Shaped by a Model – Estela Parx

Estela Parx, Model and Owner/Designer of FIGURE

I recently had the honour of meeting one of SL’s supermodels Estela Parx. Estela is the owner and designer of FIGURE, a shape store that offers exclusive shapes with facial and body features designed to give you a unique personal and realistic appearance. Each shape includes a complete styling card to help you match the brilliantly photographed models on her store walls. Estela offers modify and no modify versions of her shapes (skirt shape included).

It’s always fun to experiment with different shapes and skins. Estela’s shapes are beautiful and perfect for modeling. Visit her store and try them for yourself (FIGURE by Estela Parx).

More about Estela Parx

Below is my interview with Estela, who offers some great advice to aspiring models.

Jena: How long have you been a model?

Estela: Becoming a model in SL was one of my goals. My career began with the Spanish academy, Laver, who gave me the opportunity to participate in a course for being a model in August 2009.

Jena: What training have you had as a model?

Estela:

• Laver Academy Model graduate – Sept 29, 2009
• SuperElite Modeling Academy graduate – Nov 9,  2009
• Evane Model School from Mimmi Boa graduate – Nov 12, 2009
• SuperElite Modeling Academy (Elite Class)  graduate – Dec 17, 2009

Jena: Do you remember your first job as a model on Second Life?

Estela: Yes, my first professional fashion show was in October 2009 with the Spanish Agency  Laver for the designer Ariadna Garrigus. It was an experience I will never forget, and I remember with nostalgia my friends, the stress from it being my first show and the big lag!

Jena: What is your favourite type of modeling?

Estela: I really like the runway, no doubt, but I also love making creative styling to pose as premier  model in the store of Thea Tamura Fashion,  a designer for whom I have great admiration.

Jena: Tell me about your recent or favourite modeling jobs.

• Miss Winter SuperElite SuperSearch 2010 – Jan 2010
• Hearts for Haiti (Evane Agency) – Feb 2010
• Pandora show (SuperElite Agency and designer HOUSE OF BENINGBOROUGH) – Feb 2010
• Fellini Couture show  (SuperElite Agency) – April 2010
• April spotlight video for Thea Tamura Fashion in Liata Social Club

Jena: What advise would you give to aspiring models on SL?

Estela: Create your own style, be yourself, do not imitate others and work hard. A model must have dedication, professionalism, punctuality and responsibility; beauty is a prerequisite in this profession, but without intelligence you will not get very far.

Jena: In your opinion, what are the benefits of being a model?

Estela: Developing your creativity, acquiring technical skills (e.g., shape and editing objects, catwalk choreography with poses), meeting interesting and creative people and making good friends.

Jena: Describe your personal style.

Estela: Style is an expression of personality. The qualities that differentiate one person from another is a personal brand that is expressed in our actions and also in our clothes. I like femininity and elegance with attention to detail. I’m a bit of a minimalist, but I also love trying different looks matching different styles. It’s very creative and fun for me.

Jena: Tell me about your other interests on SL.

Estela: I love making shapes, taking photos, making friends, networking with others in the modeling business, shopping and exploring.

Estela’s Style Favourites:

• Skin store: Belleza
• Shape store: I never bought a shape
• Hair store: TUKIMOWAGUNA
• Clothes store: Leezu Baxter and Thea Tamura Fashion
• Shoe store: Stiletto Moody
• Jewelry store: Paper Couture
• Accessories store: LaGyo, Baiastice
• Fashion Magazine: BOSL

Thank you Estela for allowing me to feature you on my Blog. Your elegance, grace and sheer beauty inspires us all to be the best we can be.

Jena Adder
AMPLIFIED Models CEO

Skin artists… MAKE ME OVER!

Skin: Ariana Dark (Lara Skin); Eyes: #19 (MR Designs); Hair: Katie-C Black (Fabulous Hair)

As models we know how important a GOOD skin is. We invest a lot of time looking for the perfect (and sometimes not so perfect) skin to help us achieve our supermodel look. It seems to me that the quality of skins on Second Life keeps getting better and more realistic every day, so don’t limit yourself to one skin… one look. Try a new shade of skin, maybe a goth look or makeup with face tattoos like those at LionSkins.

I’ve been experimenting with darker skins lately. In the photo I’m wearing Ariana Dark skin from Lara Skin, a great pair of dreamy blue eyes from MR Designs and hair and hat from Fabulous Hair. I Love this look on the runway.

A Model’s skin can range from milky fair to mocha dark, freckles and moles to clear and blemish free. There is beauty in all of them. However, what you do with your skin is another story. A good skin, shape and hair can make the difference between a stylish or a styleless look. Individuality is key, so be creative and flaunt your diva style.

I’ve compiled a list of 10 of my favourite skin shops on Second Life. I applaud these fabulous skin and shape artists and thank them for making us look GORGEOUS!

• Belleza (Men/Women)
• Curio (Women)
• Dutch Touch (Women)
• Laqroki/LAQ (Men/Women)
• Lara (Women)
• Lelutka (Men/Women)
• LionSkins (Men/Women)
• Pulse (Men/Women)
• Redgrave (Men/Women)
• Soul (Men/Women)

Remember! Test the waters before jumping in — always try the demo first.

Jena Adder

AMPLIFIED Models CEO

Check out The Best of SL Magazine and their BOSL Shopping Guide for a more extensive list of recommended skin shops.

• Shopping Guide to Women’s Skin Shops
• Shopping Guide to Men’s Skin Shops

Gimme head with hair

Oh…those famous lyrics from the musical Hair

“Give me down to there hair
Shoulder length or longer
Here baby, there mama
Everywhere daddy daddy
Hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair…”

Modifiable hair allows you to adjust your hair to conform to your shape.

Well that’s all fine and dandy in real life… but in SL, sometimes hair is literally “here baby, there mama, everywhere daddy daddy”.

As models we know how important it is to have everything looking right on our avatar, and hair is no exception. Hair through the ears, eyes and shoulders looks unprofessional on the runway or at that very important interview with a reputable model agency.

Here are some tips to fix those ‘hairy’ issues we all face with some SL hair:

• Buy hair from reputable creators and stores.
• Buy hair that is modifiable — modifiable hair allows us to adjust the hair to our varying shapes and sizes.
• Buy hair with resizable scripts — the easiest way to adjust your hair. Some scripts also allow you to change the color and texture, and in some cases add or remove any accessories that came with the hair. You may want to ensure that the scripted hair is also modifiable just in case you need to adjust parts of the hair that may show through your ear or eyes and cannot be fixed by the script.
• Learn to use the “Edit” feature — have a love affair with the “Edit” feature because it will allow you to move, rotate, stretch and edit individual parts of your hair (if modifiable). Here’s how:
  

  Use the Edit menu to move, stretch, rotate and alter individual parts of your hair.

1. Wear the hair
2. Right mouse click on the hair
3. Select Edit from the pie-chart menu — this opens the Build window and the Edit menu (the icon with the mouse pointer)
4. The main options are Position, Rotate, Stretch, Select Texture. If you wish to edit only parts of the hair, check the “Edit linked parts” box then use the options above to adjust accordingly.

Modeling Notes:

• Buy more than one shade of a good hair style — you want to be prepared if asked to change the color to suit a particular outfit
• Have short, medium and long hair in your inventory — again be as flexible as possible
• Don’t be afraid to buy some outrageous or unusual hair
• Keep your hair organized – create folders for the different types of hair in your inventory, e.g. updo (formal), long (fantasy), medium (ponytail). This too is important for quick changes during a fashion shoot or runway show.
• DO NOT wear freebie hair to interviews, castings and modeling jobs.
• Demo a hair style before buying it, and ALWAYS remember to delete your demos. Demos take up unnecessary space in your inventory and should be permanently deleted after you’ve made your decision.

Your hair is a part of your style — be creative, tasteful and flexible.

Stay pretty.

Jena Adder
AMPLIFIED Models CEO

15 Favourite hair shops:

1. Analog Dog
2. DamselFly Hair Salon
3. ETD: Elika Tiramisu Designs
4. Fab-U-Lous
5. fri.day
6. Hair & Hair
7. Ivanka Akina (IA Magic)
8. Junwave
9. Magika
10. Maitreya
11. Nikita Fride
12. Truth
13. Tukinowaguma
14. W&Y
15. Zero Style

SL — we live there, love it there and look good there

Jena Adder - AMPLIFIED Founder & CEO

Hello beautiful people. Welcome to the new AMPLIFIED Models blog featuring news and reviews on fashion in Second Life and includes regular updates and events at the AMPLIFIED Model Agency, Model Academy and Photography Studio.

Watch for weekly postings in my Fashion Reviews & Resources section, check out the Fashion Diva/Divo Spotlight and Model’s Picks, and always remember to grab tips on styling your avatar in the Styled section (first article: Gimme head with hair — tips on editing your hair).

At AMPLIFIED Models we love to look our best, so smile the next time you see me or any of my supermodels skipping in and out of shops in the SL fashion district, frantically checking ourselves for unrezzed prim lashes, floating prim nails or inactive walk and stand AOs.

Stay pretty.

Jena Adder

AMPLIFIED Models CEO

Featured link:
AMPLIFIED Models Photo Gallery

Fashion Diva/Divo of the week: Romeo Ferduccio