Velvet D’Amour

I am originally from Rochester, N.Y. and currently single with no children, (though I do adore them)! I spent a decade in Manhattan where I acquired my BFA from SVA (School of Visual Arts) in illustration with a concentration on photography. I went on to work as a representative for Fashion photographer’s and Hair and Makeup artist Agents, while developing my own photography. Having spent a year abroad studying art in Florence, Italy, I acquired a taste for life abroad and ended up moving from NYC to gay Paris over a decade ago.

I am passionate about dance, photography, modeling, travel and so much more. The first people to embrace my rebellious curves and deem them worthy of celebration, was in fact the world of contemporary dance. I was chosen to perform the lead role of Gorgea in Lionel Hoche’s KADAVRESKY which toured various towns in France and culminated with several performances at the renown Palais de Chaillot at Trocadero. Thereafter I danced with Cyrill Davy’s C YOSHI M dance company in the piece VPP. I signed with Contraband’s PLUS and WANTED divisions which led me to gaining the lead role of the French film AVIDA, (produced by Matthieu Kassovitz), and that in turn ended up sending me down the red carpet at the Cannes film festival of 2006, as well as Tribeca Film Festival in 2007. Additionally, I modeled in John Galliano’s Spring 2006 runway show, which led to my inclusion in French Vogue shot by Nick Knight (February 2005). Perhaps I am most widely known for my jaunt down Jean Paul Gauthier’s Spring 2007 runway show during his 30 year retrospective in a fun hip revealing lingerie piece. This led to numerous television and magazine appearances and indeed to Monique herself, I am happy to say!

Overall I see myself as an artist, infiltrating various media in an attempt to broaden the public perception of beauty and in doing so, I hope to uplift people so that they might better believe in themselves. There is so much beauty around us yet so little which is expressed to us in the subliminal messages we receive from TV, magazines, billboards, and movies, and I believe we do ourselves a disservice n setting such screamingly unattainable beauty goals.

Mikki Taylor

Beauty Director and Cover Editor, ESSENCE Magazine

Mikki Taylor, beauty director and cover editor of the nation’s premier lifestyle publication for Black women, is responsible for reflecting the culture’s definition of beauty as well as shaping it. Cosmetics industry experts and media outlets such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, Oprah After The Show, The View, CNN Headline News, CNN’s Hollywood Gold Rush, CNN Showbiz Tonight, Weekend Today, The Early Show, CBS 2 Morning News, Mo’Nique’s Fat Chance (1&2), Life & Style, BET, EXTRA, Inside Edition, Jane’s New York, NBC Nightly News, VH1, E! and the Style Network seek her advice when they want to check the pulse of today’s Black woman. Taylor contributes insightful thinking to the section and the very concept of beauty with her column, Mikki Says. She also shares her wealth of expertise as a judge on VH1’s Charm School.

Taylor is a four-time recipient of the Ceba Award, a former industry award acknowledging excellence in African-American media, as well as the winner of the Associated Black Charities Image Makers Award. She is a member of the Foundation Board of the Cosmetic Executive Women’s (CEW) Organization, which is dedicated to Women In Need, a nonprofit multi-service organization that helps homeless and underprivileged women and children in shelters in and around New York City. Taylor is also a member of the President’s Council of Fashion Group International, Inc., where she previously served as a member of its board of directors.

In April 2003, Ballantine Books/One World published Taylor’s book, Self-Seduction: Your Ultimate Path to Inner and Outer Beauty.  This lavishly illustrated book aimed at women of color explores the balance between spiritual and physical nourishment that is the key to true beauty and features women whose beauty mirrors their own—all shades, shapes, and sizes.

Sylvie Fabregon

Age: 47 years old
Born in Paris, Married with a 10 year old son.
 
Hobbies: I love laughing and taking advantage of life. I love oysters and raspberries.

Experience: I worked in various modeling agencies from 1982-1992 including Paris Planning, Elite, etc. I worked with Vanessa Paradis until 1996, then went back to modeling agencies and celebrities.  I have been with Agence Plus since 2005 where I oversee the Masters and Wanted sections of the Agency.