We can't believe it's our final featured members post of 2014! Here's to a wonderful holiday season for all of our users, and a happy and healthy new year. If you would like to submit yourself as potential featured member in 2015, please email us at featured@modelwirenetwork.com. Thanks for another great year!
MODEL OF THE MONTH: OLGA C.
Our December featured model, Olga C., resides in Los Angeles. Check out her profile for more gorgeous photos!
PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE MONTH: RJ LAMENDOLA
RJ LaMendola graduated at the top of his class with a Bachelor's in Arts Degree from the Brooks Institute where he routinely possessed his class's top portfolio. The artist is blessed with the eye of a painter that appreciates the subtlety for composition, light and color. His skill enables the metamorphosis from the banal to art.
RJ's roots are in Chicago and his time spent on the dunes of Lake Michigan germinated his passion for art. He is able to capture the pure essence of everything he photographs, and he develops a genuine connection with his subjects. He is intensely curious and looks for inspiration in everything.
As the artist found inspirations in the natural beauty of Lake Michigan he now finds revelation in the Blue Pacific's expanse. He's an avid surfer and devotes time and talent to his charity work for those less fortunate.
MAKEUP ARTIST OF THE MONTH: BETHANY GARITA
Originally born and raised in Shreveport, LA, Bethany Garita (Pretty In Ink By Beth) currently resides in Southern California, where she does makeup and hair freelance. She began life as a painter, which led to her friends asking Bethany to do their makeup like her paintings. Bethany used photos from her first shoot, which she booked via a model on MySpace, and photos of her friends to build her first rough portfolio. She has now been in the industry for almost 10 years and has worked in both film and print.
Why makeup artistry?
Why not?! It's fun, I get to work with models, travel, and I use my God-given art skills every day! As a mother I also love it because I set my own schedules, and I love being a part of the magic that happens behind the scenes. Plus I get to play with makeup!
Who is your favorite makeup artist of all time?
Allan "Whitey" Snyder. He created the most timeless, glamorous and iconic look ever on Marilyn Monroe.
What inspires you?
I am inspired by paintings, seasons, fashion shows, history, and so many other things. I have a book with loads of ripped out photos and snap shots, scribble, and it may look like the book and ravings of a lunatic to someone else, but it's all reference and inspiration to me.
What do you look for when selecting a model to work with?
Well, the first thing I look for is good skin; I cannot stress how important that is to me. The other things are awkward beauties, very androgynous features, or anything striking, like women with a strong jaw line!
What product can you not live without?
I can't live without mascara. Take everything else, but leave me my mascara!
What is your favorite project you have worked on?
I will have to say it was the 6 months I worked on the TV series SALEM. I met some amazing people who became great friends; I learned a lot and got some great experience under my belt. It was my first big project and I am still so humbled and grateful for the experience.
What is your personal style?
I am super relaxed; I am always in jeans and a t-shirt, with a pair of Vans, Keds, or Converse on. I also love oversized shirts and layers. I am very much inspired by Korean street fashion the most.
What is your favorite band or song of all time?
I can't say that I have a favorite band, but my favorite song is "The Girl You Want" by Devo.
What is your most embarrassing moment professionally?
I have had plenty of embarrassing moments in my life, but I can luckily say that so far, I have yet to have any on the job and hope to keep it that way!
HAIR STYLIST OF THE MONTH: SHELBY GEORGE
Shelby George Smith is a freelance event and salon stylist and makeup artist, specializing in highlighting and dimensional color, curly textures, layered haircuts and bridal styling. She graduated from The Paul Mitchell School of Orlando in 2006 and has been in the beauty business ever since. After three year of honing her skills in the sunshine state, she headed over to Portland, OR where she not only worked behind the chair, but she served as a cosmetology educator at the International Beauty School. Now Shelby calls Chicago, IL home where she is a salon stylist at Fulton Market's FM Hair Studio as well as a member of The Bridal Team Chicago.
WARDROBE STYLIST OF THE MONTH: QUEENA YAN
Queena Yan was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada where she developed a sense of style at an early age. A knack for matching and color coordinating without knowing fashion came easy. She had no idea it would become her desired career. She received her first degree at V.C.C. where she created her very first collection. The overall response was so overwhelming that it motivated her to collaborate and assist with the start of HardHood Clothing, a Canadian based high end urban street wear company. This subsequently motivated her to pursue her higher education and career in fashion at F.I.T. in New York City.
En route to her second degree, Queena worked with various photographers, wardrobe stylists, choreographers, directors and artists such as Bill Blass, Al Rodriguez, Lee Clower, Lucy Corrigan, Isle White, Derek Reed, and Lil Kim to name a few.
Her work has been featured in Vogue Italia, Vh1, MTV, Paper-cut and other various magazines, as well as film and TV. Queena's goal is to create a high end movement combining fashion, music, art, dance, photography, and styling which would culminate into her brand, Queena Yan.
