Former Miss New Zealand as a model in Los Angeles

Press, 9 February 1980, Page 8

Former Miss New Zealand as a model in Los Angeles

Janey Kingscote, a former Miss New Zealand and Christchurch model now living and working in Los Angeles, has returned for a brief visit to Christchurch. , . „ This week 1 briefly chatted with her about the American women, their fashion in Los Angeles, and her own breakthrough into modelling. . Fashion in the United States, Janey said, was steadily moving away from the bright colours, especially in more formal wear. Garments are strongly tailored but with only slightlv padded . shoulders. Split skirts, in line with the world-wide trend, are everywhere. Because of tlte continuous hot summers and humid, muggy winters, Los Angeles women tend to favour natural fabrics, silk and cotton being the forerunners

at present. Tight jeans worn with leotard tops are holding their place for casual wear, although Janey has noticed a strong lean towards baggy jeans in all colours. Garments by the American designers, Calvin Klein, Geoffrey Beane, and

Ronald Sasoon are highly sought after; couture fashions from all over Europe are also available in Los Angeles.

Evening wear is more “dressed up” in Los Angeles than in other parts of America as great

importance is placed on nightlife. For night American women tend to favour flowing frills and slinky satins at present.

Hair is rolled up at night and the use of hair accessories is most popular.

By day, especially in California, hair is long and golden or streaked and worn in soft curls. It seems that the Farrah Fawcett-Majors look will never die in the States. Fads are "in" then “out” the next day — just like the popularity of their

stars. At present rollerskating is everywhere, even at the Discos, and the popular foods of the moment are Mexican and French. Janey finds modelling in Los Angeles to be very competitive, although her modelling experience in Europe, along with having a slight European look, has helped establish her locally.

However, in order to embark on a modelling career in America it .is very expensive. Every model requires initial test shots and printed publicity cards which cost between $3OO and $500; and an apartment costs between $lOO and $2OO a week.

Modelling is extremely hard work in America and time has to be spent meeting all the prospective clients and photographers.

Models need to be very tall and slim with excellent bone structure for photographic work. Texan girls generally make excellent models in Los Angles due to their height and high, wide cheekbones. The rewards after long hours at auditions and castings are great as modelling in Los Angeles is quite lucrative, between $4OO and $lOOO being the day’s fee for still photography sessions. Even more 'is paid for a TV commercial filming, plus royalties every time the commercial has airtime.

And although having been in the States for only a few months, Janey’s bright bubbling enthusiasm has paid off — already she has been flown to Paris on an exciting photographic assignment for a fashion catalogue. Where could she go after the glamour of modelling fades, I asked. “Well,” Janey said, “the acting openings in Los Angeles are a draw card for many models, and many starlets have been found in American model agencies.”