Though Daniela Pestova has been modeling swimsuits for more than 15 years--2006 marks her fifth Shape cover--don't think for a second that she lives on bottled water and salad. "If I don't eat, I'm exhausted," says the 35-year-old mother of two. "I'd much rather eat healthy and be healthy." Here, Daniela's tricks for looking fit and having energy to burn.
MAKE WORKOUTS COUNT
"I hate to admit it, but when I first started modeling I didn't like to exercise," Daniela says, "but now that I have kids and a demanding career, working out actually helps me to relax." She goes to the gym three times a week while Yanick, 9, and Ella, 4, are at school. She does 40-50 minutes of cardio on the bike, the elliptical trainer or occasionally the treadmill. After stretching, she does resistance training to stay toned. Since she's been a Shape reader for more than eight years, she says many of her moves--be they leg-toning squats or sexy arm-baring biceps curls--have come straight from our pages! "I change up my toning routine often, but I usually start with my abs," Daniela says. (Go to Shape.com/getfit to find moves like Daniela's favorites.) "Then I rest and do the whole thing again!" she says.
Twice a week she exercises at home using Gaiam Pilates DVDs (gaiam.com) and resistance bands. "Though the workouts aren't particularly advanced or exhausting," she says, "they force me to relax and concentrate on stretching and alignment--and leave me feeling invigorated."
EAT FOR ENERGY AND ENJOYMENT
Daniela often steers away from her native Czech cuisine, which is heavy on meats (like sausages), starches and creamy sauces. "I'm not a vegetarian," she says, "but I love lots of tofu and veggies." She drinks a cup of black tea every morning and follows it with yogurt ("It has healthy bacteria that helps balance my digestive system"). Lunch often includes a big bowl of homemade vegetable or chicken soup, and midafternoon-snack favorites are crunchy veggies like carrots and cucumbers. Evening meals are lighter, but always contain protein like eggs, cheese or chicken.
You won't find many junk foods in Daniela's diet: "If I'm working out I don't like to put lots of unhealthy food in my body," she says. Which isn't to say she doesn't like to indulge: "My occasional treats are a glass of red wine or a big chunk of dark chocolate," Daniela says.
FIND TIME TO TAKE IT EASY
Like so many working mothers, Daniela is always looking for simple ways to relax. "These days it feels like I'm either at work or working at home!" she says. When she can grab some private time, she looks forward to her workouts, a hot bath or a long bike ride. It sometimes means letting go of the idea she can (or has to) do it all. "Something has to give and maybe my house won't always be in tiptop shape," she says, "but if I can steal away for half an hour, I can find balance, and that's so much more important than housework."
RELATED ARTICLE: 'A few of my favorite things'
Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs ($10; at drugstores) "I bring this with me when I'm modeling swimsuits--it makes my legs look flawless and doesn't stain clothes."
adidas by Stella McCartney hoodie ($100; shopadidas.com) "It's cool-looking and totally functional. I wear it out with jeans--and to the gym."
L'Occitane Green Tea Eau de Toilette ($40; loccitane.com) "This scent is fresh and just a little exotic."
Lancome Juicy Tubes lip gloss in First Class, Copper Cabana, Exotic Kiss and Tropical Tryst ($16.50 each; lancome.com) "This evens out lip color with just a hint of shine; I wear one of these every day."

The Mountain Valley chapter of the American Red Cross and Chinyere International will host a fashion show Tuesday, Nov. 22, to benefit victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
The event, to be held 7-9 p.m. at the E Center in West Valley City, will allow members of the public to contribute to disaster relief while enjoying local talent in fashion design. Several international vocalists will perform.
Chinyere International is a local modeling company that specializes in representing ethnically diverse actors and models in Utah and around the world.

This study is an attempt to model the economic trade-off between spatial and non-spatial determinants of shopping center rents while assessing the role of neighborhood and location attributes in the rent setting process. For that purpose, two space-related indices, namely the Economic Potential Index (EPI) and the Center Attraction Index (CAI), are designed based on a major origin-destination phone survey and on financial data obtained for eight major shopping centers in Quebec City, Canada. The database, which is processed through a regional GIS, includes 1,007 retail units, representing some 4.4 million square feet of gross leasable area. While findings confirm that the EPI act as a significant determinant of shopping center rents, they also bring out the complexity of the relationships between endogenous and exogenous rent determinants
This study develops a model of the economic trade-off between spatial and non-spatial determinants of shopping centre rents while assessing the contribution of neighborhood characteristics (household spending power) and center location attributes (proximity to clientele) to the rent setting process. For that purpose, two space-related indices are designed, namely the Economic Potential Index (EPI) and the Center Attraction Index (CAI), which are successively added to a regression model of retail unit base rents.
The study is part of a research program based on physical and financial information obtained from super-regional, regional and community shopping center managers in Quebec City for the 1998-2000 period. While information was made available for only eight shopping centers, all of which have a mall configuration,1 these include the largest corporate and institutional retail property assets in the region. At this point, some 1,007 shops are included in the database, with base and total rent, gross leasable area (GLA) and retail category being available for roughly 954 of them. Census information on 1996 neighborhood profiles (household composition, age and income) as well as regional data on proximity of and accessibility to jobs and services is processed via a regional GIS. Finally, a 2001 origin-destination (O-D) phone survey provides useful information on daily commuting patterns in the Quebec Metropolitan Area (QMA).
Located 150 miles east of Montreal, Quebec City has a population of roughly 560,000 while the QMA totals about 683,000 inhabitants. Apart from its universally prized historical center and old neighborhoods, Quebec City is a typical North American agglomeration characterized by a highly extensive highway network2 and sprawling residential, retail and industrial developments. The vast majority (73%) of daily trips are car-generated while nearly a third of all trips are for shopping and leisure purposes. Retail activities in the region are particularly well developed, with shopping center complexes that rank among the largest in Eastern Canada. As with most other urban regions throughout Canada and the United States, "big boxes" and "category killers" are a major concern for traditional shopping centers whose hegemony is seriously threatened. In this increasingly competitive context, retail establishments' managers need to better monitor and understand the shopping patterns of individuals and households. Because it is quite representative of any medium-size North American city in terms of both urban form and household travel behavior, and despite some specific features,3 findings about Quebec City's retail market may be extended to several other similar agglomerations.
Location has long been known to play a major role in the retail rent setting process. In particular, center site selection and retail store development has long been driven by primary market data linking income, wealth and location. However, to the best of our knowledge, no record has been found of any research resorting to actual, rather than expected, clienteles in order to assess retail establishments' economic potential and trade area at the entire city level. This specific feature of the current research is made possible thanks to the above mentioned O-D phone survey, which clearly identifies customers' home location. This, used in combination with census information on households' annual income, leads to a more reliable proxy for local sales potential. In this study, both internal property-related characteristics and external location-driven factors are considered in the rent modeling process, in line with Mejia and Benjamin's (2002) suggestions.
Literature Review
The academic literature on shopping malls has evolved around various theories of urban spatial structure ( hotelling, 1929; Christaller, 1933; Lösh, 1940; and Alonso, 1964) with strategies relating to space configuration and store location within shopping centers replicating those observed at the urban level (Vandell and Lane, 1987; Pearson, 1991; Brueckner, 1993; Roulac, 1996; and Brown, 1999). In contrast to what prevails in the residential market (Follain and Malpezzi, 1980; Noland, 1980; Sirmans and Benjamin, 1991; Benjamin and Sirmans, 1994; Jud, Benjamin and Sirmans, 1996; Des Rosiers and Thériault, 1994, 1996; and Chinloy and Maribojoc, 1998) and office sector (Rosen, 1984; Hekman, 1985; Gabriel and Nothaft, 1988; Wheaton and Torto, 1995; and Sivitanides, 1997) where the rent issue has been widely investigated, studies on retail rents remain embryonic, mostly because of the confidential nature of the required information.

On a chilly afternoon last winter, the atmosphere inside Club USA--one of New York City's hottest nightspots--matched the outdoor temperature, but for a different reason: America's Black supermodels were in revolt. The Black Girls Coalition (BGC), a consortium of fashion models formed in 1988 by supermodel Iman and former model Bethann Hardison (now owner of the modeling agency Bethann Management Co., Inc.) to aid the homeless, had chosen this site for a press conference to speak out on an issue that's been hidden beneath the glamour and glitter of the profession: namely, racism within the fashion and modeling business.
About 20 strong, almost all of BGC's members were in attendance--among them Karen Alexander, Cynthia Bailey, Tyra Banks, Kersti Bowser, Naomi Campbell, Peggy Dillard, Iman, Coco Mitchell, Gail O'Neill, Beverly Peele, Phina, Karla Otis, Akure Wall, Veronica Webb, Roshumba Williams and the designated leader, Bethann Hardison.
Also present were more than 100 members of the press representing Black and White American and European publications, who got an earful from the Black beauties gathered to expose the industry's ugly side. Accustomed to being seen and not heard, the models--who for the most part were stripped of their ready-to-work glamour-girl makeup--nonetheless took their turn at the podium and spoke candidly about the everyday injustices that exist within their "workplace."
Among the specific grievances addressed: the gross underrepresentation of African-Americans in fashion advertising (television commercials, billboards, magazines, catalogs, in-store promotions), designer shows and even the editorial pages of consumer magazines. "People don't realize there are hundreds of jobs related to the fashion industry, from being a makeup artist to scouting locations for a photo shoot," said a Black fashion editor at a women's magazine. "But you can practically count on both hands the number of Blacks who have any of these jobs in what's become a very closed arena." This is despite the fact that collectively African-Americans spend over $16 billion on clothing annually, according to the Consumer Expenditure Survey, and will represent approximately 13 percent of the total population by the year 2000, according to the U. S. Census Bureau.
WHAT PRICE BEAUTY?
As "soldiers" at the forefront of the style wars, the models also expressed outrage at other more subtle but unmistakable signs of racism that exist in their field: everything from the lack of Black behind-the-scenes fashion personnel--art directors, editors, designers, photographers--to being controlled around the clock right down to how they wear their locks, or indeed, told whether or not they can even wear "locks." Many, instead, are forced to wear wigs, falls and weaves.
"In more than ten years as a model," explained Coco Mitchell, "I've always had to look like what other people wanted me to look like, never how I wanted to." Most of the models admitted to being under pressure to have flowing hair that emulates that of the White models. Two have refused to give in to such pressure, however: Roshumba Williams and British-born Phina both wear their hair natural and closely cropped. Phina, in fact, stepped on these shores wearing her hair in spiky twists. "I wear my hair like this because I want to--not because I am militant, as I am so often told," she explains. "I think it's really sad that time and time again I'm asked to adhere to a certain look or value that is justifiable only to certain people." Adds Roshumba, "I'm constantly arriving at a photographer's studio and being told that I have to wear a wig." Roshumba, though, is one of the few Black models who still gets a lot of work while sporting her short natural.
The grievances of the Black models were dramatically supported in a groundbreaking study conducted by the City of New York's Department of Consumer Affairs in 1991. The report, titled "Invisible People," looked at how often Blacks and other ethnic groups were used in magazine and catalog advertising--and the findings were shocking. A paltry 3.4 percent of all consumer-magazine advertisements depicted African-Americans--despite the fact that we comprise approximately 11.3 percent of the readership of all consumer magazines and 12.5 percent of the U. S. population.
In addition to its study, New York City's Department of Consumer Affairs conducted a special survey of repeat advertisers in 634 issues of general-circulation magazines and found that some of the most prolific fashion advertisers rarely, if ever, depict Blacks (or Asian-Americans) in their ads. And when they do, it is usually as stereotypes, not consumers. The companies included Calvin Klein (out of 148 ad insertions reviewed, none depicted "identifiable minorities"), Perry Ellis, Giorgio Armani, Gucci and Guess? by Georges Marciano. In the case of Calvin Klein, one of his ad campaigns in particular--which features White rapper Marky Mark and White model Kate Moss profiling in low-slung, oversize jeans--doesn't exactly have the rap-music community singing "Hip-hop hooray." After all, it was the Black rappers who created--and still perpetuate--the urbanized, flavorized look, yet no major advertising campaigns have come their way.

ABSTRACT
The human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER/ErbB) system comprises the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/HER1) and three other homologs, namely HERs 2-4. This receptor system plays a critical role in cell proliferation and differentiation and receptor overexpression has been associated with poor prognosis in cancers of the epithelium. Here, we examine the effect of coexpressing varying levels of HERs 1-3 on the receptor dimerization patterns using a detailed kinetic model for HER/ErbB dimerization and trafficking. Our results indicate that coexpression of EGFR with HER2 or HER3 biases signaling to the cell surface and retards signal downregulation. In addition, simultaneous coexpression of HERs 1-3 leads to an abundance of HER2-HER3 heterodimers, which are known to be potent inducers of cell growth and transformation. Our new approach to use parameter dependence analysis in experimental design reveals that measurements of HER3 phosphorylation and HER2 internalization ratio may prove to be especially useful for the estimation of critical model parameters. Further, we examine the effect of receptor dimerization patterns on biological response using a simple phenomenological model. Results indicate that coexpression of EGFR with HER2 and HER3 at low to moderate levels may enable cells to match the response of a high HER2 expresser.
The HER system of receptor tyrosine kinases plays an important role in growth, proliferation, and differentiation of epithelial cells. This receptor system consists of four members-HERl, which is also known as the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR); and HERs 2-4. These receptors are also known as ErbBs 1-4 (1). In addition to the important physiological role of the HER system, these receptors play a key role in transformation and tumor progression. For instance, overexpression of HER2 is associated with poor prognosis in breast cancers with 25-30% of tumors from this tissue displaying significant HER2 overexpression (2). Although the link between HER overexpression and tumorigenesis is well documented, a number of details regarding the molecular mechanisms that are involved in this process remain to be elucidated.
The importance of the HER system in physiology and pathology coupled with the scientific desire to understand the general principles underlying growth factor signaling have led to extensive research in this area (3-9). It is known that all members of this receptor family display significant homology, with each of these receptors having distinct properties such as ligand binding or receptor trafficking (6,10). For example, the EGFR is rapidly internalized and degraded upon binding its ligand EGF (11,12), whereas the other receptors in the family do not display significant ligand-induced internalization and/or recycle rapidly back to the cell surface after endocytosis (10,13-15). Further, ligand binding induces dimerization of HER family receptors where various combinations of homo- and heterodimeric species can be formed (16-18). Dimerized receptors undergo trans-phosphorylation, which activates downstream signaling pathways such as the MAPK, PI3K/Protein Kinase B, and PKC pathways via the binding of signaling adaptors to phosphotyrosine sites on the receptor cytoplasmic tails (19). There is considerable evidence suggesting that the types of receptor heterodimers that are formed and their trafficking properties are important determinants of the cellular response to HER family ligands (17,20-22).
The important role of dimer identity in driving the cellular response is exemplified by the HER2-HER3 heterodimer, which has been reported as being a potent mitogenic and oncogenic unit (22-26). This is despite the fact that HER3 has impaired tyrosine kinase activity (27) and HER2 is devoid of an activating ligand (28). The potency of this dimer is thought to stem from the trafficking properties of this dimer, which tend to prolong signaling (13,15), and from the unique ability of HER3 to efficiently engage the prosurvival PI3K/PKB pathway (29,30).
In general, it is clear that the molecular mechanisms, underlying the manner in which heterodimer identity controls the cellular response, are complex. It has been reported that the specific tyrosine sites on the cytoplasmic tail of a receptor that end up getting mmv-phosphorylated depend upon the specific HER member with which the receptor dimerizes (31). This would in turn cause qualitative changes in the signaling properties of the very same HER receptor depending upon its dimerization partner, and each dimer type may be capable of engaging a unique complement of cell-signaling pathways. In addition, since the heterodimers possess distinct trafficking properties, the spatial location (plasma membrane versus internal compartments) and the duration of the phosphorylation signal would also depend upon dimer identity. Therefore, knowledge of the types of heterodimers formed in cells expressing various levels of HER molecules may pave the way toward unraveling the connections between receptor expression levels and cell phenotype. We use the term "cell phenotype" to characterize such eventual biological responses of the cell as cell migration, proliferation, and transformation.

With high-octane oomph and a face seemingly chiseled from stone, Joy Bryant has transformed her early dreams into opportunities that others can only imagine. Born in the Bronx to a teenage mother and raised by her grandmother, the actress has already cut her path through the Ivy League, the fashion world, and now Hollywood, dazzling audiences first in 2002's Antwone Fisher and again in last year's Honey. When she appears in this month's Baadasssss!, Maria Van Peebles's tribute to his father Melvin's career as a trailblazing filmmaker, Bryant not only proves how fabulous she looks in a gigantic period Afro, but also pays tribute to the cinematic ancestors who made her career and those of countless others possible. Here she talks to hip-hop heavyweight and Honey producer, Andre Harrell.
JOY BRYANT: I'm good. I'm getting ready to go to New York for a little modeling job.
AH: Ah! Fashion model-turned-character actress going on leading lady. [Bryant laughs] So let's talk about the film you did about Melvin Van Peebles and all that maverick energy he created. Was it the '70s when he put out Sweet Sweetback's Baad Asssss Song?
JB: Yeah, it was 1971. It sort of kicked off the whole blaxploitation era because it showed Hollywood there was a market out there--
AH: For a black man fuckin' in the movies?
JB: That's right. [laughs] After Sweetback's success, they were like, "Wait, black people equals money? Okay, cool."
AH: So it's all about Melvin's behind-the-scenes frustration of wanting to take the reins in his own hands. Was there a period when he tried to make the movie and couldn't get it done through the system, or did he just start off saying "I've had enough"?
JB: Well, Melvin had made Watermelon Man [1970], which was a huge success, and success can sometimes be the kiss of death because then people expect you to either do the same thing or do stuff you don't want to do. Then he had this idea for Sweetback and had problems raising money because the content was too hot.
AH: All that sexually explicit stuff that Hollywood wasn't used to dealing with.
JB: Right, they weren't used to that, so he had to go the independent route.
AH: I remember seeing Watermelon Man, where a white guy was subjected to all the racism that the black man had gone through, and what's interesting is that it was a way for a white male to understand how America was treating black society. So Melvin went from a smart, eye-opening way of waking up American society straight to Sweetback--
JB: Where he kind of gave everyone in Hollywood the middle finger. He did what he had to do, spent what he had to spend, and made whatever deals he had to make to get his film made. He was revolutionary. So Sweetback's a great movie in terms of its place in black-cinema history and also in terms of independent filmmaking. All the trials and tribulations of putting your heart and soul and probably all of your money into something when everybody's telling you it's going to fail. Ya dig?
AH: [laughs] So tell me the role you play in the story.
JB: I play Priscilla, who was Melvin's secretary.
AH: You and him didn't have no love affair--
JB: Oh, no, just business. Melvin was more like a role model for my character, who always wanted to be in his movies. So when he goes and puts Priscilla in Sweetback, it's for a scene where she has to be naked. But my character was dating Maurice White from Earth, Wind & Fire, who ended up doing the soundtrack for Sweetback, and he didn't want her doing it, so she backs out. She's a funny character, but not because she's trying to be a comedian; she's funny because she's a little bit of an airhead and naive. It's a lot of fun. I get to wear an Afro and '70s clothes.
AH: That's a long way from Honey. Tell me about the films you've done since then. JB: Well, I did Baadasssss!, and I did a movie called Three Way Split, with this great Australian actor Dominic Purcell and Gina Gershon and Dwight Yoakam. And then I did Haven, with Orlando Bloom and Bill Paxton.
AH: And what are your characters like in those films?
JB: I go from playing this kind of ditzy secretary in Baadasssss! to a femme fatale in Three Way Split. And in Haven, I play a Caribbean secretary, so I have a little Cayman Islands accent. And then I was on E.R. for a few episodes.
AH: You blew up! You were paraplegic, right?
JB: [laughs] No, I had multiple sclerosis. I was on crutches, but--
AH: You was ghetto hot with them! People were typing "Did you see Joy on E.R.?" on the Negro Net--the two-way [pager]. It was two-way hot.
JB: [laughs] And now I start filming The Skeleton Key with Kate Hudson and Peter Sarsgaard and the legendary Gena Rowlands and John Hurt. That's gonna be off the hook.
AH: So being black hasn't seemed to hinder your ability to navigate through Hollywood.
JB: No. For instance, in Three Way Split, that role was written for a white girl. When I met the director and the producer, they were like, "That's an easy change." The thing is, being an actor is hard enough, whether you're black, white, male, or female. And being a black person in America is hard whether you're an actor, a model, you work on Wall Street or whatever, because whether people wanna admit it or not, we have to work way harder than everybody else.

The search for an ESSENCE cover model--one who might even become the next Naomi, Alek or Kiara--was a fierce one, but we accomplished the mission.
Last September ESSENCE and Wilhelmina (the agency that launched the careers of Beverly Johnson, Cynthia Bailey and Tracy Ross) joined forces to discover a fresh face with model potential. What followed: mail-ins, regional model calls and a five-city mall tour. More than 7,000 hopeful sisters entered the contest.
With masterful makeup artist Sam Fine and photographer Matthew Jordan Smith included among the regional judges, Wilhelmina and ESSENCE staffers selected the ten finalists, who competed in New York in April.
Duane Gazi, director of new model development at Wilhelmina, says youth, versatility, height and beauty will get models in the door, but they need an extra something to break out into the big time. Enter 18-year-old Aladrian Crowder, the $50,000 Grand Prize Winner. "Aladrian looks as if she could be from a number of places--Africa, the Caribbean, the UK," says Gazi. Aladrian is, in fact, from Owings Mills, Maryland. "I didn't expect any of this," says the young student, who plans to major in chemical engineering at the University of Delaware in the fall.
Twenty-six-year-old Pamela Reed, second runner-up and longtime ESSENCE subscriber, landed a $30,000 contract. She entered the competition because she trusted the magazine. "I knew it wasn't a gimmick," says the Birmingham, Alabama, native. The judges loved her confidence and genuine bright smile.
Our third finalist, 24-year-old Canadian Melissa Hunte, received a $20,000 contract. "I wasn't sure my look would be what they were looking for; but I thought I had a chance," she says. Her agent, Judy Linton, says, "What I like about Melissa is her overall expression--the dimples, the smile. Her charisma really shows. I also love the fact that she doesn't live to be a model." A graduate of the University of Windsor, she received an honors degree in criminology this past spring.

Two psychotherapists take a first-ever look at modeling from the inside out and try to figure out why so many of the women who seem to have it all tend to wind up with so little.
It's funny. Tell intelligent people you want to write an article about models and modelling and they wave a hand in dismissal. "Fluff," they sneer, meaning they traffic only in Certified Serious Matters, not the "superficality," the "triviality," the insubstantiality of appearances.
Consider with ma a few things that I have long been thinking about. It's not just the models have an unrelenting grip on our imagination and are the number one idols of young women today. Or that we all attribute to them, project onto them, attitudes and ideals that are very telling us and our society. Too, we confuse the models themselves with their images--a confusion that renders these very real women, and their real needs, invisible.
Models are ubiquitous; any reader of magazines today arguably has more contact with them than with flesh-and-blood friends and family. And, as we know, encounters with models' images on television and on the printed page have a virtually inescapable impact; in defiance of all reason and often biology as well, most women spend a great deal of time, money, and energy trying to look like them--and their success no less than their failures wound deeply. How could anyone call the psychological transactions that take place between models and their viewers "fluff"?
So imagine my curiosity when a letter landed on my desk from two psychotherapists who were treating models, studying models, and had consulted with modeling agencies. Here's the kicker: both of them are themselves ex-models. "We have experienced their world from the inside out as well as the outside in," they wrote. It was in fact their own enjoyment of the glamorous world of modeling--and especially their success in eventually leaving it--that compelled them to take an unprecedented look at the makeup of models.
Fortuitously, both Vivian Diller, Ph.D., a psychologist and psychoanalyst, and Jill Muir-Sukenick, M.S.W., a psychoanalytic psychotherapist, live and practice in New York City, where PSYCHOLOGY TODAY is based. We met and we talked. Words and ideas spilled onto hours of tape. What follows is but a glimpse of the rich psychological turf models strut on. The blurring of fantasy and reality that takes place through the image of the model, I discovered, pervades every aspect of their young lives and seeps into everything they touch. Typically they are not prepared for the consequences. Then again, neither are we.

WHEN IMAN--THE MODEL WHO SMASHED TRADITIONAL NOTIONS of beauty--started out, all sloe eyes and elongated neck, the notion of an African model was so exotic that photographer Peter Beard concocted a story designed to feed right into Western stereotypes of the Dark Continent: He told the press in 1976 that he'd discovered the Somali beauty herding goats. Never mind that she was actually a university student, a middle-class Muslim girl fluent in five languages.
For Ethiopian-born model Liya Kebede, also long of neck and limb, there was no need to hide behind a made-for-Hollywood tale. Instead, hers is a story of slow, hard work. She has the exquisite face that launched a reported $3 million cosmetics ad campaign last year, making her the first woman of African descent to be awarded a highly coveted and lucrative contract with Estee Lauder, one of the world's biggest cosmetics companies. She was picked for her international beauty and, in fashion parlance, "edge"--in other words, to appeal to a larger and younger base of customers who increasingly come in skin tones other than vanilla. Iman agrees: "I think for Liya, things are just beginning, I really do. She is the next Black model to pick up the baton."
Kebede was raised comfortably middle-class in Addis Ababa, the only girl in a family of boys, a tomboy with little interest in the vagaries of fashion--except for that Naomi Campbell poster in her room. She didn't have the attributes that turned heads in Ethiopia: big eyes, curvy figure. But she was tall and thin, and so she figured, why not try modeling?
She endured years of no and maybe as she worked in Paris, Chicago and New York. Along the way, she married her husband, Ethiopian hedge-fund manager Kassy Kebede, a man with whom she was instantly smitten. "We had one and a half dates," Liya says, "and then he had to go away. We were on the phone talking for two months. After that, we were never apart." Finally, in 2000, the fashion world took note of her cool elegance: Designer Tom Ford hired her to walk the runway for his fall 2000 Gucci collection. The door was finally open. And the offers started flying in.
Never mind that she was pregnant with her son, Suhul, now 4. Many thought that the pregnancy would interrupt her success. Kebede wasn't worried. Having a son, she says in her soft-spoken way, keeps her focused on what matters. Fashion is a career. Her family is her life.
Liya Kebede sat down with Iman, now founder and president of IMAN Cosmetics and I-IMAN Makeup, to talk about fashion, family and concepts of beauty. Washington Post reporter Teresa Wiltz facilitated their conversation.
Iman: Tell me the story behind the rise and rise of Liya.
Liya: It started back in Ethiopia with the fashion shows and events like that at school. And then I got passionate about it. Before that I had never really thought about modeling professionally. I thought I could model part-time to pay for school. I worked in Chicago doing catalogs, and there everybody scares you about modeling in New York. They say, "Oh, they're going to eat you "alive." It was very discouraging. But eventually I moved to New York with my husband. Once I got there, it was still a slow process. I mean, it's been about four and a half years now. But I'm working.
Iman: And today you're the new Estee Lauder gift. Big change. You're now a role model. How do you feel about that?
Liya: It's like a dream for me as a model to have a contract. So I'm happy; at the same time, I understand, yes, it's a change for the company, so everybody's looking at me to see how I do. But if I can bring anything positive to the situation, I'm happy to do it. Being part of the image of a major cosmetics company shows others that they can do it, too.
Iman: What about growing up in Ethiopia? What did your girlfriends consider beautiful when you were a teenager?
Liya: First of all, what is seen as beautiful in Ethiopia is totally the opposite of what is beautiful here.
Iman: Were you considered beautiful there? Because now you're known as one of the most beautiful women in the world.
Liya: No. I was the skinny girl and people were saying, "My God, feed
her. Do something." And I was like, "I am eating; leave me alone." The funny thing is that now when I go back, I see all the women, and they're all like, "I want to be skinny." Life changes so quickly.
Iman: I don't look much like the average Somali girls, and they are very beautiful women. They are round girls. And when I go home, I'm celebrated for a day, but they still don't think of me as beautiful, ever. In Somalia they think, If Iman can become a model, any Somali girl can. And they're right. There are many beautiful people there. Truly. What do you miss most about Ethiopia?
Liya: I miss the simplicity of life, the fun. The air I miss. My parents. Everything. The first thing I do when I go back to visit, as soon as I get off the plane, is take a whiff of the air. It's not polluted; it's clean. The grass, the trees, the flowers. And it's like, "Ohhhhh, okay, I'm home."

"How do I become a model?" is a frequent question from ESSENCE readers. Answer: A pretty face and great legs aren't all you'll need to break into the biz. Our insiders' tips:
1. Learn the lingo. A manager at an agency introduces you to clients and helps steer your career in exchange for 20 percent of your earnings. Your book, or portfolio, shows you in a range of professional photos. A camp card is a flyer featuring several shots of you, your measurements and your agency's contact information. A casting, an open call or a go see is an appointment with a prospective client.
2. Study your look. "Spend time staring into the mirror," says Maiysha, a Ford model and official print-campaign girl for Lane Bryant. "Know what your face does when you make different expressions." Kyle Hagler, a modal manager at International Management Group (IMG), advises, "Do as many test shoots as possible, even if they're only snapshots." Critique your photos: What is your best pose? Your most flattering angle?
3. Find a good agency. Most major modeling agencies are based in New York with branches in large cities like Miami and Los Angeles. But many smaller cities have modeling or talent agencies. Send local agencies you r best snapshots and arrange an interview. Before you agree to be represented by an agency, do your research: Who are the models it represents? What kind of work do they get (newspaper circulars, local fashion shows)? Is the agency listed with the Better Business Bureau?
4. Beware of scams. No one should ask you to invest a lot of money in camp cards, portfolios or test shoots. A reputable agency that's serious about representing you will arrange for test shoots with some photographers willing to shoot you free of charge and sell you prints for a nominal fee, says Hagler. Or they'll advance you the money and deduct it from your first paycheck.
5. Understand the requirements. To model full-time, you must be able to work long hours (a shoot can last more than 12 hours), sometimes with little sleep. You must be determined, focused and in possession of extraordinary genes: Models are typically at least five feel nine inches tall and well proportioned (usually with hips and waist measurements that are approximately ten inches apart, such as 34-24-34). You'll also need flawless skin, straight teeth and symmetrical features.
6. Consider modeling school. "Schools can give you an advantage over others by teaching you how to walk, behave and dress," says Hagler. Ask if the school has an affiliation with a reputable agency. Find out how many working models the institution has graduated in the last two years. Check on consumer complaints with the Better Business Bureau.
7. Be persistent. You can't expect modeling jobs to come to you, says booker Sharon Elcock, who works with the New York management company Mode Squad, Inc. If you're just starting out, one approach is to contact the public-relations manager at your local mall and inquire about any in store fashion shows. Let your hairstylist know you're available for hair shows. If you live in New York City or can afford to travel there, call the fashion or beauty department of your favorite magazines and ask if they're planning any makeover stories. Indicate whether you're willing to cut or color your hair. If you're signed to an agency, "make sure they're aware of any talents you have--dancing, Rollerblading, acting. You never know what someone is looking for," says Elcock.
8. Develop a thick skin. "You're going to be turned down for being ton fat or too skinny, too ethnic or not ethnic enough," says Maiysha. Clients will critique your pictures and expect you to take it like a pro. "It's all about how the client envisions selling their product," Maiysha says. "It has nothing to do with you."
9. Don't be a diva. Jay Manuel, creative director-producer of shoots for UPN's America's Next Top Model, says, "Models are there to be molded by professionals who understand the industry. Don't arrive thinking you know more than they do."
10. Have a plan B, cautions Maiysha. Few modeling careers last longer than ten years. Seek financial advice, save money, and cultivate other marketable skills.

In the fall of 1994, I shared the cover of YSB with Black male model Clayton Hunter and with Roshumba, who had been featured in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue three years in a row. I, like more than a few other Black models, would consider the middle of the decade a prime time for us. Our popularity may have had much to do with a flood of media stories indicating that racial and ethnic groups would outnumber Whites by the middle of the twenty-first century.
The fashion, publishing and advertising worlds--the institutions where our desires and dreams are synthesized and sold back to us--were clearly taking notice and action.
More Black models began to grace the pages of fashion magazines, both in advertisement and editorial layouts, and Naomi Campbell's star was shooting into the stratosphere as she clocked a stunning number of covers. In Milan, where runway-show trends begin (because the first international showings are held there each season), Riccardo Gay Model Management had 12 to 16 Black women on the roster for fashion shows. In fact, every show I worked from 1992 to the first season of 1995 had at least seven or eight Black models. Considering that a show usually features 20 or so models, we had an impressive 35- to 40-percent representation. Things really got exciting in 1995, when Tyson Beckford snagged an exclusive contract as the face for top designer Ralph Lauren. Tyson went on last year to be named Male Model of the Year by VH1.
Fast forward to 1996... When the year came in, we went out. Today there is only one Black female model I know of with a major cosmetics contract: Tyra Banks for Cover Girl. As of this writing, Riccardo Gay in Milan has only six Black models in working rotation. And from the Italian runways to the French fashion scene to the catwalks in New York City, there has been a worldwide trend to exclude Black models from fashion shows. Only a few shows for the fall 1996 season included a Black face, and even then in several cases that face could have been mistaken for White. The result: Magazines and newspapers--many of which use pictures from runway shows throughout the year--will have few chances to include us in their pages. And, as it is, we are seldom the focal point of the main fashion layouts in general-market publications. Clearly the Black model is the subject of a damaging and demeaning "disappearing act."
I don't necessarily cry foul because my livelihood and that of my colleagues are at stake. Some of us have had a pretty lush life because of this profession, and we've gone on to do other meaningful and lucrative things as well, like writing, acting or running our own cosmetics companies. The real crime of our being excluded is that it leaves Black people with far too few self-affirming images in television commercials and other mainstream media.
This is not the first drought for Black models, and though it pains me to say it, it probably won't be the last. Fashion, by its very nature, is fickle. What's in one year is often out the next. I'm outraged, though, that race would be subjected to fashion's whims. I could handle short hair versus long hair, skinny waiflike bodies versus more voluptuous ones, or sassy attitudes versus fresh playfulness, because there would always be a place for some of us. But when what's in is pasty pale and bland blonde, well, enough said.
"Yes, I agree completely that this is a totally blonde season," says Katie Ford, CEO of Ford Models, Inc. "It's a trend started by the minimalist designers like Prada and Gucci. By using models who all have the same coloring, they took the identity out of the model. Their goal was to take the attention off the models and put it back on the clothes. If you were a brunette, it was hard to get on the runway." Think about where that left us as Black models. At least White brunettes could turn to a bottle of peroxide.
Model bookers do the daily work of calling clients and pitching models for jobs. I asked my booker at Ford, Neal Hamil, what the general response to Black women was at the agency last show season. "Clients were saying that they were `going in a different direction." It's the industry's standard brush-off," he says, adding that the look being requested was a "very, very pale, skinny, glassy-eyed look, like a junkie, really." When I asked Neal if he thought the lack of interest in Black models was racially based, he paused and then said, "The discrimination is so subtle that I don't realize it until the season's over."
Ford says she has consistently found it difficult to start and maintain models of color. "I continue to take Blacks, Asians and Latinas in hopes that things will change. But I know it's always going to be twice the work for half the reward."
Even Naomi--who in many fall 1996 shows from Europe to New York was the only Black model on the runway--concedes that any model of color has to work that much harder. "But I love rising to the challenge," she says. Much controversy surrounded Naomi's appearance in the May 1996 issue of Vogue. According to reports in the press, Campbell had been promised the front cover of the issue. But for the first time in the magazine's history, Vogue printed a double cover, with White supermodel Niki Taylor on the cover facing the newsstand and the world, while our Naomi was tucked away on the inside fold. Campbell took the high road concerning the incident. "Personally, I was a bit disappointed, but I hope the magazine will [regularly] regard Black models as cover subjects the way they do Whites," she says.

When we caught up with Vanessa in Tulum, Mexico (where she shot this month's Shape cover), she had just come from Madrid and was headed next to London. We couldn't help but ask: If she spends so much time traveling for work, how does she look like she's just returned from a two-week vacation? She says it's something in the water--the Mediterranean Sea, to be exact. Not only does she swim in it whenever she's home in Spain, but she's a devotee of the diet made famous by the region.
EAT NATURAL, NATIVE FOODS
"I absolutely love to eat, so I try not to restrict myself," says Vanessa, who gravitates toward Mediterranean staples like fresh veggies--especially spinach and tomatoes--nuts and olive oil. (See "The World's Healthiest Diet," right.) A creature of habit, she finds mealtime decisions easy, even when she's living out of hotels.
"I have fresh fruit for breakfast every day, no matter where I am," she says. "When I'm in a rush, I'll make a smoothie I can take with me--a mix of pineapple, strawberries and water." She follows the fruit with a slice of wholegrain toast, opting for olive oil instead of butter and jam, or oatmeal--a heart-healthy treat she's come to love since living in the United States.
For afternoon and evening meals, Vanessa chooses tapas--small servings of olives, fresh seafood, marinated veggies and other flavorful, snack-sized dishes. "You can get little tastes without eating a lot of food (or calories)," she says. When she's stateside, she indulges in sushi--with the same healthy combo of fish and veggies: "It's my favorite way to eat out."
MAKE FITNESS FUN
Growing up in Spain, Vanessa played on Barcelona's beaches; swimming is now the 29-year-old's favorite way to get toned all over. "Whenever I'm on location, I look for a swimming pool," she says. "I do laps--alternating strokes to focus on different muscle groups--and hold on to a float to kick my legs."
She has also taken a cue from her neighbors in New York City and hits the gym three days a week. Her typical routine: 30-40 minutes running on the treadmill, or using the elliptical trainer, followed by 20 minutes of squats, lunges, biceps curls, triceps kickbacks and crunches.
DON'T FORGET TO NOURISH YOUR SPIRIT
Though Vanessa has seen the world, she admits to being homesick for friends and family back in Spain. "I talk to my boyfriend on the phone or e-mail my sister at least every other day," she says. "It really helps me stay happy." To reenergize after a long day on the set, she'll take a quiet stroll on the beach or wind down by watching a movie in her hotel room. Her new goal: to start a regular yoga practice. "I really want to find the time because I know it's so healthy for you," she says. "I'm convinced it will help me stay centered, and with my hectic travel schedule, I realize that finding balance may be one of the best things I can do for my mind and body."
The world's healthiest diet
We now know that the Mediterranean Diet's combination of fresh produce, fish and healthy fats found in olive oil and nuts, is simply the best meal plan. A New England Journal of Medicine study found that people who followed a Mediterranean diet were 25 percent less likely to die of heart disease or cancer. Other new research shows that this way of eating is even more beneficial than a lowfat plan. Plus "olive oil's satiety factor helps curb overeating," says Dun Gifford of Oldways Preservation & Exchange Trust. "And, the diet's flavors make sticking with it a pleasure." To learn more.

Many of us put up with dingy bathroom that may have leaky fixtures, peeling paint, stained floors, or poor lighting because it all still works and no one sees it but us anyway. That doesn't have to be the case. Just because it works should be no excuse to leave it alone when you really don't like the way it looks. It may work to keep a worn out but comfy pair of jeans, but you still would not wear them out to an important function. Your bathroom may be making a statement to your guests that you would rather not be saying. If you can't do the work yourself, hire a professional that has good recommendations from people you know.

Decide what you would like in your remodeled bathroom. Everyone seems to be enjoying larger bathrooms recently. If the budget and surrounding area allows it, you could enlarge the bathroom by a few feet. In the past bathrooms were purely functional with just enough space to take care of business. Now, we have such busy lives that we like to escape in the luxury of a large bathroom to relax in a bubble bath.

You may decide to add light, whether natural or artificial. You could enlarge or add a window for more sunlight. You could also add a variety of lighting for different uses. Dim lighting would be nice for a relaxing bath, but bright lights will be needed for shaving. More light will also make the bathroom seem larger if you could not expand the room as much as you would like.

Consider refurbishing your old cabinets. If they are in good shape, you could just refinish them. Using a lighter color will add to that spacious look. You could also add a new top to replace stained, out dated counter top. Marble can add a beautiful look to your bathroom that will have guests saying, "Wow!".

A really nice comfort to add is radiant heat. With the heat under the flooring, you never have to worry about stepping barefooted onto a cold floor first thing in the morning. This is a costly addition, but radiant heating is efficient and can save money after the initial sticker shock.

If you are now motivated to remodel that old bathroom, you are ready to start comparison-shopping at various home improvement stores. They may have displays that will give you an idea of looks that appeal to you and those that are not so appealing. You can also check out a few decorating and home improvement magazines to find more ideas. After doing your homework, you will have in mind exactly what you want to make it easier for your contractor to satisfy you.

Supermodel Extraordinaire Tyra Banks created the concept for television's first professional model competition, America's Next Top Model (ANTM) in 2002. The show first aired in May of 2003 and has continued to be UPN's top rated show. The stakes are high for each season's all female contestant group as they vie for a $100,000 modeling contract with the cosmetics giant Cover Girl, professional representation by the elite Ford Modeling Agency, and a career-changing spread in a leading fashion magazine such as Elle magazine or Vogue. America's Next Top Model just saw its 7th season (called cycles) and has featured a wide range of impressive judges including the famous 1960’s model Twiggy, the world's first supermodel Janice Dickinson (who now has her own model competition show called Janice Dickinson’s Modeling Agency), Nigel Barker (ex-model turned fashion photographer), runway coach J. Alexander and Tyra's friend and stylist Jay Manuel.

The number of contestants ranges from ten to fourteen females who are all between the ages of 18 and 26. Each contestant comes to the show featuring their own particular look and style, but Tyra quickly develops a radical new makeover for each contestant. The contestants are quickly made over and given brand new haircuts, hair color, and new makeup looks, oftentimes against their will. Each contestant is then moved into one house or apartment that has been designed and developed to look like a trendy model’s residence. The girls are put together with roommates, and oftentimes explosive and dramatic fights develop.

Each episode of America's Next Top Model sets up the model hopefuls on a challenging photoshoot, many of which occur outside in extreme elements or feature terrifying stunts with animals or insects. It is the job of the contestants to look both beautiful and confident, and also to maintain a professional attitude no matter the stress of the situation. Other than the photoshoots, the contestants are also sent to “try out” for jobs and contracts in front of other powerful industry professionals including designers and agents. The competition for these jobs is severe, and part of the challenge is to see how strong the contestants remain under the bright lights of the fashion world. Audiences wait for the international component of each cycle when Tyra announces the girls have to pack immediately for an impromptu overseas trip to experience the modeling world in another fashion-forward city. Cities that the models have visited include Paris, London, Tokyo and Barcelona. The international competition is the most difficult as the models struggle to get jobs and complete photoshoots in a strange country having little to no facility with the native language.

Generally one contestant is eliminated at the end of each episode, and the elimination is decided by the judging panel that is headed by Tyra Banks. Each judge views the best photos from each contestant’s shoot and evaluates the head and body shots for poise, commercial and high-fashion appeal, as well as pure aesthetic value. During each elimination, Tyra Banks delivers the news with compassion and sometimes stern reminders about how difficult it is to stay in the modeling business. The last contestant remaining becomes America’s Next Top Model and goes on to have numerous endorsements and take part in fashion industry events all over the world.

Bathroom remodeling takes time, careful planning, and precise execution. The objective of a bathroom remodel is to upgrade the appearance of your bathroom with the latest bathroom fixtures, designs, and styles. However, bathroom remodeling can be a bit overwhelming. Even if you don’t install your new fixtures and furnishings yourself, simply selecting that perfect bathroom vanity, sink, and mirror can be more complicate than you think, especially if you’ve never remodeled a bathroom before.

Below are a few tips on what NOT to do when remodeling your bathroom. Use these tips to avoid common mistakes and ensure that the look you intend for your bathroom is actually what turns out.

Bathroom Remodeling Tip #1: Don’t Wing It

Some people think that remodeling a bathroom is a piece of cake and simply involves swapping out an old sink or vanity with a new one; however, because the bathroom involves plumbing, you need to carefully plan out your remodel. You need to make sure the new fixtures you select fit the space and the plumbing of your bathroom, or at least understand that rearranging the layout of your bathroom may involve rerouting some pipes (which is an arduous task). So, before you even think about the new vanity or sink you want to buy, establish the basic layout of your new bathroom. If the layout is staying the same, take note of the plumbing layout and keep that in mind when you’re shopping for a new sink, toilet, or vanity. If you’re rearranging a few items, draw out how you want your bathroom to look, measure everything to make sure your vision is realistic, and then see if you need to reroute any plumbing. In some cases, you won’t know if your new bathroom layout will call for new plumbing to be installed, so call a plumber and get his/her professional opinion. After you’ve mapped everything out and established the basic layout of your new bathroom design, then you can start shopping for your new lavish bathroom furnishings.

Bathroom Remodeling Tip #2: Don’t Buy the First Thing You See

The key to successfully remodeling your bathroom is to shop around. You never want to buy the first thing you find. If you’re not already set on a specific vanity or sink design, go online and check out the latest bathroom furnishings. This way, you’ll get a better idea of the number of different styles available without having to leave your home. Shopping around will also give you the opportunity to comparison shop. Today, modern bathroom furnishings are more available and affordable than ever before. Thanks to wholesalers who purchase bathroom furnishings in bulk, you can get that elegant vessel sink you’ve always wanted at a price that won’t bust your remodeling budget. Before you buy, you better shop around.

Bathroom Remodeling Tip #3: If Don’t Know, Don’t Install It Yourself

Getting a new toilet is a different experience from getting a new bed. With a bed, you pay the extra $50 to get it delivered and put in your home. However, with a toilet, getting it delivered and put in your home is only the beginning. Bathroom remodeling almost always involves plumbing work. Even if you aren’t rerouting pipes or drainage systems, installing new bathroom fixtures (such as a toilet, sink, and faucet) takes a little plumbing know-how. However, not all of us are as “handy” as we would like to be. And when you’re dealing with running water, it’s important to know how to properly uninstall and install bathroom fixtures. So, if you’re a novice at plumbing, call a professional. Many bathroom remodeling shops offer installation with the purchase of their products (for an added fee) or know of plumbers in your area who can install your new bathroom fixtures for you. Either way, if you’ve never installed a toilet, sink, or faucet, or had a bad previous experience with plumbing, it’s worth the money to have your new bathroom furnishings installed right.

When it comes to bathroom remodeling, it’s very important to plan out your new layout, shop around, and install your new bathroom furnishings properly. Failing to do so could cost you more money in the long run and result in a less-than-perfect remodel.

When you want to give your bathroom a facelift, you may not have the available funds that you want to create the best space possible. If you are on a tight budget, there are some ways to update your bathrooms look and do it for less. There are so many options when it comes to redoing your bath. With the right designing and planning, you can create a beautiful bathroom of any size. Appraiser Forum
The following is a few ways to get you started on your budget bathroom if you are tackling the job your self. The first thing that you need to do is to define your space. It is very unusual to find a huge bathroom. If your bath is really small, you may be able to enlarge it. If you cannot make the room bigger, then you will have to think carefully about what you want to have in that room and where it is going to be placed.
Once you have the spaced planned out, it is time to figure out where you are going to put everything. Think about where you want the tub, and sink and make sure that you plan for plumbing and things associated with it.
The next step is thinking about the type of fixtures that you want it your room. If your fixtures are out of date, that can mean a lot in the rooms appearance. Spruce up your faucets and other things like towel bars, racks, and mirrors. You can make a huge impact on any bathroom with putting in new features like these.
If you want to change your necessities like the tub, toilet and sink, think about what you want and what you can afford. If you have always wanted a whirlpool tub, maybe now is the time to get one. Think about your space and if you will have enough room for one not only in the room but also in your budget. Up date your toilet and sink if it is in the budget too. Changing these items can really make a big difference when it comes to the look of your room.
If you are changing things like the toilet, tub and sink, then check out the plumbing while you are there. Make sure that everything is working properly and if anything looks like it needs replaced go ahead and do this now. It may seem like a lot, but it will save you time and money later. You do not want to put new items in if the plumbing is old and worn out.
If you do not have the money for any of the items above, think about doing one great project at a time. The first thing that you can start with is the floor. Changing the floor from an outdated look to an up dated one can really give your bathroom a pick up. This is an easy fix and can buy you some time till you can afford the rest. Think small, make one change, and you will feel better about the space you spend so much time in such as the bathroom.

You enter a narrow corridor. Flanking the walls are two glass-paneled cabinets. The air is still. The path is stark. You perceive a wider space at the end of the hall. The effect is almost ethereal. But something must be changed, according to the request of the owner of the house.
The architect found it amusing that he was essentially remodeling his own work. Just as well, he contended, because this was a project he had done years before, and he candidly admits that as the years go by, aside from the fading of colors, tastes change, and trends evolve, too. He said that it is natural to find what we once thought as cutting edge to be outdated years later.
That is what remodeling is all about. People do not just merely want to remodel their house just because they have to. There are instances wherein remodeling is deemed necessary because some people thought that they wanted something new, something that would create a new aura around the house.
Surveys show that the average American households are inclined to remodel their houses after 10 to 20 years has elapsed. There are times that the house still looks good as new but because the house owners wanted remodeling, everything was changed.
So when people want to modify. Rectify, enhance, or simply replace, or correct anything that is wrong with the house, they could always seek the help of a person who knows what remodeling is all about.
The Impression it Creates
In remodeling, there are times that people wanted to make use of neglected space on the ground floor. With this process, you can even extend the living area up to the outside garden.
Remodeling can also add cleaner lines and illusion of space. And if you want to structurally place the house in a complete change, the walls has to be knocked down, alter the layout, and modify the roof and façade. Even the location of the stairs can be changed.
Here is a list of the things that you can change while on the process of remodeling:
1. Windows
Opting for bigger windows is a good idea. If you think that your house needs remodeling, try to consider changing your windows into bigger outlines that would enable the entry of more light and establish picturesque sights.
2. Roof
Create an illusion of a bigger space by lifting the roof.
3. Add-ons
Remodel the whole house by adding some embellishments at the front. You can even add an obscured entrance for a more dramatic effect.
4. Landscaping
Through this process, you can inevitably create a more panoramic view by adding some trees on the pathway. Landscaping is usually taken into account if you want to create an illusion of nature’s touch or simply to alter the “focal point” of the house.
5. Façade
You can change the look of your house’s façade by changing the height of your deck, porch, or veranda. If your house lacks some of it at the front, try to build one. The look will be very enticing to look at.
All of these things are boiled down to the fact that the designer or the architect’s attention to the details should not be lost all throughout the house. With remodeling, the theme of the house should go with the furnitures to be used and the colors to be embedded at every wall, adding richness and opulence to an otherwise subdued modern home.
The point here is that remodeling should bring back the pieces of the house in such a way that it creates new dimensions and disciplined illusions of artistic and creative construction. That is simply the beauty of remodeling.

People have different reasons for renovating or remodeling their homes. Some alter their houses to build their dream house because it is cheaper to renovate than to build a home from scratch. Others renovate to increase living space while others remodel to increase the market value of their homes. Whatever the motivation, people who remodel their houses consider different factors such as the cost of the renovation. It is widely accepted that doing renovations is much cheaper way of achieving the look that you want for your home rather than building a new home. One way of being more cost-efficient with regard to renovations is to make remodeling additions to your homes. Doing remodeling additions can involve building another story, changing the interiors and exteriors of your house, and even changing your garage.

Getting started

As with any remodeling project, the first step is to determine the part or part of the house that you may want to change. Doing so involves having an idea on what you would like to do, for example, you may want to renovate, enlarge or add an additional bathroom to your home. You may also want to create a sunroom to allow sunlight and air into your home. Another remodeling addition idea is that of adding another story to your home. Doing so will require you to consult a structural engineer on the feasibility of adding a new floor to your home. Remodeling additions can also be applied to your garage, whether to add another story on top of the garage or to convert it for other uses. Given these options, it is obvious that it only your imagination that limits you on the possible remodeling additions that you can do toy your home.

After doing all the necessary evaluations and decisions on what you would like to do, you can then create a detailed plan on how you will go about the renovation with the help of a contractor and a number of builders. Another form of renovating your home is to make remodeling additions that can help you achieve the look and comfort that you would like in your home.

People have different reasons for renovating or remodeling their homes. Some alter their houses to build their dream house because it is cheaper to renovate than to build a home from scratch. Others renovate to increase living space while others remodel to increase the market value of their homes. Whatever the motivation, people who remodel their houses consider different factors such as the cost of the renovation. It is widely accepted that doing renovations is much cheaper way of achieving the look that you want for your home rather than building a new home. One way of being more cost-efficient with regard to renovations is to make remodeling additions to your homes. Doing remodeling additions can involve building another story, changing the interiors and exteriors of your house, and even changing your garage.

Getting started

As with any remodeling project, the first step is to determine the part or part of the house that you may want to change. Doing so involves having an idea on what you would like to do, for example, you may want to renovate, enlarge or add an additional bathroom to your home. You may also want to create a sunroom to allow sunlight and air into your home. Another remodeling addition idea is that of adding another story to your home. Doing so will require you to consult a structural engineer on the feasibility of adding a new floor to your home. Remodeling additions can also be applied to your garage, whether to add another story on top of the garage or to convert it for other uses. Given these options, it is obvious that it only your imagination that limits you on the possible remodeling additions that you can do toy your home.

After doing all the necessary evaluations and decisions on what you would like to do, you can then create a detailed plan on how you will go about the renovation with the help of a contractor and a number of builders. Another form of renovating your home is to make remodeling additions that can help you achieve the look and comfort that you would like in your home.

According to contractors, the room that is undergoing the greatest amount of transformation in new construction and remodeling is the bathroom. In fact, since the 1930s, the average master bath has tripled in size and the huge bathrooms build in houses today have even an oversized closet inside. The change in bathroom space is attributed to the fact that people are now spending more time in their bathrooms when they wish to relax while taking a bath. Experts point out, that the weekend spa mentality has developed into a new lifestyle trend with which Americans feel comfortable and want to experience on a daily basis without leaving the comfort of their own home.

Since the bathroom space has increased, the new updated version calls for an addition of bathroom furniture, which can make any bathroom feel less sterilized and bring in the feeling of comfort that used to be associated with other rooms of the house, like the bedroom or living-room. Moreover, the additional furniture pieces provide extra storage space; something that is definitely needed nowadays by both women and men. To cover the demand, many bathroom cabinet manufacturers offer now sinks set in furniture pieces, which are designed specifically for bathroom use. Options now range from modern glass and steel pieces, to old renaissance dressers and armoires. Moreover, people tend to mix and match furniture and trim their uncovered surfaces in order to make them blend with the flooring, connecting the bathroom to the rest of the house.

But apart from the amount of space available and selecting the right type of furniture, today's bathroom-users also want to create a bathroom in which they can relax and rejuvenate. These moments of relaxation can be enhanced with simple additions, like a bathroom stool near the tub or in the shower, or if the space permits it with an ottoman for some precious relaxing times. Furthermore, the right type of lighting can be installed quickly altering the feeling one has while taking a bath. Again candles, small regular lamps on the vanity or shelves can transform the bathroom and give it the feeling of tranquility.

Extremely important apart from the furniture selected is the bathroom's flooring. Tile or wood can enhance the overall appearance of the bathroom and their designs can be matched to blend with the house's other rooms. Also, the color of the walls or the wallpaper selected to be placed have to match the rest of the area, like the floor, the sink and the bathtub creating a unified outcome. If you decide to go with the wallpaper option, be extremely cautious as it has to be installed really well in order not to fall off the walls as you steam your bath.

Finally, keep your bathroom organized and clean. Numerous scattered items give a feeling of clutter and do not help you enjoy this room of your house. Furthermore, select towels and bathrobes that are soft and fluffy. It is better if their colors and design matches the rest of the bathroom, but most importantly they have to be replenished with new ones almost every year so you will continue feeling the same snugly sensation every time you exit the shower.

What is the hardest and most stressful part of remodeling your bathroom?

Is it the plumbing or the tiling or the painting? Perhaps it's the electrical work that's most difficult, or the physical aspect of removing and refitting large items like bathtubs and toilets? Well I think that the most difficult and stressful part of any home improvement or remodeling project is something else entirely…

Project management of a bathroom-remodeling project is the most stressful job.

You probably think that designing your new bathroom and selecting all the wonderful things you want to go into it is difficult. You are right, it is but it's nowhere near as difficult as managing the project as it progresses day to day.

Why is project management such a problem?

Project management is about developing and carrying out a plan that will take your dream design into spectacular reality in the shortest time possible. When there are many contractors involved in the job, or I should say many individuals involved in the job, formulating a plan that might work is difficult enough as it is. Keeping the job on track and to the plan as it progresses is far more difficult.

There is more information about managing the stress of bathroom remodeling in the article Supervisor Stress - Bathroom Remodeling

First create a project plan

To create a project plan you first identify all the tasks that need to be done like stripping the old bathroom, fitting the new one, building work, tiling, plumbing, electrics etc. Then you work out any dependencies between the tasks like the fixtures must be in place before the tiling can start. Then you put all the tasks on a timeline showing the duration of the task and when it should start and finish. The correct name for a plan like this is a Gantt chart and should impress your contractors when you pull it out in front of them.

Keeping your bathroom remodeling project on plan

This is the difficult part and can take up a lot of your time if you are going to do the job properly and keep the project on track. All would be well of course if nothing ever went wrong but it will. I've been involved with the project management of many projects and my mantra is this "If it can go wrong then it probably will". Something will go wrong at some point you can bet on it.

So how do you keep the project on plan when things go wrong?

Try to anticipate problems that might arise before they happen and try to have an alternative plan ready. For instance you might want to keep in touch with the contract firm that you didn't give the job to just in case your first choice drops out or one of the workers falls ill. Try to locate more than one source for your fixtures just in case your supplier fails to deliver. Make sure that you know how to hire drying equipment at short notice in case you get a flood.

The most important aspect to keeping a project on track is to anticipate and deal with problems before they arise but if you can't do that then the next best thing is to react to problems quickly and efficiently.

At the end of the day project managing your bathroom remodeling job is a full time job and if you want to avoid the stress that it brings then you should hire someone to project manage for you. It may be more expensive but a lot better for your health.

Home improvement if called life improvement would not be a misnomer. Home remodeling is the baby of unchanged phenomena of change. It is initiated to improve the quality of life in synthesis with the changing dictates of time and directed towards more comfort. However, it needs a careful planning and sagacious attention to economy, utility, aesthetics and immediate purpose. You can either restrict it to a part of the home like kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, patio, any pocket of the house or to the house in entirety. You can also limit it to designing or flooring, or electric wiring or making arrangements for the new gadgets.

Slowly as technology is making inroads in our daily life including kitchen, it makes it essential that Kitchen springs to the changes. For instance, Kitchen remodeling can include provisions for new electronic chimneys, microwaves, pot rack, measures against fire hazards, new flooring etc. You can also have a special built-in wall unit where the oven sits within, allowing lot of storage space. It makes a judicious use of available room and makes even a small place look bigger. It is possible that you want to opt for an oven different from the existing one, convection, gas or electric etc defined by the degree of comfort with the equipment and requirement.

Pot racks not only lend a sophisticated look to the kitchen but are of immense utility too, holding the burden of cooking. All types of cooking pots and pans can easily nestle themselves there freeing the cabinet space from having a cluttered appearance. Like this there can be space-specific intricacies that need to be studied before taking up the decision of home remodeling. The name ‘home’ remodeling should not however make you think that it is confined to merely residential areas. They are relevant in both commercial and residential ambiences– or anywhere where humans habitate.

The "home remodeling" can be either a DIY or by hiring contractors. If latter it is important to pay attention to the measures that offer protection from any cheating later. When the contractor as required by law posts a surety bond with the CCB (Construction Contractors Board) it is ‘bonded’. And when the contractor as required by law accepts the general liability insurance to the CCB it is insured. Both bonded and liability insurance are tools that offer valuable protection to consumers. The latter covers the damage of the property or bodily injury caused by the poor work of the contractor while a surety bond the cost of removing, repairing or replacing the contractor’s bad work. In spirit both are evolved to provide financial security and make home improvement a pleasant experience to the property owners.

Their is ample anthropological and archeological evidence to show that women have been altering the appearance of their breasts in order to enhance their attractiveness since the dawn of time. I am speaking primarily of tattooing, but also of body-painting and piercing. This phenomenon is more widespread than isolated and cuts across many different cultures around the world. Mummies of ancient Egyptian courtesans show that their breasts and bellies were tattooed. Berber women in North Africa still tattoo their breasts with beauty marks to this day. Tattooing of the breasts has been practiced by the women of the hill tribes of The Philippines, the Maoris of New Zealand, many of the Polynesians of the South Pacific, and many of the native peoples of North America. It is an extraordinarily common practice.

In modern Western society since the mid-18th century there has even been a significant percentage of the women of the population who have been tattooed and contrary to popular myth, not all of them have been prostitutes or women of easy virtue. When Captain Cook and his crew returned from their voyages to Polynesian, the salons of London and Paris and the other capitals of Europe were abuzz with tales of tattooed savages. Many of Cook's men, and even his Officer's, had gotten tattooed. This craze even extended to member of the upper classes and it was not uncommon for members of the social elite in England to gather after dinner in the great country houses and partially
disrobe in order to show off their tattoos. Winston Churchill's mother, Lady Randolph, or Jenny as she was called by close friends, is known not only to have been tattooed but to have had her nipples pierced.

If, as many of us would believe, breasts approach perfection, why would so many cultures advocate and encourage their alteration, some might even say mutilation? Like most things in life there is probably no one answer but a number of theories have been put forward. Tattooing in many cultures is a ritual closely tied to the rite of passage from adolescence to adulthood. In both men and women tattooing demonstrated to the rest of the community that the individual tattooed was now an adult, ready to take on an adult role and assume adult responsibilities. The tattooing was a rite that was painful and bloody, a clear demarcation line between childhood and adulthood. For men, it meant they were now warriors, expected to protect the community with their lives if necessary. For women it meant they were now sexually mature and ready to bear children

Modeling isn’t like it was in the 80’s, yet a lot of people still seem to have this 80’s perception of modeling. Ebony and Jet Magazine hold open auditions for runway models but they tell you that you have to be 5’10” to audition. Isn’t that a little extreme? Tyra Banks is a little more reasonable. To audition for her show “America’s Top Model” you only have to be 5’7”. Because of this so many women out there who want to model say that they aren’t tall enough or shaped right. What is tall enough or shaped right? In the 90’s something started happening in the world of modeling. We started opening up magazines and seeing women with bigger butts and bigger bust sizes. We started seeing swimsuit models. What are swimsuit models?

There are now many different types of models. Print, commercial, fashion, import or car, runway and of course swimsuit modeling are among the list of categories that are recognized by many agencies and people in the industry. So don’t sell yourself short by thinking that you don’t meet the standards to be a model. In today’s industry models are setting their own standards. Look at Ki Toy or Vida Guerra. They are far from traditional models. And what about the infamous Dove Girls? On a more local landscape, import modeling hosts some of the shortest models in the industry. Oh and how could I forget to mention the lovable Tila Tequila of Myspace?

With these vast changes in the modeling world, doors are being opened for people of all shapes and sizes. There is a demand for models from every walk of life. Getting your foot in the door is no longer the arduous task it once was. So dream big, take chances, shoot for the stars and set the standard. Charge on and don’t take no for an answer. Determination, more than anything else, is the deciding factor between people who succeed and people who fail. Become a model and help others learn to appreciate their own beauty also.

There are many different types of agencies that represent models. Identifying a legitimate agency can be a difficult task in itself. Then when you find a legitimate agency you end up having to shell out hundreds of dollars to have your portfolio made. In other cases that agency turns out to actually be a school and you still have to shell out hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Now your dream career has become an expensive hobby.

Finding a free agency has proven to be a very lucrative option. Many of these agencies will not charge you for services until you have been connected with opportunities. You simply model for their use as they try to get you hooked up with magazines, clothing companies, and top modeling agencies that may never notice you without the help of a local agent. These agencies are based upon “sweat equity” – the more effort you contribute to your success, the more successful the agency will be in establishing a great portfolio for you. They offer great solutions to getting you into the industry without the hardship of high costs.