Stylist Sophia Neophitou slams SI's cover girl Kate Upton

[CarolineRose]

Ms. Neophitou, who casts for the Victoria's Secret runway show, gave an interview today where she was asked if she'd ever use Kate Upton, who is on the cover of this year's Sports Illustrated, in the VS runway show. She replied, "‘We would never use Ms. Upton for a Victoria’s Secret show … She’s like a Page 3 girl. She’s like a footballer’s wife, with the too-blond hair and that kind of face that anyone with enough money can go out and buy.”
(source - US Weekly/NY Times)

This saddens me quite a bit - I really liked some of Ms. Neophitou styling on a few celebrity spreads - but this is just mean. It's one thing to say that she wouldn't use her because she's too commercial and not runway material (it's true that Kate's walk isn't very polished). But the comments about the nude modeling and plastic surgery (which I actually don't think Kate had; she's been doing catalog work for years and looks the same - she just has boobs and a butt) dig are just cruel, immature, and totally gratuitous. I wonder why she thought it was necessary or even ok to say something like that?

P.S. Kate has already been used in the VS catalog!

from hurricanevanessa.com

 

[ALAUU]

While Kate Upton certainly is not my cup of tea, I think it's ridiculous to compare her to a footballer's wife/Page 3 model just because she's blond and curvy. She has the same features as Candice and Erin (blond, blue-eyed), except that she actually has boobs. VS used Heidi Klum for years and she's about as big of a bimbo as they come, so this Sophia woman is being judgmental for no reason.

 

[MulletProof]

I only found out about Kate Upton through her SI cover and I honestly find her utterly utterly vulgar and generic.
I don't think she cares about crafting an image for the fashion world though, more for a football audience, she could actually be one of those cheerleaders... I somehow don't feel bad that someone into fashion doesn't find her attractive, because she herself clearly doesn't try to appeal to that.. perhaps Sophie could've been more sensitive, and show some class but I don't think what she said is innaccurate, or not what's in everyone's minds after seeing Kate land a spot that's usually reserved for modeling champions that have paved a career or reputation in fashion, or at least look like they did.

There's quite a difference between walking the show and being a filler in the catalog, by the way.

 

[LagerfeldBoy]

^Same features as Erin or Candice? Kate wishes!

 

[alonsoJonathan]

you have got to b kidding me with this girl looking like Candice,candice is a Commercail/High Fashion model.this model is Glamorous model.

Glamour photography is a genre of photography whereby the subjects, usually female, are portrayed in a romantic or sexually alluring way. The subjects may be fully clothed or seminude, but glamour photography stops short of deliberately arousing the viewer and being p*rn*gr*ph*c photography

that is what kate do.nothing else. good for her im sure she is making lot of $$$

 

[alonsoJonathan]

it didnt take long top kate to respond

Then Kate responded on her Twitter


Quote:

I wanted to thank Neophitou from @VictoriasSecret 4using my face as inspiration 4 her next plastic surgery appointment

Quote:



Sophie

luvI can tell u took it personally that I didn't even cast to be in your fashion show but I had a prcommitment withevious Si #sorry

via bumhutt

 

[Style Savvy]

I agree with Sophia. This girl is very Playboy-ish and doesn't to be at something like Victoria's Secret. She just got the Sports Illustrated cover and she's already big-headed and acts like she's the supreme HBIC.

 

[SevenWeeksLater]

^Same features as Erin or Candice? Kate wishes!

IA! I also agree with Sophia's comment, eventhough I think she could have phrased it "nicer." From the pictures I have seen of her such as the SI pictures and event pictures I think of her as a very generic pretty girl which is what I think Sophia ment by the plastic surgery comment. I can find many girls that look similar to her(from plastic surgery or not), however, you will not find many Candice look-alikes walking down the street.

 

[japoelflaco]

I like Kate Upton (she is not my favorite by far), but everything that Sophia says Kate is, is the very thing she and VS convert some of the best models in the business.
They just get away with it because they pay them big bucks.

 

[iluvjeisa]

I don't think she's that bad. She looks like she might have a brain that works fairly well. But I could be wrong.

Anyway, she doesn't look as docile as the VS girls usually do. Plus, she looks rather natural. She could do with some classier make-up.

But for a swimsuit model, she's good. Though that SI cover is not...but that has nothing to do with Kate...

As for Candice or Marisa - what is possibly worse about Kate compared to them? She's not as well-kept and there's the obvious unmentionables pertaining to her figure. But is that a bad thing?

 

[loladonna]

Victoria's Secret is not some beacon of class where Sophia can be snotty about a "page 3" girl. At the end of the day VS models parade around in their underwear and stick out their boobs and butts just the same. Having a look that is endorsed by high fashion doesn't change the nature of what they do which is sexualize themselves for men-- VS campaigns aren't really for women are they?

 

[modela]

I couldn't care less about Kate but , i think VS needs to come of their high horses , because they have girls under contract like Erin / Lily / Behati and even Candice who are as downmarket as Kate Upton.The VS casting is ridiculous and and cheap.I don't mind what she said about Kate, but those are the same type of girls VS books.Hello Marissa Miller

 

[jmrmartinho]

i dont like kate at all, but how stupid are ou to say thais things about a girl? keep your mouth shut, at least in public...

 

[lunabella]

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue IS geared to men and loads of men love girls like Upton. Victoria's Secret isn't exactly the classiest company either. Pushing your t*ts out to five sizes bigger than they really are isn't class, but I guess it's what "money can buy" as this stylist puts it. And I'm sure that ALL VS models are "all natural."

 

[CherryNights]

I wasn't exactly a fan of Kate Upton before, but all this hate surrounding her SI cover actually makes me like her more. The way this Sophia has commented on Kate is just plain nasty. Maybe that is really what everyone thinks but, seriously, what is the point of saying this kind of thing out loud in such an ugly manner? It's not like people don't understand what type of model Kate is! And the girl is only 19 and she just got a major break, obviously it would be overwhelming for her. It's a bit sad how much bashing she's received for that cover, it seemed like even the rest of SI models showed a bit of hostile behaviour when the cover was revealed (compared to last year for example). And I don't think Kate looks any more vulgar than Marisa Miller looked back in her SI days.

 

[tigerrouge]

If you're blonde with boobs, that makes you popular, but also entirely replaceable.

If you publicly criticise a girl who sinks without trace, you've wasted words on someone who was never worth noticing in the first place.

But if a model spins her popularity into lasting success, you've prematurely written off someone who's far smarter than they look, and whom you might have to work with some day.

Either way, it seems more prudent for a person to stay silent on the topic.

 

[loladonna]

I wasn't exactly a fan of Kate Upton before, but all this hate surrounding her SI cover actually makes me like her more. The way this Sophia has commented on Kate is just plain nasty. Maybe that is really what everyone thinks but, seriously, what is the point of saying this kind of thing out loud in such an ugly manner? It's not like people don't understand what type of model Kate is! And the girl is only 19 and she just got a major break, obviously it would be overwhelming for her. It's a bit sad how much bashing she's received for that cover, it seemed like even the rest of SI models showed a bit of hostile behaviour when the cover was revealed (compared to last year for example). And I don't think Kate looks any more vulgar than Marisa Miller looked back in her SI days.

Can you elaborate on this? Are the other SI models not being supportive of Kate?

 

[whysper]

I can tell there are a few Victoria's Secret naysayers but I think there is a vast difference between the VS model and SI girl. With SI, it's catered to the men that's basically sports/macho-ism fantasy where as VS, you're selling your product to your customers even if it's "tacky" or "cheap".

 

[MissLimaVzla]

I know as a fact that some of the more 'experienced' SI models are NOT happy with Kate getting the cover, even myself being a fan of Kate didn't like the fact that she got the cover over Anne or Cintia & i don't like the cover itself either. But Kate is bringing the press & most of males here in the US adore her so I'm sure the magazine is selling like crazy.

However i think this woman is an idiot, seriously you work for one of the biggest companies out there & you came up with this crap? So rude & stupid, especially because Kate already worked for VS. & to be honest I'll take Kate over their extremely boring Erin or Candice who IMO was born for Playboy, at least Kate has an amazing body unlike most of the current VS Angels, it's a matter of taste & she shouldn't have said anything & especially not in such a rude way.

 

[LagerfeldBoy]

She's only 19? No wonder her response back was so immature.