'I've put myself under a lot of pressure in the past - too skinny or too fat': Lily Cole wipes off her make-up as she questions perfection

By Emily Sheridan


Lily Cole is one of England's most high-profile models.

But despite being highly sought after by fashion houses and magazines, the redhead admits she doesn't believe in perfection.

In a short film, the 23-year-old goes bare-faced as she removes her make-up on camera as she talks about the pressure she had put herself under for her modelling career.

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Not just a pretty face: Lily Cole speaks about her views on perfection in a new online film for the New Thinkers Index

With a degree from Cambridge University, Cole stands apart from many of her model contemporaries due to her education.

And in a new video for the New Thinkers Index, Cole shows her intellectual side as she shares her theory and views on perfection.

While acknowledging the general public deem models as an ideal of perfection, she believes the concept of the word is dangerous.

Getting done up: The 23-year-old has her hair and make-up done at the beginning of the video

She said: 'I absolutely don't believe in perfection, I don't believe it exists and I don't believe it's necessarily interesting.

'I've put myself under a lot of pressure in the past, too skinny or too fat or in terms of intellectual pursuits or career pursuits.

'I've come recently to realise it can be quite a destructive way to live life.


Deep-thinking: Cole shows her intellectual side in the short film

Wipe clean: Cole shows her natural looks as she wipes off her heavy eye make-up on camera

'A lot of advertising can make people think you're not enough as you are, you're not enough until you have that or look like that.'

In the video, the model - who has a First Degree in History of Art from Cambridge - speaks about one of her favourite paintings by Leonardo Da Vinci.

The model shows she's more than just a pretty clotheshorse as she demonstrates her passion and knowledge for art as she discusses the painting.

'I absolutely don't believe in perfection, I don't believe it exists': Cole has surprising views, despite working in the fashion industry

Cole filmed the video for the New Thinker's Index (NTI), a new interactive digital content experience where people can discover new thinkers who are shaping the future.

People can follow an online test to discover the type of thinker they are and why.

Also taking part in a series of short films to launch the Hyundai Motor Co. and Microsoft Advertising project includes Kevin Spacey, Helena Christensen, Ian Wright, Joseph Fiennes, rapper Devlin and RocknRolla actor Toby Kebbell, among others.


Challenging stereotypes: Cole stands apart from her modelling contemporaries for having a 1st degree from Cambridge




source:dailymail

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Hot Cole: Lily models winning design of lingerie competition at Berlin Fashion Week

By Maysa Rawi


Lily's Triumph: Lily Cole models a corset bodice created for the Triumph at Berlin Fashion Week today


Having just graduated from Cambridge with a double first, Lily Cole should spend the summer celebrating.

Instead, the model is back at work and on the catwalk at Berlin Fashion Week.

Lily showed off her curves in the winning lingerie design, created by finalist Boglárka Bódis for the Triumph Inspiration award show.


Entitled 'Les Fleurs du Mal, the monochrome corset bears some resemblance to the nude bodice designed by Jean Paul Gautier and made famous by Madonna.

Hungaria Bódis, who received a 15,000 Euro prize, said: 'My design piece was inspired by the quote from one of the most beautiful poems of Les Fleurs du Mal by Baudelaire and I was moved by her words.

'I had the desire to emphasise the eternal beauty and sensuality of the female body. Let us celebrate the women of the world without leaving out one single detail.'

The lingerie was created for a Triumph competition, won by Hungarian designer Boglárka Bódis, left


Lily, also on the judging panel, modeled all 37 finalist designs in a photo shoot taken by Ellen Unwerth for the lingerie labe's website.

Bódis' lingerie will be added to Triumph's collection and sold in stores worldwide.

The winner of the most online votes was Liu Pak Yiu, from Hong Kong, who created a cutaway corset with skirt.

Top prize: Boglárka received 15,000 Euros and her design will be sold at Triumph stores worldwide


She said: ' The corset symbolizes bird cages and the protruding chiffon train imitates a bird escaping from its cage.

'The model wears the cage like a corset showing that women will not be trapped any more, they are now free and more confident.'

Lily modelled all the finalist designs including last year's winning piece, left, and this year's winner of online votes, Liu Pak Yiu from Hong Kong


The award has been running since 2008 and this year Triumph celebrates its 125th anniversary.

A spokesperson for Triumph said: 'The award challenges fashion design students from all over the world to use their talent, artistic vision and inspiration to conceptualize and design a unique lingerie showpiece for the year’s design theme.'

Outfit change: Lily swapped the sexy lingerie for a more casual look, left, and at the press conference


In the limelight: The model isn't taking any time off after graduating from Cambridge with a First


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Just how does she do it? Model Lily Cole collects a DOUBLE first class from Cambridge (that's the highest possible honour)

By Daily Mail Reporter


Doubling her success: Lily Cole has achieved a double first class degree in History of Art from Cambridge University


Most jet-setting supermodels barely have time to do their own make up let alone sign up for a full-time university course.

But Lily Cole proved it is possible to juggle a successful modelling career with a degree by picking up double first honours in History of Art from Cambridge University.

In doing so the 23-year-old achieved the highest possible honour in her degree course - an esteemed honour from one of the country's top universities.


The millionaire model was scouted at the age of 14 and has since modelled for top designers around the globe.

Her assignments have included work for all the leading fashion houses including Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Versace, Alexander McQueen, John Galliano and Louis Vuitton.

In recent times she has switched her focus towards the world of acting appearing in BBC1 sci-fi show Doctor Who and Terry Gilliam's fantasy movie The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus with the late Heath Ledger.

A tough act to follow: Lily Cole plays the daughter of Dr Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) in Terry Gilliam's fantasy flick

Model turn: Lily has modelled for many of the world's top fashion houses


It was during her revision schedule when Miss Cole filmed scenes for her debut in Doctor Who, in which she appeared as a man-killing monster called Siren.

'Lily is really pleased with her result and has been smiling ever since she heard the news,' said a student at the university.

Adding: 'Not many students get double firsts and she has done exceptionally well as she had a huge work load outside university too.'

Multi-tasking at its best: The model juggled her studies with a hectic modelling schedule and still managed to achieve the very highest level on her degree


Throughout her time at the university she has thrown herself into college life, cycling to lectures, spending time with her fellow students after class and even modelling in the student newspaper.

Last term she combined her university life and acting career by starring as the lead role in The Seagull play at the ADC Theatre.

The model, who is said to be worth £6million, has said that she plans to concentrate on an acting career after graduating this summer, with forthcoming roles in There Be Dragons and The Moth Diaries.

In a recent interview she stated: 'Acting is something I’ve done since I was six years old, performing for my mum and my family in the living room, and I do it because my heart’s in it.

'I’ll always try to follow my heart into things I love, and modelling is not something I’m dreaming of pursuing forever.”

Lily is now said to be planning a holiday to celebrate her finals’ result.

She also scored straight As in her A-levels, gaining top grades in English, philosophy and ethics, and politics at Latymer Upper School in West London.


source:dailymail

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Lily Cole is back to her ravishing red after spending winter on the dark side

By Daily Mail Reporter


Flame-haired beauty: Lily Cole is back to her best with red hair, compared to the dark hair which left her looking washed out


Lily Cole stunned the fashion world last autumn when she ditched her trademark red hair for a dark black look.

But after spending the winter raven-haired, the model fulfilled her promise to revert to her natural shade when 'the sun starts coming out'.

In Paris to celebrate the launch of Karl Lagerfeld's limited-edition Diet Coke bottles, the 22-year-old showed off her newly-dyed auburn locks.


Wearing a little black dress and heels, the Cambridge University student was back to her best with her glossy red hair.

When she dyed her hair black last October, the colour left her pale complexion looking washed out.

Cole has spent the past six months dark-haired for a role in the forthcoming movie The Moth Diaries.

Should you be at university? Cole took time out of her studies to pop across to Paris for her friend Lagerfeld's bash


She always insisted it wouldn't be permanent, but she quite enjoyed having dark locks during the winter months.

She told Vogue: 'I did it for a film I shot last autumn.

'I wanted to keep it because when I got back to London it was winter and it just felt right. And now I am keeping it because we have a couple of shots to pick up from the film.

Statuesque: The 5ft 10 1/2in model stood taller than the bottles


'It’s just semi-permanent so once I have done that I think I will probably go back – when the sun starts coming out! I was thinking of going blonde too.'

Cole's debuted her hairstyle at the launch of Lagerfeld's Coca-Cola Light at Restaurant Le Georges in the French capital last night.

The bash was attended by various French celebrities and Lagerfeld himself, who was bemused by a group of waiters dressed in white wigs and black suits to look like him.

Spot the real Lagerfeld: The designer is surrounded by a group of lookalike waiters




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