Made in Brazil

A Semana: Hard Candy, Project Runway, SJP, Gianecchini, And Raquel

Arjan Writes has an exclusive review of Madonna's Hard Candy, and news about the next Killers album, set to be produced by Confessions On A Dancefloor's Stuart Price.

Leona Lewis' debut album Spirit hits stores today. Get a copy asap.

Brazilian designer Mario Queiroz launched a new men's jewelry line at BaselWorld last week.

Alexander McQueen opens his first LA boutique today.

Casting for the second season of Brazil's Next Top Model has already started. Am hoping Sony will also cast a new panel of judges to make the show more fun and camp.

It looks like Project Runway is saying Auf Wiedersehen to Bravo, and moving to Lifetime.

Rumor has it that Sarah Jessica Parker was tapped to star in the ad campaign for São Paulo's Shopping Cidade Jardim, which opens its doors for the first time this May.

I love the fact that actor Reynaldo Gianecchini reads the paper shirtless every morning by the window of his apartment in Rio (and that Extra has pictures of it).

How do I get my hands on the new Handbook while I am in Brazil?

Ohlala interviews Michael Lucas.

Models.com has more pictures of La Zimmermann in the new issue of Hercules.

Brazil's Next Top Model Is...

19-year-old Mari Velho, from Santos, one of my favorites from the very beginning of the show.

Now as much as I agree that Mari Velho should have won the Ford modeling contract and the cover of Brazilian Elle, it was finalist Ana Paula Bertola who took the best pictures last night.

As for the show, it certainly grew on me as its first season progressed. There are still many issues that need to be addressed for next season, such as the awful lighting which makes everyone look pale and tired, the sound quality full of echoes and background noises, and the production of the shoots which could certainly benefit from an investment in art direction and styling. However, the important thing is that host Fernanda Motta came out of her shell, stopped acting like Tyra, and proved that she has what it takes to make the show work. I would still like to see her more extroverted and goofy side, and for that reason alone I cannot wait for the second season of the show.

Pictures of all the contestants and episodes at BRNTM.

A Semana: Cauã, DSquared2, Will Smith, Gisele, And Brazil's Next Top Model

Cauã Reymond is back in Rio after a month in São Paulo shooting his first movie Se Nada Mais Der Certo. For the role of a frustrated journalist, the actor had to lose eight pounds and his tan.

Dean and Dan Caten, the twins behind DSquared2, will join the long list of celebs who will be spending NYE in Rio. They already have a suite booked at the new Fasano Hotel.

Will Smith is scheduled to land in Rio as well, but only on January 13. He will be promoting his new movie I Am Legend, in which he stars opposite Brazilian actress Alice Braga.

Gisele signed with mass retailer C&A for the second time in her career. The new ad campaign was shot in China this past week.

Hedi Slimane is in talks with LVMH to develop his own menswear line. Diesel founder Renzo Rosso is apparently also interested in backing up the designer.

Prada CEO Patrizio Bertelli confirmed that he has set the process in motion for the company to go public next year.

The first season of Brazil's Next Top Model comes to an end tonight, and model turned host Fernanda Motta has already signed in for four more seasons. I have a feeling Mariana Velho will be the winner, taking home a R$ 200K modeling contract with Ford, and the cover of Elle.

Louis Vuitton will be featuring six major supermodels in its new campaign for spring 2008. A film showing the making of the ad campaign with Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Natalia Vodianova, and others will be released tomorrow on Style.com.

Brazil's Next Top Model Finally Picks Up

Since I can no longer watch Project Runway, America's Next Top Model, or Heroes, until a day or more after they air in the United States, I ended up developing a strong bond with the first season of Brazil's Next Top Model.

The first couple of episodes were beyond tragic, but the show did grow on me recently. The photoshoots still look cheap, the styling is weak, and producer Pazetto has not managed to gain my love (or to even compare to his American counterpart Jay), but something has changed: the presenter. Model Fernanda Motta started out as insecure as the girls on the show, trying to be an exact replica of Tyra. Like to top four finalists, she also started taking chances on the show, and slowly started showing her true personality. As the first season comes to an end, Fernanda has become the best thing about the show. She has let her guard down, and even almost cried last week while hugging one of the girls who was eliminated. I am slightly obsessed with her actually.

Last night one of my favorite candidates, Mari R., was at the bottom two. I wish she would learn how to walk before the season is over because I love her look. The only black girl still on the running was sent home. In Brazil, the winner gets the cover of Elle magazine, which is way better than scoring the cover of Seventeen in my opinion.

Now changing the topic, have any of you seen High School Musical 2? My 6-year-old brother bought the DVD last night, and has been playing the songs non-stop today. It is nice to know that I am not the only one in the family into totally gay shows.

Karim Aum On Brazil's Next Top Model

I missed last week's episode of Brazil's Next Top Model, but managed to catch a rerun this past Saturday night. The big photoshoot this week was the best so far, and had a fetishist theme. The girls were done up dominatrix style, and male models were on call to raise the temperature on the set. While eight of the girls had a blast with the selection of male flesh, one found herself particularly upset and had a meltdown during the shoot. She felt like she was cheating on her boyfriend by posing next to a male model. She would have been lucky if that were the case.

Take a look at the pictures above: while contestant Ana Paula is just a bit way too focused on the camera to truly enjoy the fact that Karim Aum is half-naked next to her, Livia is teary-eyed and pushing the model away from her. She did not get sent home last week merely because one of nine the girls left had a chubby face the judges could no longer stand, but I am now praying her hopes of becoming Brazil's Next To Model get shredded to pieces this week. Anyone who has to sit next to Karim Aum in a speedo and starts crying should be eliminated on the spot. If you cry next to him, it better be tears of joy.

Watch the girls in action on the video below:

Note to producers: kissing hot male models in speedos is not necessarily what I call a challenge.

Dissecting Brazil's Next Top Model

This past Saturday I managed to catch reruns of the first three episodes of the first season of Brazil's Next Top Model, and was a little disappointed with what I saw. Being addicted to the American original, I cannot avoid but to think that the formula has been simply copied as opposed to adapted to a Brazilian reality. Here are my thoughts on the franchise:

The show: the editing needs major help, and so does the lighting. Choice of background music could be better as well. As tacky as the original is, you never get the feeling that the production is cheap (because it probably isn't), which is what bothered me the most about the Brazilian franchise. Just take a look at a comparison between the latest episode in Brazil, where the girls had to pose as zodiac signs, and its American counterpart.

The host: model Fernanda Motta may be hotter and younger than Tyra Banks, but she doesn't have the same charisma (or the same supermodel credibility) that Tyra does. You can't avoid but to feel as if she had been given a script, and is acting out a part. She is way too serious, but I am hoping that she will let her personality shine as the season goes on (which is the same advice she gives to all the girls).

The judges: I get the nonchalant attitude, but can someone please raise them from the dead? Designer Alexandre Herchcovitch looks constantly bored out of his mind when sitting on the judging panel. SPFW producer Paulo Borges does not even know why he is there, and even my only hope for some real sharp comments, editor Erika Palomino, has kept her mean public persona locked in a box so far. The panel in Brazil has a lot of fashion credibility, what they don't have is enough chemistry to keep me interested in what they have to say. Yawn.

The creative director: Mr. Jay Alexander is over the top, tanned to a carrot status, and wears some of the queeniest (and tackiest) outfits on TV, but after being exposed to his Brazilian counterpart, Pazetto, I have developed a different level of appreciation for him. Mr. Jay is as an essential element to the success of ANTM as is Tyra Banks, and there are better (and more fun) queens in this country to fill his shoes than producer Pazetto.

The model hopefuls: in one word, boring. I guess casting could use a little help if there is a second season. I want more drama, more cat fights, and a lot more nervous breakdowns. On a positive note, at least most of the girls look like they could actually be models.

My take on the third episode: Erycka and Andrea better watch out. After taking the pictures below, they are lucky they are still in the house. Both of them are destined to get cut.

The best thing about the last episode was the guest judge, make-up artist Claudio Belizario. The show is in desperate need of cuties like him (watch him in action here).

Note to producers: take this as constructive criticism. I am going to keep on watching, which I guess is a sign that something must be working.

A Semana: BRNTM, Project Runway, Roisin Murphy, And Tom Ford

The first season of Brazil's Next Top Model premiered last week on Sony. I missed the first episode and the launch party since am in New York, but will do my best to keep you posted on the show as soon as I am in Brazil.

I can't wait for the new season of Project Runway to begin. Check out the new cast online.

Preview Roisin Murphy's new album Overpowered online immediately. I have been playing it non-stop for a week now. Arjan sat down with her for an interview last week.

Porn star Francois Sagat gives a sexy rendition of Ms. Britney Spears' Gimme More while brushing his teeth.

Björk talks to Estado de São Paulo about the future of music, Brazil, and her tour to promote Volta. She plays in Brazil later this month.

After being closed for three months, nightclub Glória reopened in São Paulo last Friday.

The first edition of the Eight Party, Pacha's new gay party, took place in São Paulo yesterday.

Tom Ford gets naked in the shower with male models in the latest issue of Out magazine, photographed by none other than Terry Richardson.

Brad Pitt takes the cover of Italian GQ this month.

Genre magazine gets a much welcomed makeover and new website.

Models.com lists the top male modeling agencies in New York.

Brazil's Next Top Model Hopefuls

The 20 girls on the running towards becoming Brazil's Next Top Model were revealed last Friday. Some of the girls are in desperate need of the traditional makeover episode (or a good meal).

If you are older than 20, you know your chances of scoring that Ford modeling contract are pretty slim. Click here for pictures of all the Top Model contestants.

I am now expecting an extravagant (and tacky) poster with all the contestants and model-turned-host Fernanda Motta to be available soon.

Note to producers: I intend on keeping a close eye on the show and scrutinizing every little detail as soon as it debuts.