Top Fasion Models Kerri-Lee Miller of India
Indian Fashion Model Kerri-Lee Miller
When it got a bit out of hand, Kerri-lee gave up her studies to give it a go and she has been modeling full time for about a year and a half now. So, is there any interesting or shocking ramp experience she can remember? “Do I really want to answer this question? Ha ha, I have managed to fall down 7 stairs while doing SA Summer Fashion Week, live on FTV worldwide. Totally embarrassing!”
Kerri-lee was born in East London and lives between Cape Town and Johannesburg. She attended Junior and High School in a small town called Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape, completed her final year of high School in Johannesburg and then studied Fashion Buying and Merchandising at Lisof. “I moved to England after school for a bit over 2 years and worked as a 'sales clerk' for an automotive styling company and then worked as a 'personal assistant' for a rather famous person - I shall not mention who.”
We asked Kerri-lee about the amount of print and television work she's done in the past and trust me, for a long time we didn't get a chance to ask anything else. “Wow that's a lot of thinking. Hmmm, Editorials for SL, People, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Dossier SA, Tag, More, Glamour and Prima - UK. So many in China and Taiwan. Television commercials include Sneak Mag and B&Q UK, Million Dollar
Poker, Nedbank and Edgars SA, KFC, a lingerie line I can't pronounce or spell, Asus Computers TVC & Stills - Taiwan, Beijing Olympics TVC & Stills - Beijing China. Print campaigns would be - Jet, Rage, Silverstar Casino, Edgars Campaigns SA, Kappa Campaign - whole of Asia and various catalogues and campaigns shot in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Beijing and Shanghai, Press Release for G Wild Jewelry. Beyond that I really can't remember.” Having worked with so many photographers all over the world, she must be having a favorite. “Annie Leibovitz, for her amazing ability to capture the person within in all of her shots. It is just pure art.”How would she compare the modeling scene in London, Milan, Paris and New York from that in India or South Africa? “South Africa or should I say Cape Town alone is an amazing melting pot of all sorts of work, clients range from local, German, Swedish, Swiss, British, Indian, French, Danish to Russian. And the market caters for all with a lot of editorial work, TVC both locally and internationally, massive amounts of Catalogue work to campaigns that can cover the whole of Europe. The list is never ending and the market demands healthy girls not stick thin girls. A smile is a necessity and an easy going personality is a huge help. Wow to make a comparison is almost impossible. London, Paris, Milan, New York and Tokyo, these are the fashion capital. Edgy, strong, expressive, avant-garde, fast paced - wow that is just another world. Thin is the name of the game and competition is fierce but it is where you can make or break it. There is really no way to describe it or compare it; it is just two different worlds!”
Kerri-lee has recently shot for two editorials, both for UK magazines. And after looking at the sizzling pictures that we clicked with her in South-Africa, we're sure that many would want to know where can she be found next? “I am off to Istanbul for 2 to 3 months and then I am off to Germany and London. From there, who knows?” and she flies off to reach newer heights.
BOLD & CANDID
First kiss - when, where and whom?
Ha ha, it was awful and I was 13 but that is all you are getting out of me, a lady never kisses and tells. Ha ha!
The worst pick-up line used on you?
Oh gosh! It would have to be, “Sorry gorgeous, I seem to have lost my number, could I have yours.” Guys, honestly, pick-up lines that don't work, a bit of sincerity go a hell of a lot further.
Most embarrassing thing you've done after getting drunk?
Wouldn't you love to know?
Wildest fantasy?
Hmmm, well that is rather naughty!
Life without sex or life without modeling?
Easy one, life without modeling, how the hell do you live without sex, if I wanted to deal with that, I would have just become a nun!
Your feature that rates high on oomphometer?
I think it is always the eyes not only on me but on every woman; you will be amazed at the amount of sensuality they exude!
A bedroom trick that works wonders without a fail?
You would have to ask my boyfriend that one!
As a teenager, you never wanted your parents to know?
That I smoked! Beyond that my family is extremely open minded. There is nothing I couldn't tell them and nothing that would shock them too much.
Dark & handsome / fair & charming/ suave and sophisticated/ a grungy rockstar?
Hmmn! that is hard because I am a bit of a sucker for grungy rock stars but not in the Pete Doherty way but rather the Jared Leto way. But in saying that, my mom warned me against those boys! So I would then have to say Dark and Handsome but with edgy style!
First thing you notice in a guy?
Physically, his height first, then his eyes and then his lips. But most important to me is someone with an easy going personality but with ambition and drive and then the sense of humor! Nothing is better than a man that can make me laugh.
What do you think men want?
For women to stop asking about his emotions, what he is thinking, his ex's and a woman without too much drama.
Name an over-rated international model - male & female?
This is a tricky one, I really don't like Agnes Deyn and there just isn't anything special about her to me although I do understand why she is famous. Then all the male models those are far too skinny and look like prepubescent females. I am not a big fan of that look at all. Bring back the era of sexy muscular healthy men with great smiles!
Milan fashion week or a Bollywood movie?
Depends on which shows I would be doing in fashion week and how popular the Bollywood movie would be but the Bollywood movie sounds fun. I would love to give acting a try just once!
Nude scene in Hollywood's biggest venture Yes or No?
Only if it were done tastefully.
Controversy sells. What's controversial about you?
I speak my mind, I am not afraid of much, I will try almost anything once just to know what it's like, I am not your average model. Pravin Talan can tell you from experience - my personality is just too big for that. Controversy is over rated.
Making Of The Cover : By Pravin Talan
They say about South Africa - one world one country! That even India is - as it has got almost everything that one can see in the world. But if they were to say the same thing only about Cape Town - I would completely agree with it. I have been shooting around the world but never been to a place before that's got such a range of locations within an hour of the main city. I could have shot for the cover of the magazine anywhere, in any corner. And thankfully Kerri is a fabulous model - the pictures just can't go wrong. Great body, great looks and a great attitude!
No wonder Atul decided to put her on the cover. Just check out her body of work from across the many nations she has modeled in.
We had decided to shoot at the beach side but still I had earlier crossed this particular location and loved the rock formation. But being too close to the city, I wasn't too sure how feasible it was to do a shoot there, but my friend Niel assured it was fine.
Kerri has a great sense of style and on having met her twice earlier on different occasions, I dropped the idea of hiring a stylist for the shoot and asked her to carry a short dress in red and a bikini. Shanaz had done astonishing make-up - the blue eyes just stood out and I just couldn't wait to start clicking.
Finally when we reached the spot, the sea had changed dramatically. The waves would rise as high as twenty feet and it looked awfully scary to get anywhere close to them. Though Kerri was an absolute sport insisting up on shooting there but I can take risk with my bones but not with the model. We kept on moving from spot to spot till we found a platform sort of thing. And eventually we were forced to shift again after a couple of shots in the lovely red outfit she was wearing. The sea was just too wild that day.
It was a fantastic experience to shoot with such a great model. I still remember when we took the first shot. The white waves dancing around her appeared to me like lava of melting snow and as she sat on her knees gazing at a distant sea - she appeared to me as one of the most exotic girls I had ever shot with. As I gazed at her through my lens for her face close ups, I realized that her piercing blue eyes can cut through any defenses you might hold against such body - beautiful. The camera loves her and you love her.
Most waves got gentle by the time they reached her, the force broken by rock formation, yet few were furious enough to toss her around bruising her body and cutting the knees. But she just didn't want to move away. I had to practically drag her away to another spot. If I say that water was cold - don't trust me as the water was much more than that - it was freezing cold! She didn't complain once and I could see what goes in to the making of a great model - the level of commitment and the madness required for shooting extra-ordinary pictures.
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