Russell James Portraits New VS Model Lorena Duran as Sensual Phoenix Teases Rise from Ashes

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Russell James Portraits New VS Model Lorena Duran as Sensual Phoenix Teases Rise from Ashes

VS needs all the support we can muster in our own USA economic interest, so let’s give the formerly great lingerie brand a break. AOC applauds its new hire model Lorena Duran and putting Russell James (who I’ve always adored) behind the lens to photograph her.

Russell James has an impeccable reputation with the VS models for decades. And few contemporary photographers have a better grasp of photographing upscale female sensuality — transgender, bisexual, gay or straight. Russell James respects and appreciates women. (Whatever group I forgot, please forgive me. Surely you get my point.)

VS Angels Barbara, Lais and Leomie Join Lorena In Russell James Snaps For VS Swim 2019

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VS Angels Barbara, Lais and Leomie Join Lorena In Russell James Snaps For VS Swim 2019

Victoria’s Secret turns up the temperature with more images from its online and select stores summer 2019 swim collection. Angels Leomie Anderson, Lais Ribeiro and Barbara Palvin join forces with model Lorena Rae. Longtime VS photographer Russell James is behind the lens photographing his VS friends posing in bold metallics, asymetrical shapes with major cutouts and high-waisted bikinis.

Carolyn Murphy Is 'In Transition' Lensed By Russell James For NY Times Style Magazine

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Carolyn Murphy Is 'In Transition' Lensed By Russell James For NY Times Style Magazine

Supermodel Carolyn Murphy covered the July 2018 issue of The New York Times Style Magazine Singapore. Famed Victoria's Secret photographer, activist and humanitarian Russell James captures Murphy 'In Transition' with styling by Jack Wang and Jumius Wong./ Hair by Teddy Charles; makeup by Hung Vanngo

Russell James & Jerome Duran Take VS Angels To Aspen For Victoria's Secret Holiday 2017 Campaign

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Russell James & Jerome Duran Take VS Angels To Aspen For Victoria's Secret Holiday 2017 Campaign

Victoria's Secret models Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Elsa Hosk, Josephine Skriver, Sara Sampaio, Lily Aldridge, Lais Ribeiro, Jasmine Tookes, Taylor Hill, Candice Swanepoel, Romee Strijd, Martha Hunt and Stella Maxwell head to Aspen, lensed by Russell James & Jerome Duran for Victoria's Secret's Holiday 2017 campaign. Elizabeth Sulcer and Ilona Hamer style the bevy of beauties.

Russell James Flashes Liu Wen In 'Beneath Her Beauty' For T Magazine Singapore September 2017

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Russell James Flashes Liu Wen In 'Beneath Her Beauty' For T Magazine Singapore September 2017

Supermodel Liu Wen is styled by Tok Wei Lun in Gucci, Saint Laurent, Max Mara, Louis Vuitton and more in 'Beneath Her Beauty'. Photographer Russell James is behind the lens,  with creative direction by Jack Wang & Jumius Wong for T Magazine Singapore September 2017. 

Liu Wen is headed to Shanghai for the 2017 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, where longtime VS photographer Russell James will also be behind the lens. 

Behati Prinsloo Is A 'Summer Sensation' Lensed By Russell James For Vogue Thailand April 2016

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Behati Prinsloo Is A 'Summer Sensation' Lensed By Russell James For Vogue Thailand April 2016

Behati Prinsloo and Russell James work together frequently for Victoria's Secret. They also have a special relationship with Behati being the brand ambassador and muse for Russell's 'The Seminole Spirit' fine art collection. In Spring 2015, we tracked James' 'The Seminole Spirit' show first in Feb. 2015 NYC at Stephan Weiss Gallery and then in CAMERA WORK Gallery in Berlin.

Behati Prinsloo In 'Seminole Spirit' By Russell James Opens Feb 17 At NYC Stephan Weiss Gallery

Russell James Flashes Behati, Elsa, Martha, Ming Xi & Romee For Victoria's Secret S/S 2016 Designer Collection

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Victoria's Secret beauties Behati Prinsloo, Elsa Hosk, Martha Hunt, Ming Xi and Romee Strijd showcase Spring/Summer Designer Collections lensed by Russell James. 

Behati Prinsloo In Raw Spirit Video For Russell James' Nomad Two Worlds

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Nomad Two Worlds has named model and Victoria’s Secret Angel Behati Prinsloo as the first face of their Raw Spirit brand, a line of socially conscious fine fragrances made in partnership with the internationally renowned fragrance house Firmenich and featuring unique natural ingredients from around the world.  Members of the Clinton Global initiative, Nomad and Firmenich plan to release 10 Raw Spirit fragrances, all created in cooperation with and in support of indigenous and marginalized communities in Haiti, Australia, US and beyond. 

Prinsloo will serve as the face of Raw Spirit and also brand ambassador appearing in the ad campaign, a series of videos and as spokeswoman. She stated, “I love the philosophy behind Raw Spirit. I am a real advocate for giving back. For me, the phrase ‘raw spirit’ means nature, stripped back and ethereal. This is Mother Nature at her best.”  Read on

Related: The ‘Seminole Spirit’ fine art collection has moved on to the CAMERA WORK Gallery in Berlin from April 25-June 6, 2015.

Behati Prinsloo In ‘Seminole Spirit’ By Russell James Opens Feb 17 At NYC Stephan Weiss Gallery AOC Sensual Art & Fashion

Behati Prinsloo For Raw Spirit Fragrances By Russell James For Nomad Two Worlds

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Victoria’s Secret Angel Behati Prinsloo is fiercely feminine in a new campaign from Raw Spirit Fragrances, part of Russell James’ Nomad Two Worlds initiative. The Namibian model continues her goddess presence captured by James most recently in the February 2015 ‘Seminole Spirit’ exhibit at NYC’s Stephen Weiss Gallery.

The ‘Seminole Spirit’ fine art collection has moved on to the CAMERA WORK Gallery in Berlin from April 25-June 6, 2015.

Behati Prinsloo In ‘Seminole Spirit’ By Russell James Opens Feb 17 At NYC Stephan Weiss Gallery AOC Sensual Art & Fashion

Eye | Behati Prinsloo In 'Seminole Spirit' By Russell James Opens Feb 17 At NYC Stephan Weiss Gallery

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Behati Prinsloo In ‘Seminole Spirit’ By Russell James Opens Feb 17 At NYC Stephan Weiss Gallery

Apart from the photos of Prinsloo, the exhibit will also present a film featuring spoken word from the spiritual leader of the Seminole Tribe, a fine art photography exhibition from Bobby Henry that includes portraits of tribe members, and the tribe’s cultural sites and landscapes.

“Seminole Spirit is totally different than any type of normal shoot. This isn’t a project about fashion or trends, it is an art project with a really powerful story behind it,” Prinsloo says. “We were all so humbled to be in collaboration with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. […] This was definitely a project of passion for all of us with no shot count or designer label needed.”

Adds James, “I hope to engage people to look at this and understand this culture as not something that is gathering dust in the closet, but to realize that tribes and indigenous people are using culture to their great advantage, to maintain their identity.”

Anne adds:

Describing her experience with the Seminole people, Behati Prinsloo says: “We painted my body gold as we tried to capture an idea we had of what ‘Seminole Spirit’ is . . I felt like a savage swamp mermaid on Seminole land, crazy.”

In describing herself as a mermaid, Behati channels the key theme of female goddess history, establishing herself in the sisterhood of Mami Wati’s born in Africa before travelling the globe — often on the slave ships as a source of comfort and solace in brutal conditions.

AOC is dancing as fast as we can on this one, because ‘Seminole Spirit’ goes to the very essence of our identity and purpose. Lots more is coming. ~ Anne

Eye 2-2-15 | Mami Wata Resurgence As Global Goddess | 55,000 Years-Old Female Skull Provides Critical Link In Human Evolution & Migration Out of Africa

Is The Mother Denim Collaboration With Mothers2Mothers For Real? Only An Angel Knows The Answer

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Is The Mother Denim Collaboration With Mother2Mothers For Real? Only An Angel Knows The Answer

I assume this is all legit but there is no mention of the mothers2mothers project on the Mother Denim website, although these Candice Swanepoel photos are on the landing page.

On the Mothers2Mothers website, there is no mention of the project under Latest News or elsewhere on the website. Note that designer Victoria Beckham — whose life was changed forever by her trip to Africa — did make her second visit to m2m in November. In August, Beckham auctioned over 600 items from her closet to support the charity.

There is no press release about the Mother Denim collaboration, not a m2m blog mention. Mum is the word, and on the face of it — the Candice Swanepoel/Mother Denim collaboration is no match for the professionalism of the Toni Garrn for Closed Denim Jeans #youandmegirl Campaign in Burkina Faso. Neither is it a match for the Russell James NOMAD Two World project.

A brand — and this includes me with the reboot of my GlamTribale jewlry and gift collection after the death and disorganization associated with my business partner — must be very careful NOT to use the predispositions of Smart Sensuality people to support brands involved in activism, global engagement and support for poor women in a hype-driven, self-serving way.

Note from Anne: This is how you do it.

Toni Garrn For Closed Denim Jeans - #youandmegirl Campaign In Brukina Faso

'Angels' By Russell James Is 304 Pages Of Nude Artistry & Sensuality

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‘Angels’ By Russell James Is 304 Pages Of Nude Artistry & Sensuality

The photographs are very honest and they show women in their best light. They aren’t vulgar, they are sexy but sensual, and that is what I love,” said longtime Victoria’s Secret model Karolina Kurkova at the September 11 launch party at Russell’s good friend Donna Karan’s Stephen Weiss gallery . “People like to work with him because he makes them feel comfortable and he’s artistic. It is timeless, and something you’d like framed in your house.