Celebrity Spawn Models: Have They Earned Their Place?
By Denise Grayson May 7, 2010
Georgia May Jagger for Hudson Jeans. Photo: Mario Testino
You’d think there was a shortage of models these days with the number of celebrity spawn featuring in fashion and beauty campaigns, particularly in Britain. Since the industry is far from desperate for more pretty faces and tall, skinny bodies, what then is the appeal of the child of so-and-so to the brands who hire them, and to the consumer who’s buying in?
First, about half of them are attractive. Combine the Bardot-esque beauty of Georgia May Jagger or the classic good looks of Amber Le Bon with the cachet of a major rock star father and supermodel mother – Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall, and Simon and Yasmin Le Bon respectively – and it’s clear why people are fascinated. The public loves a pretty face, even when the name is Mary Smith. Add in the pedigree and the big brands have someone who will generate instant publicity for their campaigns and lend a certain ‘cool’ to their image.
The other half are novelties. Peaches Geldof comes to mind as the poster girl for “Why do we know who you are, what is that you actually do?” The second daughter of Sir Bob Geldof and the late Paula Yates who died of an accidental heroin overdose, became a celebrity by gaining notoriety as a wild teenager on the London party scene before parlaying her name into creative jobs, including documentary production and writing magazine columns. It seemed to begin well. And then she opened her mouth. An arrogance that makes Gwyneth Paltrow’s self-esteem seem endearing, combined with an inflated sense of entitlement, emerged and quickly made the droopy-eyed wannabe one of the most loathed people in Britain (of those who know who she is), if the resounding criticism on the blogs are anything to go by. In 2008, she was captured on camera buying £190 drugs from a man and making arrangements to buy Valium, used as a come-down drug, the next day. Yet the modelling contracts were forthcoming as were design collaborations, one being with hip London label PPQ, suggesting that either the people behind the brands are clueless about what’s happening on the street, or they consider any publicity good publicity. Agent Provocateur lingerie was one, (to be fair, they hire everyone eventually so you may want to keep to your waxing appointments as you just might be next) and until recently – she was fired in March after nude photos and tales of heroin taking were exposed on the internet - she was the face and body of Ultimo lingerie, a lucrative £100,000 contract. Her younger sister Pixie, who is following in her modelling footsteps – she featured in a campaign for Pringle of Scotland – is managing her public life and image far more effectively, though many are questioning her right to be in the spotlight.
Daisy Lowe for Pringle of Scotland. Photo: Steven Meisel
So what we’ve learned is that a famous name – the right one – will get you in the door and even guarantee a job, especially when your parents are still considered influential figures and are a core part of the elite social scene. Georgia May Jagger is rather short for a model – her height is listed as a mere 5’7”and that’s likely stretching it a bit – but a few inches’ deficit didn’t stand in the way of her being nominated for, and winning, Model of the Year at the British Fashion Awards last December, or fetching contracts for Versace, Hudson Jeans and Rimmel cosmetics. One can’t help but wonder how much of her perceived model greatness is a product of her name recognition. It’s not likely we’d have heard of her otherwise but so far she delivers well enough as a model. Time will tell if she’s got mom’s chops.
Daisy Lowe is another London model with cool, famous parents. She’s the daughter of Pearl Lowe, an ex-singer/songwriter, designer and member of the Primrose Hill set, and Gavin Rossdale, ex-Bush frontman and husband to Gwen Stefani (though paternity wasn’t confirmed until Daisy was 16 years-old). She has the huge dark brown eyes of her mother and stands model tall at 5’10”. She’s been shot by Steven Meisel and Steven Klein for Vogue Italia and has walked the runway for Chanel and Vivienne Westwood, and featured in campaigns for Marc Jacobs –who called her ‘adorable’ – Louis Vuitton, Pringle of Scotland, and DKNY. She just may be the most palatable to critics of the entitled hipster set; she’s stayed out of trouble thus far and seems generally likeable. And she takes a great picture.
For those engage in celebrity worship, times are good for you. And to those who cringe when they turn the page in their latest Vogue and see Mick Jagger’s lips wearing ripped jeans, best look or away or just accept it as part of the scenery.
Cheap and easy publicity will always be in fashion.
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Submitted on May 7, 2010 in Industry News, Who's Who.
Denise is a Canadian living in England who is fascinated by the fusing of fashion and art. Her obsession with the details and an insatiable urge to share beautiful discoveries drives her Paris-loving blog, www.TheSwelleLife.com, and recently she opened Swelle Boutique at www.swelleboutique.com which offers exclusive one-off and limited edition dresses and accessories.
Denise Grayson has contributed 59 articles to Models & Moguls.
