There's no denying Melyssa Ford is an icon in the urban modeling genre. Yet the below photo of Melyssa in Scott Hebert's port has nary a comment beneath it on Model Mayhem. There was a time you couldn't release a photo of Melyssa Ford without a herd of fanboys and jealous women swarming it with comments and passing it around. Which leads to the question: is Ms. Ford still relevant?

Tags: Melyssa Ford

Look for Bria in the next issue of Hips on Deck coming up. Here's a little preview shot. Also check for Bria in the Memorial Day issue of SHOW Magazine coming soon...

Tags: Bria Myles

These videos may not have sound, but they are none the less for it. These are two different takes of Olivia in the same video. Each has its respective merits. (Still no Facebook page or Twitter for Olivia, but stay tuned)
Video 1
Video 2

Tags: Olivia

All artsy stuff aside, here are the originals in their full resolution, including one side shot not included: Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3, Bonus Pic. Reach Sobella on Facebook here and let her know what you think in the comments section directly below this post.

Tags: Sobella

Arley Elizabeth is a rarity - a curvy Asian model (or Pacific Islander, depending on your perspective [she's Filipino]). You don't see many of those on the net or in real life. About a year ago I contacted Arley about shooting for the blog. While very polite, she is in that camp of models that will not shoot unless paid. Although I can understand that perspective in certain, limited situations, in many cases I think it's short sighted. For one, photographers who have to pay models to shoot tend not to be the best out there, and over time that can be reflected in the models work. (I'll let you be the judge of that - Arley's portfolio is here) Secondly, if I didn't pay Carol Seleme, Alysha Young, or Bria Myles - models who have been featured in major magazines, music videos, and national TV commercials, etc., - why would I pay in this instance? Sometimes it's about more than a paycheck.

That being said, I featured Arley because I came back to her recently and I still think she's very impressive. This post kind of belongs in the Model Advice section, because it addresses a tricky aspect of the business. Maybe at some point Arley will post here herself and let us know her perspective on all this. I'd welcome it.

Tags: Arley Elizabeth

I posted Missy Mason aka Melissa Neverman two years ago when hardly anyone knew about her. Now she's super fit and starring in the new Gucci Man's "Im in Love with a White Girl" music video. Looks like she moving up the ranks. But keep in mind, if you type her name "Missy Mason" in Google, Indoplace is the first result

Tags: Missy Mason, Missy Neverman Mason

Here we've got one of my favorite model's debut video at Indosplace - Carol Seleme doing some subtle/sexy dance moves on a break from working on her painting. A lot of people never caught this clip, so I've created a link to the very high quality version as well as a Youtube version (I'd suggest the HD version - the Youtube one is meh)...

Reach Carol on Twitter here and check out her new artwork here.

Credits (on 1st pic) - Model: Carol Seleme | Make-Up: Tai Young-Jackson | Hair: Joshjarie | Photography: Indosplace.com

Tags: Carol Seleme, Carol Seleme Daniel

Here Regina shows off her modeling chops with just a subtle look that makes the picture. Regina graduated from USC and works in the medical field.

Tags: Regina Ragni

It's Shirley's turn! Check out her "media test" video talking about her trip to the Winter Music Conference 2012 in Miami. NOTE: Shirley has promised an additional video, slightly more revealing in the next day (e.g., she's gonna stand up in that outfit) - I'll link it to the 2nd pic, leave comments with any suggestions... (Shirley has no Twitter or Facebook for now, but you guys may be able to convince her.)

Click first image below for video...

Tags: Shirley

Alysha Young has been busy these days touring for Ubisoft's Just Dance 3, which was released for the XBox Kinect earlier this year. By way of a little background, I first worked with Alysha (who I met through Bria Myles) when I shot her for J'Adore magazine a couple years ago. Alysha has always been more of a commercial than an urban model, with both a dance agency and a modeling agency repping her. She is also part of Aqualillies, a water ballet company that is featured in this month's issue of Vogue magazine.

Credits - Model: Alysha Young | Make-Up: Tai Young-Jackson | Hair: Tara Copeland | Photography: Indosplace.com

Tags: Alysha Young, Aqualillies

Three hidden Mal Malloy easter eggs. Hints include .... Santini and Hunter... (one is in a recent comment in a non-Mal thread, but about Mal)...

Tags: Mal Malloy

It would appear that Olivia's quest for world domination continues... (quitte successfully I might add)

Tags: Olivia

Super thighs novelist Sabrina Hunter.

Tags: Sabrina Hunter

As promised, here we have native New Yorker Sobella's media test video, and I have to say, she is very appealing. There's a subtle modesty to her gestures - the little shoulder shrug, hand movements - that is quite alluring. Anyway, she did a couple takes so I've posted two here. Be sure to leave comments and let Sobella know what you think... (My suggestion is full screen, 480p on the vertical video )





Alternate Cut:

Tags: Sobella

"I've seen you on the beach and I've seen you on TV."
-Rio, Duran Duran

By: Falene Nurse

Sometimes a song lyric so perfectly captures a person's spirit you could be easily fooled into thinking the musician wrote the track about them specifically. In this case that's impossible, as Duran Duran penned the 80s hit when Rio hadn't even been born. Yet at times it's hard not to imagine Simeon Le Bon wasn't describing a day in the life of Los Angeles model and artist, Rio Lund today.

By day she attends casting calls, covered up in free-spirited bohemian chic, rocking a natural do. By night she releases her inner pin-up, donning red lipstick, a Bettie Page wig and over a dozen body tattoos. Rio's one of the few girls I know that has managed the trifecta effect of modeling, success in the commercial, fashion and urban markets. At a statuesque 5ft10 with a 34-24-39 frame Rio can't help but stand out in a crowd, so it's not surprising she's done over 20 commercials (including Nike, Coke and Target), dozens of music videos, print campaigns and magazine covers - with no sign of slowing dow any time soon. What might surprise you is that if that weren't enough, she's also a professional and sought after tattoo artist/piercer here in Hollywood. I chatted with Rio to see how she juggles these two very different careers.



Q: Are you originally from LA?
RIO: Yes, born and raised mamma (said with a grin)

Q: You are a tattoo artist, model and a pin-up. That's unusual?
RIO: I suppose you could say that I'm a bit of a chameleon.

Q: Do you have a preference to work?
RIO: When it all comes down to it I am a true artist at heart, whatever I happen to be doing. I also really love trying new things.

Q: When did you start modeling?
RIO: I began modeling at aged 16.

Q: Were you interested in art first or modeling?
RIO: My interests in art started in the 2nd grade, so… there you go.

Q: When did you realize, I can make a living as a model?
RIO: My big break came when I started to get the big bucks, booking multiple commercials and print work. That only happened though when I finally clicked with the right agency. I had been with other top agencies prior to that, but wasn't booking so much.

(Rio has an adorable habit of using her hands when describing words "big bucks" and "clicked." For a model she is completely unaware of herself, very expressive and unrestricted. She's happiest if she can pull a face that will get a laugh out of you.)

Q: Did you always have your own unique style?
RIO: Yes my own, weird, eclectic thing going on, even when it wasn't cool. Cee Lo and Outkast's style wasn't around when I was growing up, I'm not saying I went out in capes and feathers (lol.) But even as a teenager I never really cared what anyone thought, or what the trend was.

Q: How do you manage to crossover the different genres?
RIO: For me modeling is just like playing dress up. You can become who ever you want to be. All the different categories I've modeled, were something that I specifically wanted to venture into at a given time. Just to see if I could do it. Being challenged is good.

Q: You are very tall and curvy, do you think that helps you balance between "fashion" and "urban?"
RIO: I used to do fashion a lot when I was younger, until I was FIRED. Yes from this one agency for having, and I quote " a BIG butt and hips." Which quite frankly - I like (laughing hard.) The main types of modeling I do now are commercial/commercial print (with all my tattoos covered up), pin up/tattoo and urban. I don't do too much runway anymore since to me the requirements are ridiculous! You practically have to be either 12 years old, or anorexic! I stick to what keeps me happy, healthy and alive.

Q: You can pass for a lot of different cultures, Latino, Spanish, African, Mediterranean, what's your background?
RIO: My moms from Morocco, my dad is Norwegian, and there's a bit of Spanish on both sides.

Q: Tell me about your tattoo training?
RIO: A dear friend of mine Lou Bone(R.I.P.) got me into tattooing/piercing, he also pushed me to try modeling. As he was already an established tattoo artist he encouraged me into working at his shop. I recently looked in an old journal of mine from when I was 10 and it said, "I'm going to become a tattoo artist one day." Didn't mention the modeling. That's what I wrote, even then (she smiles a little to herself.) My mentor was an amazing human being with a contagious laugh. Typical artist though, so his moods were often up and down, but he could create anything - you know. Unfortunately he passed away tragically, but I have his portrait tattooed on my inner arm. Close to my heart.

Q: What shop do you work at now?
RIO: Young Guns Studio on Hollywood Blvd.

Q: The 2 portraits on your back are beautiful, who are they?
RIO: Both of my grandma's as young women, they were beautiful people.

Q: On the few days that you get to yourself, what do you do to relax?
RIO: Surf, dance, yoga, gardening, playing with my dog. I dabble in a lot of hobbies. I also try to love life as much as possible, every day. Also did I mention I'm fire dancing now?

Tags: Rio Lund, Falene Nurse