Or 10, or however many it takes for fat to fill in those fine lines that have developed on your face, because eating is so much more fun than Botox. I know I’ve said this before (this post has been regenerated a few times), but it’s always nice to have an excuse to bag the New Year’s diet resolution and enjoy more holiday feasting…

January 1 is here and you’re stressing about the weight you’ve just vowed to lose, right? Well, stop. Turns out the 5 to 10 pounds many of us gained between Thanksgiving and New Year’s may be the greatest gift we could give ourselves. This pertains especially to women over 35, like me and Heidi Klum.

In a recent Self interview, Klum revealed this tip for aging gracefully: “The ultimate beauty secret for a woman getting older is, Don’t be too thin! It is always better to have a little meat on your bones.”

My best friend Sophie Patitz, another German top model who is both stunning and sensible, gave me the same advice a few years ago. At the time I was thrilled to have reached my old modeling fighting weight, only to be advised by her that my thin face made me look older.

After the initial sting, I launched into a hearty meal and have been grateful ever since. Heidi concurs, “When you are just muscle, you end up being gaunt in the face, and that makes you look older by 5 or 10 years.”

Which is why I’ve vowed to gain weight.

If you don’t believe it, check out these before and after celebrity pics:

Could it be Gwyneth Paltrow looks better now than in 2000? A touch of chipmunk, not chisel, suits her better.

Getty Images

On the flipside…

How can it be that Angelina aged five to ten years in a little over a year? She lost weight. A bit of post-baby fat is a good thing.

Getty Images

Calista Flockhart seemed borderline anorexic a decade ago. While still svelte, she weighs more than a feather now and has a fuller face. As a result, it hardly looks like these two photos span 11 years.

Getty Images

Ten years ago, Nicole Kidman went through a thin phase. Now she’s looking more robust and, like Flockhart, possibly younger, not ten years older. Without the extra pounds, we would be talking gaunt or we wouldn’t be talking at all-Hollywood may have written her off as too old.

Getty Images

Demi Moore must think thinner makes her look closer to her hubby’s age. Not so. A year ago she looked not a day over 40. With a slimmer, more severe look 12 months later, she could pass for her actual age of 48.

Getty Images

Happy New Year ladies. Go forth and gorge!

Don’t forget to “like” your favorite Model of the Month by Jan. 15 (make sure you are signed into Facebook, so the “like” button appears). That’s when I will tally votes for the People’s Choice Award. A panel of industry experts also will pick their Modeling Mentor Model of the Year this month!

None of the above. The safest bet when going on castings and, especially, when showing up at bookings, is a basic clear polish.

Pale Nails at Dolce & Gabbana

It may be tempting to try one of the flashy styles seen at the shows this year, but if it’s a task to get the polish off for a shoot, it may turn into a hassle (and irritate the stylist if you don’t get the polish off yourself before arriving at the booking).

Two Tone Nails at Peter Som

Metallic Nails at Behnaz Sarafpour

I’d save the artistic nails for when you’re booked out for a vacation or have a special event to attend. If you’re not bothered by the hassle, think about your health. The smell of polish is so potent, there must be chemicals in there that seep into our bodies over time. That’s why most of the time, my nails are naked (never mind that I can’t seem to find time to apply polish, let alone remove it!).

Here’s some scoop on nail trends from the 2013 runways with picks from OPI, Essie, Sephora, and more, including some great pale shades. (She’s a little kooky, which is good when you want to make nail polish engaging. I was really disappointed that the leprechaun cat didn’t show. Note: “anyways” is not a word.)

Did you enter the Modeling Mentor Model Search yet? Send in your snapshots—nail polish optional (I won’t hold your Goth nails against you, I promise). And don’t forget to sign up for my free monthly Modeling Newsletter! Subscribers are the first to see the model search finalists.

Model Coco Rocha

1. Tan lines can get you fired (I lost a catalog job when I showed up with strap marks on my shoulders after failing to apply sunscreen the day before at Volleypalooza in South Beach. Getting up at 5:30 AM, going to the location, having my hair and makeup done, and then being sent home, minus the $2000 I would have earned, was like rubbing salt on my sunburn, I’ll tell you that.)

Sheep’s Meadow Sunbathers

2. Wrinkles and sun spots will shorten your career.

3. Winter clothes are shot in the summer; a model sporting wool looks weird with a wicked tan.

4. If the client wants you to look tan, that all can be done digitally these days, and if you want to look tan, use a self-tanner—no cancer risk necessary!

5. Healthy, porcelain skin is in.

Self-Tanner Ratings from ABC’s Good Morning America:

Estee Lauder sunless super tan $25. Model’s Ratings: Color: 9 Application: 8 Smell: 9

Coppertone endless summer sunless tanning lotion $12. Model’s Ratings: Color: 8 Application: 8 Smell: 9

Clarins self tanning instant gel $24.50. Model’s Ratings: Color: 7 Application: 9 Smell: 7

Neutrogena sunless tanning foam $10. Model’s Ratings: Color: 6 Application: 9 Smell: 3

Which self-tanner is your fave?

(FYI, for some reason, Tuesday always ends up being insanely busy, so I’m shifting my tip day to Thursday. It doesn’t have quite the same ring to it—Thursday Tip—but I promise the content will be as helpful as the advice I doled out on Tuesdays!)

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1. Sally Hansen Natural Beauty, Inspired by What Not to Wear celebrity makeup artist Carmindy, is a line of cosmetics that feel luxurious yet won’t break the bank. The only problem is these products are really hard to find now (maybe discontinued? A travesty if so!). My favorite product: Sheerest Cream Blush (I love the Ginger shade—I just bought one for $9.20 on Amazon).

Celebrity Makeup Artist Carmindy

2. Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1, $7.00. This is a staple in any makeup artist or model’s kit. The tinted ones are also great, as a casual substitute for lipstick. (I use mine not only on my lips but on my dry eyelids, where the skin is prone to drying and flaking. In desperation, I tried putting a dab of lip balm on my lids when on a trip with no access to a dermatologist, and it worked!).

3. Maybelline Mascara, ~$6. You don’t need an expensive brand.

4. Aussie Hair Products, $3.99 – $7.99 Drugstore.com. I love their shampoo and conditioner, and the Sprunch Spray is great for curly hair.

5. Olive Oil. Yep. My friend Audi swears by it to tame her thick, gorgeous mane.

Do you have a favorite affordable beauty product? Let us know!

THREE MORE DAYS to enter the MODELING MENTOR MODEL SEARCH to be considered for February finalist! (If you don’t have photos ready, don’t worry, the contest runs through November!)

Skincare

Some of Mario Badescu’s Celebrity Clients

Mario Badescu offers a dreamy menu of skincare products for every skin type. The best way to figure out which are right for you is to go in person to the Mario Badescu Skin Care Salon in Manhattan—a longtime hidden gem on the  lower level of an apartment building on East 52^nd Street, where the autographed headshots of the supermodels who discovered MB two decades ago decorate the walls. The secret is trickling out to the masses, with products arriving on the shelves of Lord & Taylor, Nordstrom, Henri Bendel, Blue Mercury, and Ulta Beauty.

Going to New York City for a facial and skin assessment isn’t feasible for everyone, but you can’t go wrong with any of MB’s products and it’s easy to order online: mariobadescu.com. Plus, orders often come with several samples to test out. My must-haves include the Hydro Moisturizer with Vitamin C (it’s super gentle and is the only facial cream that doesn’t irritate the delicate skin under my eyes) and the Seaweed Cleansing Soap (heavenly, and lasts for ages). A model friend with acne (yes, models get acne!) swears by the Drying Lotion.

Hair Products

Me, post-Aveda Kiehl’s Mac and Mario Badescu discoveries (and pre-gray, pre-wrinkles!)

If the texture of your hair resembles straw more than silk, it’s thick enough to lose bobby pins in for days, and it curls in the tropics but frizzes anywhere else, I have the answer for you! This has been my regimen since hairdressers turned me on to Aveda—which of course everyone knows about now—and Kiehl’s—which everyone should know about: After washing and conditioning my hair (focusing more on the roots when lathering in shampoo, and more on the ends when conditioning, and not rinsing out all the conditioner), I towel dry my hair and then scrunch Aveda’s Humectant Pomade into the ends. The curl comes instantly, which is not the case with a gazillion other supposed curl-enhancing products out there; with most, the curl never comes at all. I follow the Humectant Pomade with Kiehl’s Silk Groom, applied lightly over the layer of frizz that starts to form as my hair dries. I reapply once my hair is dry or before I leave the house (often with wet hair, as I never use a hair dryer—too time consuming and frizz inducing, unless I were to blow it out straight, which would take more muscle strength than I have, and I’d have to quit writing altogether as I wouldn’t have the time, not to mention my hair would be fried and my grays more obvious!). I carry a small container of Kiehl’s Silk Groom in my purse to tame the tenacious frizz throughout the day and apply as needed until I wash my hair again (three days later is best for my dry, thick mane).

Makeup

Kimara Ahnert Eye Shadow Shades

A couple of years ago, I discovered Kimara Ahnert cosmetics and fell in love. You can visit the store on Madison Ave or order online: Kimara.com. These are a few of my favorite things (sorry, my daughter was just singing “Sound of Music” songs): Mineral Tint SPF 20 Foundation, Eye Fix, Brow Set, the eye shadows (especially the metallic colors), and the brushes.

Nars Concealer (available in 10 shades) is my new best friend for sun and age spots—what you young folk have to look forward to after zits subside!

Mac was always a makeup artist favorite. The lipsticks are great, with a subtle scent that brings back all kinds of memories from fashion shows in Miami in the late 90s!

And what about those cheap old standby’s I mentioned? Stay tuned! I’ll reveal my secret less-than-$10 beauty must-haves later this week

Just a few more days to enter the Modeling Mentor Model Search in time to be considered as a February finalist!

Subscribe to the free Modeling Mentor Newsletter to be the first to see the finalists!

I’m one of those lame people who have had the same haircut since high school, plus or minus bangs. I have an excuse, though, since my hairdresser warns me that the shorter my hair goes, the bigger it will get, and experience proves that to be true. We got adventurous and chopped it to shoulder-length a couple of years ago, and despite two hours of meticulous layering, most days I sported a voluminous triangle of frizz. During my modeling career, a consistent ‘do reduced the need to overhaul my portfolio. BUT, the downside: a stale look (and a stale book!).

Most of my model friends chopped their mane at some point, either because they felt like it or because an agent suggested it. Every single one of them looked amazing with shorter hair. I can’t say for a fact whether they worked more or less after going gamine (Ricky, Carter, Leslie, Luci…do chime in!), but I’m pretty sure Linda Evangelista would tell you it worked out well for her.

Linda Evangelista With Long Hair

Linda’s Signature Short Cut

My advice: If some random hairdresser wants to lop off your locks without asking your agent, exercise caution. If your novice (or nowhere land) booker insists a buzz cut, perm, or blue streaks will get you noticed, get a second and third opinion. If your new bigtime agent in New York is adamant you cut your hair, you probably should. If you are scouted for the TV show “Scouted,” and they whisk you to New York and suggest you cut your hair, do it and don’t cry about it.

Remember, it’s just hair. It grows. And if you’re like Karlie Kloss, you could end up with a haircut named after you.

The “Karlie,” Making the Cut in 2013

Supermodel Karlie Kloss, B.C. (Before Cut)

Don’t forget to MODELING MENTOR MODEL SEARCH! I’m still seeking a February finalist…

And subscribe to my free monthly MODELING NEWSLETTER to be the first to find out the winners!

Cameron Russell in the 2012 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show

If you dream of being a model, if you idolize models, if you wonder how models can look so perfect, if you think non-white models are underrepresented, if you think all models are pea brains… this is a must-see:

Still want to enter the MODELING MENTOR MODEL SEARCH? I say, Go for it. Modeling can give you a platform to launch into a viable career in a number of different fields: fashion design, photography, journalism, music, PR, business (I know a ton of successful ex-model entrepreneurs), sales. It also can help pay for college. The key is to view posing as a means to an end, not the be all and end all.

Kudos, Cameron, for reassuring the general public that images are constructions—nobody looks perfect all the time—and reminding the winners of the genetic lottery not to let luck go their heads.

Winter White at its Most Magnificent

I did the writing for this project; look for the giant video wall in the store and learn about the inspiration for “The Great Bears” (or “Ursa Major”), how they were created, and how many Swarovski crystals are incorporated into the sculpture.

The Beauty, Wonder, and Whimsy of the Holiday Season at Joe Fresh

Aerial View of the Majestic Bears in the Spectacular Joe Fresh NY Flagship Store

Watch “The Making of the Great Bears” video:

The Great Bears: Winter white at its most magnificent from Joe Fresh on Vimeo.

Enter the Modeling Mentor Model Search! The December Model of the Month will be announced first in the Modeling Mentor Monthly Newsletter—subscribe now to receive it.

Here’s my advice:

1. Exercise on Thanksgiving. Whether it’s before your meal or after, get your body moving. Preferably do an extra hard workout. At the very least, go for a nice, long, brisk walk. You will feel so much better about indulging if you’ve earned the calories.

2. Go easy on the stuffing, gravy, buttery mashed potatoes, and pie. Load up your plate with turkey (white meat), greens (hopefully there’s something green on the table), and leave space for just a small sampling of the high-test stuff.

3. Instead of having seconds, save a plate-full for Friday. Leftovers taste just as good, if not better.

4. If you don’t have self-control, don’t bake Christmas cookies every other day in December! Or give them away to neighbors pronto.

5. Read this NY Times article: Is Sugar Toxic? It curbed my sweet-tooth.

Good News: If you are over 35, you may actually look prettier with an extra 5 lbs. See why in one of my favorite blog posts: New Year’s Resolution Relief!

Gwenneth Paltrow aging well with a little extra weight

For you poor lot who are under 35, if you are entering the Modeling Mentor Model Search, take photos now, before you have to worry about the camera adding 10 lbs and the holidays adding 5 more.

I’m so thankful for my blog readers. I’m even more thankful for my subscribers (sign Up for my Monthly Modeling Newsletter or sign up to receive posts in a reader or via e-mail).

Happy Thanksgiving all!

As soon as a photographer alerted me to this fact about my face, I started looking either into the camera or turning my face to the right whenever posing. Soon it became a reflex and I think I still cringe if someone zooms in on my left profile (even though personal analysis lately reveals that both profiles are equally disappointing).

So, if you’ve yet to hear which side is your best, have a friend snap some shots of both and compare. For most of you, one side will look noticeably better than the other. Memorize which one and flaunt it on shoots.

One of the tricks of a successful modeling career is not flawlessness, but rather a savviness about downplaying weaknesses and highlighting strengths.

And remember these “weaknesses” and “strengths” refer to superficial qualities, so don’t take it all too seriously and off-camera focus on building your strengths as a role model, not just a model.

Karolina’s Left Proflie

Karolina’s Right Profile (slim pickings of right profile pics of her. Hmm, wonder if she got the same tip I did.)

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