Jeneil Williams exposed

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Jamaican model Jeneil Williams let it all out in both LOVE magazine and the Pony Ryder blog recently - in two very different ways.

The LOVE exposure was of course, part of the editorial she shot for the magazine as one of the eight cover models they chose for the issue.

And in Pony Ryder's interview, we got a glimpse into Jeneil's life and personality.

We've got both for you.

Jeneil on her childhood in Jamaica:

"It was hard; I was forced to grow up really fast."

Jeneil on living in the Big Apple:

"When I first got here it was really amazing because it was my dream to get an agency in New York City. My mother agent took me around to meet with all of the agencies in New York and I ended up signing with New York Models – who I had met with in Jamaica during the model contest. I love my agency and New York. I have met incredible people and love this city!"

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Jeneil on her body and beauty rituals:



 

No I owe most of it [my body]  to track and field; I used to do track back in high school.... I do pilates now to tone up at least twice a week.

I cleanse and exfoliate everynight and I use a facial mask every now and again. I love Jergen’s lotion with a mix of Johnson’s baby gel.

There is lot more of that over at Pony Ryder where you can find the full interview.

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Rose Cordero makes French Vogue cover!

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Dominicana Rose Cordero is on the cover of the new edition of French Vogue!

Not only is this her first Vogue cover but it marks the first time since 2002 that a black model was the sole cover model for French Vogue. The last one to get that 'honour' was Liya Kebede. Noemie Lenoir also had the cover of  French Vogue in June 2008 but she was one of two covers - the other cover was a white model - Laetitia Casta.

Great company to be in and good for Rose! She looks absolutely beautiful - very vulnerable and soft, which is interesting because Rose's angular features are often played up in a very 'strong' way.

Not so great for French Vogue though - really eight years between solo black cover girls? Do better.

Model behaviour: Naomi for Haiti, Jeneil's nude cover & more

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Islandista born and descended models have started 2010 as busy as they were in 2009.



The queen of them all, Brit-yaadie Naomi Campbell has been working hard at putting together her annual Fashion for Relief show, which will benefit Haiti this year.

She is teaming up with Sarah Brown, wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown for the show which will take place during London Fashion Week.

Thus far, Naomi has brought on fashion friends Dolce & Gabbana, Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood for the event which takes place on February 18th.

She was out and about this week doing interviews and photo calls for the event.

Say what you want about Naomi (and yes, there is nuff to say) but her heart is as big as her temper. She has always worked hard for charity causes.

In more islandista model news, fellow Jamaican models Jeneil Williams and Jaunel McKenzie are going hard for 2010 - already. More on their blazing start to 2010 when you read on.

Rihanna in blackface & Islandistas on I-D cover

Islandistas are all over the place for the September round of fashion magazines.

Islandistas Jourdan Dunn and Arlenis are featured on the cover of the September issue of I-D magazine, along with fellow models of colour Chanel Iman and Sessilee Lopez in a historic all-black cover.

Jourdan, who is five months pregnant (reportedly with a boy), spoke about her baby's father, the pressures on minority models and how she has finally become comfortable with not having the type of body prized in the Afro-Caribbean community.

About her boyfriend:

My boyfriend didn't even know I was a model when I started going out with him and we've been together for three years now. It's hard, you never really know whether people want to be around Jourdan or Jourdan Dunn, and he's been there from when I was just Jourdan.

About her body:

“I’m starting to feel more secure in who I am now. Being from an Afro-Caribbean family, being black, skinny, isn’t really acceptable in that community; it’s all about having curves and stuff.... That’s why I’ve never been comfortable with my body until now, when I realize I can say this is who I am, I’m healthy, I’ve always liked to eat, and I’m now happy enough in my own skin to not give a fuck what anyone says about me any more.

About the pressures on black models:

There are loads of black models working and the idea that there's only a few of us, or four of us, to let in as top models at any one time is just bullsh*t. It creates an unnecessary competition when we should be standing together.

True talk Jourdan. Pity Naomi didn't recognise this back in the day and was so mean to Tyra.

In other islandista fashion magazine news, we have more pics from Rihanna's shoot for the couture supplement of Vogue Italia.

And... we're on the fence about it.

Back to back black Vogue covers and Rihanna's belated bday party

Well slap me with a fish and call me Wally!



Sorry, I just needed to create an expression as crazy as that to express my shock at the fact that Beyonce is covering the April edition of US Vogue magazine - which means ... BACK TO BACK covers with black women for the 'fashion Bible'!

See? Slap you with a fish too cos I know I was not the only one (pleasantly) surprised at this. We all know that black women don't make it onto the cover of Vogue much (see a listing of all Vogue's covers with black women here) - certainly their representation on the cover of US Vogue does not match up to their proportion of the US population or - let's be honest, the disproportionate influnce of blacks on US culture.

Could this be change we can believe in Anna?

In other news, Rihanna has been seen out and about in earnest for the first time since she was beaten by Chris Brown before the Grammys last month.

She had a belated 21st birthday party at the Spotted Pig in New York City (her birthday was actually in February but she was in no state to go out or be seen after the incident) with a few fellow celebs, including mentor Jay-Z and wife Beyonce, Brandy and BFF Melissa.



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Jourdan Dunn conquers US Vogue and French Elle

So yuh know that our favourite islandista fashionista Jourdan Dunn is still running tings in 2009.

Fresh from her Model of the Year victory at the British Fashion Awards at year end, she has landed two major, major magazine appearances to start the year -  a spread in the January edition of US Vogue magazine, alongside Chanel Iman and the cover of French Elle.

Check out her shots from the Vogue spread below.

 

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Now while we can see clearly through US Vogue's clunky attempt at finally getting with the 21st century and acknowledging that black has been in style from when, Jourdan is so damn fierce  and bad to rhatid that we are almost willing to overlook the obviousness of their attempt. The world has a black US president now - time to get with it Vogue - tokenism will not do in '09!

As she continues to blaze, Jourdan has also made it onto the cover of French Elle's December issue. Check it out below.

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And we have finally been able to pin down which island Jourdan's family hails from - though if we had studied the last name, it should have given us a hint cos Dunn is a pretty yaadie surname and sure enough she is of Jamaican descent, as is mentioned very obliquely in this Sunday Observer profile on her.