Swimsuit shoot

Does bikini shoots always have to be about being nice and sunny? I tried to go for a darker, more disturbing atmosphere on this new shoot - you can see the rest of my pics on my spanking new flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/honeybender/

Yes, you guessed it!! I finally got my finger out of my butt and started a flickr account. Please visit and do leave a message, feedback is always nice.

Nudity - still controversal?

I have just picked up a new photo competition challenge to read the words: "strictly NO nudity". Sighs. I guess there goes another contest I will not enter. Not because i cannot stick rules but because to me this has become a principle.Now in danger of comming across as an avid pornographer (hey – would that be so bad?) I really do wonder: what is this obsession with nudity in Second Life?As a photographer i'm sorry but I will not work with anyobody who set limits for what is actually photographed. I agree every contest should have rules, but i find it hard if the rules actually interfere in the artistic content.As a model i will most definately do nudity just as I see fit – and especially working with a good photographer or designer. I have modelled myself in RL, and the willingness to do nudity is never expected but always preferred, even if there are exceptions made for models who for some reason does not want to show lingerie or swimwear. They just don't work as much. But ask any TOP model - from Naomi Campbell til Kate Moss if they have ever posed naked and the answer is yes.As for the implications it is a moralistic issue: Perhaps it is because i was brought up in a part of the world where we have a very relaxed and liberated relationship with nudity, I have no problem with pornography and although the naked human body certainly does not belong everywhere, we do not really see anything morally wrong with it being on display in art, fashion and the likes.The naked body can be esthetic and pleasant and even without any hint of indecency or degradation (apart from in the head of the beholder) and this is why in art, the naked body is a prominent figure. These days it is also frequently present in cutting edge fashion photography, you can hardly open any European fashion magazine without seeing a naked female breast or tush in fashion spreads and beauty adverts. Even high fashion labels like YSL have chosen to promote one of their male fragrances with a gorgeous photo of a naked male model - full frontal - shot by the reknowned fashion photographer Solve Sundsbol. The advert appeared in many top glossies a couple of years back, and tho it was concidered slightly controversal Tom Ford had it down: what has fashion become if it can no longer be controversal? We're not talking suburbian girl scouts gatherings here remember - we're talking FASHION. Like...in cutting edge fashion....anyone??On the international runway a bare female breast hardly shocks anyone these days. I would like to see the faces of John Galliano or Donatella Versace if any professional model kicked up a stink over anything like that.This debate seems outdated. And still you do come across the occational heated discussions over Miley Cyrus showing her naked back for Annie Leibowitz cam or hear people go into hysterics over Janet's nipple slip. And not to mention – Michelle Obamas naked arms in a sleeveless dress!!!!!!!! OMG, i am laughing so much it hurts here. Have they no historic insights?? Didn’t the First Lady of all First Ladies – Jackie O – practically INVENT sleeveless fashion???
But in SL I have been on the runway with models who actually freaked at the sight of their own areolas. I have had designers ask me in an almost appologetic tone if i would mind showing a garment that is concidered "too revealing". I just do not get it - isn't it time to be more relaxed about this? All nudity is not nasty you know. Sometimes it can be both beautiful and innocent. Just a thought....

Me - a Second Styler!

I know it's weird to blog about blogging but I was recently asked by Celebrity Trollop to contribute to the Second Style Fashionista blog - which happens to be not just a fab blog but THE most influential SL fashion blog ever. I have been reading that blog since I started SL way back in august 2006 and ever since I earned my first lindens dancing Second Style has guided my shopping habits. It was Second Style that helped me find my first ever rockabilly retro hairstyle at Kin Keiko before rockabilly became the big thing in the SL fashion world. It was Second Style Magazine that inspired me to start taking photographs and taught me there was more to SL photography than lining a model up in an M30 studio against a premade background. And I used to skulk around Second Style magazines headquarters daily hoping to meet some of the awsomnesses that worked there, maybe hoping to catch a glimpse of La Editresse herself. Many months later I met Celebrity Trollop at runway shows where I was modelling and then when she became a model for Metro we even did catwalks together. I quickly learned that she sure has Anna Wintours fashion sense but Celeb has a much warmer and downright dirty fun personality. Once we showed up at a Ewing fashion show in identical leopard print artilleri coats and black gothic hairstyles - which under normal circumstances would have been concidered a disaster. But instead of sneaking off to a discreet spot to quickly reattach outfits and hair Celeb came over, posed next to me and turned a classic fashion faux pas into something fun, something that even landed us in the AvaStar gossip pages.So you can imagine when she asked me the other day if I would help blog for Second Style Fashionistas I was incredibly flattered. Celeb's idea is to dedicate each month to a different fashion topic and January is 30 Days of Skin. I would recommend you all go read it if it isnt already in your favourites - I think it will be great.

http://blog.secondstyle.com/

Me - a video babe!

Machinima, darlings! That's the name of the game right?
OK I fess up: I have been toying with the idea of being in movies for a while. So when the opportunity of taking my modelling portfolio one step further and making a small promotional flick to hand out to potential clients was presented to me I jumped at the chance. At WBA Advertising they have longtime experience with shooting machinima - they have been at it for over two years and they have also developed a unique system for streaming the movies in-world. After seeing samples of their work I just knew I had to have a bash at this. So boldly I signed up for a model portfolio shoot with director AWM Mars, met up in his studio and the result you can see here:

http://www.wba-advertising.com/3dmodel/honey.html

It's kinda kewl, right??
The actual shooting footage went smooth. All I really had to do was pick suitable poses, supply a photo to be used as a background in the movie and choose 4-5 outfits and style myself in ways that shows my diversity as a model, hop on the rotating disk in the studio and do my model thang! Completely painless and very efficient. When you sign with the WBA-guys they don’t just let your movie stream in-world, but for people outside Second Life they also stream your movie on their website!!
The staff was a joy to work with and all I had to do was look good, which is just how I prefer. If you're interested in checking out what they can offer both models and others Id suggest looking at their website:
http://www.wba-advertising.com/index4.html
- or contact Webgoddess Mars in-world. Happy shooting!

Style icon: Mariska Veres

Ok this week I’ve copied the look of my ultimate style inspiration – the dutch singer Mariska Veres. Veres was the vocalist of a popgroup named Shocking Blue – a band who had several hits in the UK and rest of Europe in the early seventies. I have attached some You Tube links so you can check her out for yourselves – I swear to god i have never EVER seen anyone with higher wow-factor than her, male or female. Man, watching those clips I still wanna BE her!!

I was only a little kid when Mariska Veres was big, but she kinda made me want to grow up fast. I’m still willing to argue the point that she’s the most gorgeous woman who ever lived, and to me she will always be the ultimate sex symbol - even hotter than Jim Morrison!! Unfortunately she grew old, overweight and late in life she was reduced to do bad cover versions of other peoples material until last year she passed away.

But in the late sixties and early seventies there was noone who could touch her. Compared as she was to Grace Slick I’d say Shocking Blue could play Jefferson Airplane off any stage in their heyday and when Slicks voice was ok Mariska’s was divine. And of course it was her sex-kitten looks with those big painted eyes... My lifelong loveaffair with false eyelashes, nude frosty lipstick, big hair, and suede jackets with tassles are all homage to her. Just watching these old You Tube clips brings me to tears, “Send me a postcard”, “Never Marry a Rail Road man”, “Harley Davidson”, “Blossom Lady” and of course “Venus” – the song which Bananarama covered in the eighties. I loved Bananarama but I’m sorry – there’s noone who can do that song like Mariska Veres and Shocking Blue. NO ONE. Enough said.

http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=P8tCSlW2Jzc

http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=U2DBcbZc3ck&feature=related

Here I’m doing my Mariska look, tho i know - i could never ever be as gorgeous as her -t here's only one true original. R.I.P Mariska beautifiul. I'm still a little girl in awe when watching you.

Top: Vitamin C

Jewellry: Hoop Earrings by Eco Brocco and collar by Shiny Things

Knitted mini dress by Kitties Lair

Belt by Extraordinaire

Jacket: by LeeZu Baxter

Top: by OPIUM

Booty shorts: by Vitamin C

Reharsals for ASpiRE's Chic Boutique Runway Show

Aspire did a kickass fashion show for Chic Boutique's lingerie and skins last weekend. The place was packed with people from the SL fashion business, models, stylists, magazine people - and ASpiRE's founder Bianca Darling (!!!) - that felt exceptionally good! Babyhoney Bailey did some remarakble styling and set building. There were models popping up of tables and posing on moving Martini glasses - the result reminding me of a swanky 60ties bachelor pad, thogh Babyhoney said she had had more Britney poledancing in mind when she created it lol. Anyways, the finished result was a whole lot better than in these photos - you may check them out on the ASpiRE's fashion blog. But I took som snaps of me and some of the other models from one of the many rehersals - as I just love behind the scenes pics, they are so funny. Hope you enjoy them too!

Babyhoney, Keeley, Masumi, Azia, Damiana and me posing on the moving glass lol

Keeley Huet posing pretty on the grand piano

Anyone for chamber music? Keeley Huet and myself testing poses.

The King and I

It's no secret I am a HUGE Elvis fan, neither is it a secret I have a wonderful man who's willing to put up with all my little whims. So last week, day before the 16th of August - whom all knows is a sad sad day - we dressed up as Elvis and Pricilla and went to Graceland lol. It felt kinda weird but definately good to pose in front of the famous gates or give the King a private show in the Jungle room...and wow don't you just love Coeur's sideburns? That look always makes me go weak in the knees.

My baby and i - the great pretenders

Coeur Auer: Typical hillbillies, bury you in their own back yard.
Honey Bender: You say that as if it's a bad thing!

Dancing for the King in the Jungle Room

Coeur looks quite at home in Graceland - that's what you get when you get yourself an all american man. Rarrrrrr

Love me tender....

A Midsummer Night's Dream

July 23'rd my friend and model mate Summer Deadlight - supermodel and sexiest kitty DJ - celebrated her B-day. Yea - the fact that she'll be 25 forever.
The theme was masquerade wear - fairie, woodland spirts, elves, horse heads, centaur bodies, Oberons, Pans, anything fairytale like. Frolic Mills had decorated the square in SL Boulevard to look like the perfect stage for all movers and shakers to come out and play. In spite of massive lag and several crashes I managed to take a few snaps - enjoy!

Summer Deadlight, looking awsome as always.

Elves and other fantasy creatures

Bianca Darling, founder of Aspire Modelling Agency (while she still had her top on lol)

Me and the love of my life, the horny beast Coeur Auer.

Shopping with your man

I am basically a solitary shopper. But if I'm just browsing I find the shopping experience so more interesting if I'm dragging a guy along - and it can be any guy - Coeur or just a mate - because the pattern is always the same: I focus on the merchandise and they focus on.....well the merchandise too. But not the same merchandise. Guys tend to focus on the stuff that's not for sale.
Here's a typical conversation between the love of my life and myself at the mall:

Honey: gawd, i need these skins. I wonder how many makeups you get with each
Coeur: I would wreck that chick!
Honey: who? (looks around - slightly annoyed)
Coeur: Josie

Honey: Who the fuck's Josie? (thinking: i'll wreck her too!)
Coeur: that skin - it's called Josie

Honey: *sighs*
Honey: Oh? really - want me to try it on?
Coeur: Josie wouldn't be allowed outta bed. I'm rock hard now
Honey sighs. Tries on a skin.
Coeur: oo i can see your nipples through your shirt!

Honey: aaah they sell skin here
Coeur: ooh half naked chicks!
Honey: they are ladyboy skins, dear. Men in drag.
Coeur: Ok, you just browse. I'll just watch your ass.

Honey: sorry - I crashed
Coeur: I love watching your boobies pop! *grins*
Honey persuades Coeur to try a hair demo.
Coeur: the reason they named this hair "Rebel" is because the designer couldn't spell the word "yuck".
Honey sighs.
Coeur: is that girl on the poster you?
Honey: No.
Coeur: aah I thought it was - but that was before I'd seen your modelling shape
Honey:wtf??

Coeur's doing his thing at the Maitreya mall, sporting a Crusty the Clown T-shirt. This is why guys survive - they're so fucking hot you just can't make yourself kill them.

"Ignition" - Metro Models Opening Party

Alaska Mtropolitan, founder of Metro Models have expanded the agency, added a bunch of new hot faces and opened the agencys offices and runway in a spanking new sim. To celebrate the opening Metro Models threw i gig opening party yesterday, sunday 29th of June. On the runway models Serenity, Celebrity, Valerie and Gamp strutted their stuff in the funky designs of one of SL's most celebrated designers, miss Callie Cline. MC/DJ wasDJ Summerkat and hostess Nemi McCoy. Myself an Eclair were hired in as firespinners and as I am a girl from the circus I adored that job - it really catered to my burlesque side (yea, i adore "Carnivale" and everything carny lol).
The afterparty was spectacular, with - yes movers and shakers hehehe, i love that phrase - loads of prizes and ended with spectacular firework displays.

Not so much of a mover, more of a shaker: me at the Ignition"-show after party.


Real movers and shakers: models Gamp Lane and Relax Mills. Gamp of course - in Callie Cline's famous bubble dress.

Moving and shaking: DJ Summerkat (Summer Deadlight) and Barbarella Fousing.

Eshi Otawara had the biggest dress at the ball.

Hostess and model Nemi McCoy in sexy leopard print - rarrrrrrrr.

Definately shakers: my old mate Byron Beauchamp's been signed as one of Metro's new male faces - yay! - so now we get to work together.

Moving and shaking to her hearts delight: the sexiest publisher and celebrity model of SL, miss Celebrity Trollp of Second Style Magazine.

Hot stuff: yeah, its burning - model Margosio Lohen playing with fire.

Metro Models founder and CEO Alaska Metropolitan. A mover and a shaker if i ever saw one.

Callie in Callie - the dress and the legend all in one package.

Fireworks at the end of the afterparty.

Byron and me - whisked off for a photoshoot at the Metro Studio midway through the party.

Photo shoot with MelissaJeanne Flores

I did my calendar shoot with MJ today for the new VIP Calendar we are creating for Mirage. I am Miss October so naturally i chose something vampy - I'm such a Halloween nut. While MJ was working I took som snaps so here's a preview - enjoy!

Me snapping MJ snapping me lol.

Shawno perved in while we were working and came in with beers lol.

Catsuit: Razorblade Kittens by Voltaire Eel

Shorts: Vitamin C by Ciera Bergman

Belt: Digit Dakes

Skin: Nomine

Hair: Analog Dog

Boots: Armyst