One-Piece Wednesday: Shakara Ledard, 2002

Topless Tapas Tuesday

It's my last Topless Tuesday, and I'm in the mood for a sampler platter.

Horse Appreciation Week: Monday

In compiling my series on swimsuit models + animals, I came upon a problem. Horses.

There are too many horse shots for a single entry.

However, Horse Appreciation Day is May 9, so I figured a lead-in would be in order. A few models with horses per day.

I’m sure there are a bunch I’ll miss. But it’s a good cross-section.

Same Suit, Different Babe-a-Palooza

I wish I knew more about this MTV 2002 swimsuit issue special. I stumbled across these photos from backstage. They’re from the same switcheroo event as this post, where the girls dressed in each others’ swimsuits.

In these shots, they also seem to be recreating some previous covers.

Here you can see Marisa Miller as Judit Masco (1990), Melissa Keller as Tyra Banks (1997), and Annie Morton as Valeria Mazza (1996). (They’re being photographed by Petra Nemcova, no idea if she’s in disguise.)

Chandra North plays Daniela Pestova (1995), Carla Maria plays Tannia Rubiano (1971), Ana Beatriz Barros plays Tyra Banks (1996), Vanessa Lorenzo plays, perhaps, Yamila Diaz (2002).

It’s interesting to see a lot of the same covers that have since gotten additional tributes.

Also, for good measure, Here’s Chandra dressed up as Elsa Benitez.

Looks like quite a party.

In any case, one of the girls being portrayed is Valeria Mazza, who’s 43 today.

Topless Tuesday: Shakara Ledard, 2000

Sorry for the lack of posts lately...

One-Piece Wednesday: Shakara Ledard, 2005

One-Hit Wonder: Carla Maria, 2002

This gorgeous model was only in a single issue.

While poking around online for info about her, I found this slide show from Entertainment Weekly of a 2002 SI launch party. There’s a bit of a mental disconnect when you see some of the suits on the wrong models.

Shakara Ledard’s coffee bean bikini…

…is clearly where it belongs: on Shakara, on the right.

But Carla, on the left, is wearing a flowery top that clearly belongs to Ana Beatriz Barros. And Marisa Miller is wearing Daniela Pestova’s lime bikini.

Later in that slide show, Bridget Hall…

…is wearing Heidi Klum’s money suit.

It’s another variation on “Same Suit, Different Babe,” one that was lying hidden online for 12 years.

White Swimsuit Week, 2012: Part Five

Shakara Ledard, 2002.

Swimsuit Approval Ratings: The High-Fashion Bikini

The High-Fashion Bikini (17% approval rating)

‘Like many new fashion trends, women inevitably find them far more interesting than their male counterparts. Funky suits — like those with studs, grommets and beaded detailing or others with unorthodox accessories — were the least favored swimwear of all the styles.

Only 17 percent liked them, while 83 percent were mystified that the garments could even hold up in water.’

I thought a good illustration of weird “high-fashion” bikinis would be some selections from 2002. They created swimsuits out of materials inspired by that year’s Latin American theme. I’ve covered Molly Sims’ chili peppers and Veronica Varekova’s bottle caps in previous posts, so enjoy some cigar bands, cactus, coffee, and silver & jade.

Ana Beatriz Barros, 2002, cigar bands

Petra Nemcova, 2002, cactus

Shakara Ledard, 2002, coffee beans

Yamila Diaz, 2002, silver and jade