb) and loves walking in the park and meditation.
Why modeling?
Modeling is the best job for a girl! I love meeting with great designers, wearing beautiful clots - it's the best that you can ask for!
Who is your favorite model of all time?
My favorite models are Natalia Vodianova and Kate Moss.
What inspires you?
Fashion magazines, fashion blogs and of course, New York.
What product can you not live without?
RMS organic cosmetics.
What is your personal style?
Since I ride my bicycle to all of my castings, I call my style "cycle chic."
What genre does your work focus on?
I primarily do commercial work.
What is your favorite band or song of all time?
My favorite band is Chromatics.
PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE MONTH: HADRIEL GONZALEZ
Hadriel Gonzalez is a fashion photographer currently working in NYC and Miami. His work can be seen in various publications including, Idoll Magazine, WHO! Magazine, IMMO Magazine, Vulture Magazine, Institute Magazine, and more.
MAKEUP ARTIST OF THE MONTH: BTH ARTISTRY
BTH Artistry is one of the most skilled makeup artists in the business because of her exquisite sense of color and light. She has a flare for achieving a flawless face, lush lashes, and the perfect brow.
A graduate of the Graham Webb Academy and fully certified, her breakthrough creativity has led to assignments for private clients and celebrities, such as Colin Hanks, Kamau Bell, and Oscar Award Winning Margaret Avery, as well as for film, weddings, fashion and beauty editorials, and red carpet events. Her artistry can be seen on BET's 2013 Black Girls Rock, Heart & Soul Magazine, and on various runways and red carpets. Her passion for beauty inspires those around her.
Her one-to-one service, attention to detail, and commitment to building lasting relationships with her clients puts her at the top of her game. BTH Artistry elevates makeup to an entirely new level.
HAIR STYLIST OF THE MONTH: SINE QUA NON SALONS
Sine Qua Non was founded in 1993 by owner and lifelong Chicagoan, Laura Boton. Laura's goal was to build her vision of a hair salon Utopia fueled by warmth, style, innovation, and education. She has grown a salon series that provides authentic, artistic service in a warm and creative environment.
Sine Qua Non Salons have won multiple awards and have been featured as the "Best Salon in Chicago" by many major fashion magazines for hair cut, color, curly hair, and brow and skin care services.
WARDROBE STYLIST OF THE MONTH: DOROTHY DOMINIQUE PRESENTS
Dorothy Dominique is originally from Haiti and is a creative director, event producer, fashion stylist, and image consultant. She began her journey as a stylist as a young girl witnessing the different cultures of back home and America and learning the different styles of people. Dorothy fell in love with fashion when she realized how people were able to communicate through their fashion sense. This grew a passion for her to want to help people communicate their style, their passion, and their talents through this universal language of fashion.
Why wardrobe stylist?
I became a wardrobe stylist because I always had a sense of style and people around me would always tell me to begin a career in fashion. I began sewing shirts, and adding embellishment on garments and shoes. People would always compliment me on my DIY projects so it made me realize that my opinion mattered. I began my first step in Image Consulting and found a love for truly helping people and creating an image renewal that made them feel great. Once I was able to comprehend Image Consulting, I wanted to take a look into fashion styling because I always had creative concepts and wanted a platform that allowed me to be able to express myself in such a way. Being a wardrobe stylist gave me that creative outlet to style and at times, create concepts to express my creative eye.
Who is your favorite wardrobe stylist of all time?
My favorite stylist would have to be Rachael Zoe. I began watching her show and getting an idea of the life of a stylist. I was able to see that there was more than just being this glamorous stylist, there was actually hard work that went into be able to have your clients in the best of the best. I began watching The Rachel Zoe Project before even realizing that this was something I was going to be able to do in my future. It was entertaining to watch as this woman made things happen regardless of the lack of sleep and other obstacles, she was determined to have her clients in the most beautiful silhouettes. What also makes her my favorite wardrobe stylist is the fact that she still worked, and worked hard without taking breaks, while she was pregnant. That indicated that this was truly her passion. She is not just an inspiration as a stylist, but as a woman, a wife, and a mother.
What inspires you?
Music inspires me. I love listening to a song and being able to have a vision of a photo shoot and a story concept. It's as though the music is creating a short film or slide show of images that just make me want to take out a pen and paper and jot down ideas.
What do you look for when selecting a model to work with?
I look for models that are able to convey the message through their body language. I look for models who understand acting because I believe every model should have acting background or study the art of reacting. I look for personality, the ability to act, the look, and of course, [natural] talent.
What is your favorite project you have worked on?
My favorite project I've worked on would have to be the Fantasies to Reality Production event I produced back in May of 2013. The event was a merge of theater, dance, and fashion shows. I was able to be as creative as I wanted - writing the script, creating the narrative parts, selecting the music, the venue, scouting the location, styling the models and dancers for the photo shoot and promo video, scripting the trailer and directing the whole process. This event fulfilled my very creative soul, allowing me to be able to multi-task and feel complete. On top of everything, I was 7 months pregnant, so it felt great to be pregnant bust still have that passion for a creative outlet. You can see the images of the event on my website under the "Fantasies of Reality" tab.