Model Citizen: Sasha Pivovarova

In anticipation of this season's New York Fashion Week (Strap on the stilettos, ladies and gents! It's almost here...) I was remembering one of my favorite behind the scenes images from last season. It's a snap from Cathy Horyn's On The Runway blog of Russian model Sasha Pivovarova doodling in a notebook while she gets primped for a show.

Initially I snidely thought, "Oh, that's cute. A model with a hobby." because I can sometimes harbor bitchy, icky resentments towards people paid for wearing couture and getting their makeup done. But then, on a good day when I didn't hate her 'cuz she's beautiful, I did some investigating and it turns out Sasha's really quite talented. She was an artist long before she was a model and actually studied art at St. Petersburg Art Institute before beginning her modeling career in 2005.

A t-shirt project Sasha did for Cosmo in China a few years back.

The model artist cute as a button in her Brooklyn studio.

More backstage sketching.


Self-portraits are Sasha's forte, as they should be.


An illustration Sasha worked on for Chanel at the request of Kaiser Karl.

Her drawings are gaining attention, because well, so is she, but it's an attention they deserve. I have a personal penchant for art involving faces, and with a self-portrait as pretty as hers, Sasha's quite uniquely qualified for the subject. I see a gallery show on the horizon. I for one hope she makes more T-shirts. I want one!

Click images for source information.

Model Citizen: Tao Okamoto

Yigal Azrouel's show hit its high notes when Japanese born Tao Okamoto rocked the runway. Her short haircut qualifies her for the Sasha Fierce Award. She's striking and makes Azrouel's sophisticated, hard chic come to life. She stalks the runway, so I'm gonna stalk her through fashion week. Hope she doesn't mind.

Photos: Marcio Madeira for Style.com

Model Citizen: Helena Christensen

If I were the type to make overreaching superlative statements, I'd definitely say that Helena Christensen is the most dynamic model to have emerged out of the supermodel-saturated '90s. With a Danish father and a Peruvian mother, Helena's integrated genes produced some seriously sexy, exotic features. Her dark complexion, green eyes, and full figure were enough to propel her into the spotlight and keep her there for nearly 20 years.

Christensen has always been more than a pretty face, which makes her even more beautiful. She was a photographer before she was a model and started posing to pay for her photo trips. In 1999 she co-founded Nylon and served as the indie mag's original creative director. She's opened Butik, a Chelsea-based housewares and clothing shop with a vintage focus. She's friends and creative collaborators with Michael Stipe and Bono, and co-designs an eponymous clothing line. Simply put: She's a talented lady.

Today Christensen's latest photographic works go on display at the Dactyl Foundation. The show is called "Far, From Close" and features a wide array of the model-snapper's landscapes and abstractions. With an eye for angle and a penchant for perspective, the images share an isolationist vibe and get a heavy dose of texture from Helena's blurred aesthetic.