MANDARINA MODELS 2.0

We introduced Beatricia not so long ago and here she (already) comes again with a first glossy page to add to her portfolio (cheers!) and what a lovely one. What a lovely start, actually. Working out red lipstick like a boss, directed by make-up artist Alexandru Abagiu, together with luxurious locks by hair creator Sorin Stratulat, she embodies the perfect little lady in front of Marius Baragan’s camera. A full performance for a beginner that certainly allows us to be confident for her future in fashion (something we already felt and witnessed at first sight, back in december and in Chisinau). Poise and presence gathered for the victory.

We are always looking to the future and it’s not just a state of mind, it’s a matter of (f)acts. Even when the new ladies joining Mandarina are still too young for much international exposure or to catch up with modeling daily realities, we always want to make sure they get the appropriate training and, especially, support. When a young gem like Tatiana enters the team, besides being blinded by her radiant potential, our first feeling and move is to give her the care she truly needs and deserves on her first steps to a bright future. Don’t expect Tatiana to grace the biggest covers tomorrow or the day after, don’t wait eagerly for an upcoming appearance on Paris catwalks but keep in mind this name (write it down if it helps, even we are sure there is no need to do so to remember that face). She’s got the little extra that sets her apart from the masses, right from the start.

One more cover to add to Mandarina girls roster and this it comes from Oana, gracing the first page of Rumours magazine. Static yet statuesque pose, regal make-up details and a certain dose of class brought here by Oana herself — the strengths of the visual lay in the balance between luxury and simplicity. As easy as it seems.

Don’t get fooled by the apparent minimalism of the black and white aesthetics, there is much more rock’n'roll in this story when you come closer to the pictures. Sculptural poses and intense gazes lead the list of ingredients mixed by Aida to spice up this editorial from Elle magazine, shot by Gabi Hirit. Switching from severe to saucy, back and forth as you flip through the mag, Aida’s latest gig in the fashion world can safely be considered as a new achievement of the young lady with the sassy haircut.

Such green eyes could never lie, seem to say the pictures we chose to introduce one of the most gorgeous latest additions to the Mandarina team. Meet Daniela, pictured au naturel by Ionut Staicu. Originally from Moldova, the witty and lovely young lady spent a few days in Bucharest to develop her skills and enjoy her first modeling opportunities and, certainly, working under Ionut’s directional eye was an experience that enabled her to reveal her untouched beauty in the most subtle manner. Sometimes endearing when she gazes at the camera, always beyond graceful like a ballerina, Daniela has got a little extra besides her obvious beauty: the touch of charm that keeps your eyes looking and looking again at her photographs.

Electric blue lights and a messy retro hairdo appear to set the pace of Alexandrina’s latest editorial to date, in Vogue Portugal’s pages. Photographed by Lisbon’s much promising lensman Frederico Martins, the story portrays Alexandrina as a sweet yet wild creature musing with clothes from the most avant-garde portuguese designers of the day and jewellery that isn’t afraid to scream catchy luxury. A simple set and a certain touch of extravaganza in the poses are the trademark of this spread that manages a fine balance between simplicity and profusion.

Instanbulmania goes on. Mandarina’s globetrotter Madalina had another good moment in the Turkish fashion capital, shooting with Gokhan Ertem and the results are just eye candy. Classy as always and campy as should be for that story, our leading lady is working it out. Regardless if it’s red lipstick gigs or all-natural shots, she stamps her signature on every image. From handsome androgyny to total (fatal?) feminity, Madalina made this story hers and shines like everywhere else she has been these last few months. Good girls always leave their marks.

In Paris and in motion, Alina’s latest piece is as joyful and cheerful as her smile while dancing on an acoustic cover of Blur’s famous anthem from the nineties. Captured by Anne Flore Trichilo who was also the creative brain behind Alexandrina’s black and white video of last year, Alina switches from full colors to shades of grey then from smiling in black outfit to dancing in bikini. Seems our little lady had some fun proving she can’t only pose but also move like she’s got the rythm under her porcelain skin. In today’s fashion world where an extra dose of vivid personality makes the difference and where visual media like video gains more and more influence, Alina’s pop gig certainly adds a three-dimensional side to her always-growing portfolio. Steady and sparky!

A second step is now completed in Aida’s progression within the fashion world since she joined our team a few months ago. Her first move was to get a high-standard portfolio to ensure her look is promoted the right way in order to start a modeling career that spells sense and success. Her newest achievement comes from the bookstores this time, since she got a spot in the most recent issue of Glamour. If the test shots were kind of raw and natural, this time Aida displays more sophistication in her poses and style when she mixes her signature short haircut with grace and feminity. If such a combination often leads to interesting contrasts, it seems this time to go hand in hand in quite a natural, harmonious manner: the mixture turned her into a real fashion fixture.

We know it’s a bit unusual to see Xenia with a crow-black fringe instead of her natural blond hair but to anyone worrying about her golden locks, we can already testify she went to dark brunette only for that new story from Elle magazine thanks to a wig. It’s a part of the style, the atmosphere and a tool for Xenia to create her character in front of Tess Feuilhade’s camera. Slightly gothic chic yet hundred percent girly, with a certain touch of rock’n'roll vibe though it remains as sweet as candy on every image, the mix of all these ingredients is deliciously dynamic and balances bright pink with metallic shades and dark make-up. The result is a vibrant, uptempo cover-story that comes right in time to add a new twist to Xenia’s already very diversified portfolio.

Beatricia’s beauty comes as pure and shiny as the first rays of sun on some early spring days and photographer Ionut Staicu perfectly understood the best way to portray such a unique beauty type was to forget about any kind of extra visual effects. Raw and untouched, in order to unveil the innate sophistication of her features and intensity of expressions, these few photographs can be seen as the ultimate proof some girls have modeling in their blood. A young lady like her surely needs training and has to improve some skills, but her natural talent simply underlines the fact all aspiring models aren’t equal in front of the camera when they begin. And beyond the simple idea of a certain kind of obvious perfection related to the shape of her eyes or face (traits that would already set her in a class of her own), Beatricia has this little spark that makes all the difference. At Mandarina, we’re too focused on hard work to claim that a star is born before the first tangible results get available but we’re too honest not to say she hasn’t stopped shining bright since we first met her. And that’s quite ravishing to see when it comes to such a beginner who hadn’t crossed the sight of a lens only four months ago.

A subtle balance between vivid and pastel tones seems to be the key behind the exotic atmosphere of this story published in belgian weekly supplement of Le Vif, one of the major newspapers of the country. Using the theme of travels and escape, the plot is brought to life by Madalina’s witty performance in front of Tomas Vandecasteele’s camera. Landing the cover as well, here you have a first glance at the results from Madalina’s belgian trip a few months ago, which was already previewed here with a polaroid-teaser taken by Jill Models in Brussels.

Bright yellow, bright future. Alexandrina’s latest editorial perfomance inside (story, below) and outside (cover, above, of course) was for Indie Magazine and was shot by Alice Rosati. Bright and bold, then. Shiny and shimmery on every page yet classy from first to last, beauty rhymes with balance on every inch.

May it be in colors or in black and white, Alexandrina channels every aspect of fashion within a few pages. From exuberant extremes to the sleekest simplicity, the range of expressions and emotions is as impressive as the contrasted palette of colors. From visual shocks to subtle creations, balance is gold and that’s exactly what this new story displays to our eyes — Alexandrina playing various characters, but put in each of them the same touch of personality that avoids any kind of confusion. Wigs (or sunglasses) are just a parameter, greatness is a constant.

Mandarina loves Istanbul and not for no reason. Our collaboration with the best agency in town, New Models, belongs to the most fruitful to date (remember Madalina’s materials among others) and is certainly one we want to keep on strengthening. The photograph above is unique of its kind gathering three of the main actors of our Turkish story. Starting from the left: Koray Birand, the internationally renown photographer who works for the finest publications in his homeland with several covers and fashion stories that stick to your mind once you had a look a them (like his work with Lily Cole for Turkish Harper’s Bazaar, shot in New York). Smiling in the middle is Seha, who manages our girls during their stay at New Models. And on the right, even if we wouldn’t need to introduce her as you have already recognized her: our very own Anna, striking a pose in her polkadot dress.

London loves her and so do bright colors. Flashy from lips to nails yet classy from head to toe, Madalina modeled for Christian Dior’s latest artistic collaboration and new accessories line in a pop art mood. If the bags and scarves are displaying abstract paintings on every inch, her performance is real from portrait to portrait. A touch of retro vibe with a twist of modernity and Madalina rocked the gallery for Tank Magazine. Bright, bold and… poised.

You already had a shot of the collaboration between Geanina and parisian photographer Tess Feuilhade when we published their story for Glamour recently, but that was just a teaser. Today’s topic includes the same main characters… and a different magazine. This time, we are talking about their common work for Elle, a dynamic and uptempo story with Geanina’s kinetic poses. The result is a mix of minimalism and expressionism, with every ingredient standing at the right place. The title of the story was a good choice, if you ask us — Weird Dreams. There is certainly some weirdness and a dreamlike atmosphere surrounding each page, but the weirdest (and greatest) is that we’ve never seen a series made of black and white outfits look so colorful. And a little exclusive bonus: a view from backstage, just below.

Memories from Paris and also a glance behind the scenes, all in one — that’s practically the topic of today’s post. We bet you haven’t forgotten the cover and story Alexandrina did for Elle at the end of 2011, shot in the City of Lights by the talented Gilbert François. And here we invite you to have a look at the atmosphere of the shooting, in typical parisian landscapes where our beauty seems to feel like a fish to water. Ease and poise might have been her secrets behind the amazing visuals she delivered once the magazine was released. Even if that short story sounds like a little flashback, we tend to think of it as a great sign for Alexandrina’s near future and can promise you some more scenes like these above as soon as possible.

Turn off the music and tune your eyes. The following lines and pictures are the backbone of some special post on Mandarina’s blog since we relaunched it at the end of 2011. Exclusive materials, shot in Chisinau by Paris-based photographer Tess Feuilhade, this extended review includes the most recent materials of Irina (that we introduced a few months ago), Ruxanda as you’ve never seen her (see her gaze above) and two brand new  Mandarina-girls with no released materials until today. We invite you to share our excitement to see Moldova’s finest in nine photographs and a few words.

Let’s start by a statement which has everything to be a visual shock. Meet Beatricia, the newest Mandarina-girl and a look you should keep in mind (though we don’t see how someone could forget that face). Still young and learning, this witty little lady probably has the greatest personality we have ever seen from a teenager. It’s just an early introduction but it’s quite a wise idea to keep track of her developement and next steps towards fashion.

And here she comes again, almost two months after we introduced her with some first tests made last summer. Irina has achieved some remarkable progress in the way she poses and gazes at the camera since her early modeling moments. Obviously getting more confident with exposing herself to the lense, she worked out this subtle combination of sweetness and understated sensuality like the pro she is quickly becoming.

You’re already familiar with Ruxanda’s grace and poise since you had several opportunities to see her work on this page, from Elle’s cover and story to her latest bridal gig in Morocco via Harper’s Bazaar. But even if you’ve been able to witness how she works out ethnic outfits or bridal gowns, a more natural touch like we share here surely doesn’t hurt since she looks absolutely ravishing –  either in black and white or delicate colors.

The post is coming to its end (which looks more like a beginning) and we have prepared a beautiful ending with the second previously unreleased model and last girl from this team of four aces: Sasha. Relying on her exotic looks and expressive eyes to make her marks, she adds a special note to these portraits with her peculiar beauty type.

We bet you can’t find anything fresher online this weekend. Backstage outtakes from a test shooting done yesterday, with a freshly signed model and introducing a new fruitful collaboration with a talented photographer. Such a nice mix and a good opener for our new features from behind the scenes. Daniela joined us at the end of 2011 and starts this new year with an intensive training since she arrived from Moldova to build her portfolio in Bucharest these days. It’s her first steps in actual modeling but also the first time (and sure not the last) we collaborate with photographer Mihai Bumbu, a young talent in town who rocked our saturday with his team.

Marina, The Origins. Could have been the title of the post since the story was shot a few meters from Marina’s home when photographer Ionut Staicu was on trip to Moldova. Portrayed in her natural element, in a series that goes halfway between high fashion and romanced documentary, the photographs reveal various moments of one day in Marina’s life without unnecessary effects or overplayed drama. The genius idea of the concept was to capture her off-duty to show how modelesque she is, no matter the situation. It seems she doesn’t really care if she is posing in a forest at the beginning of the winter or in a studio, class and poise remain regardless of the location. And besides the awesome atmosphere of such untouched places, the must with these pictures could be that you have in front of your eyes an opportunity to watch Marina the way she is (delicate and perfect skin without enhancement). As real as on digitals but as sophisticated as in high fashion glossies.