In my experience every model should have a standard fashion kit. Over the years I have built up a model  kit that I take with me to photo shoots and fashion parades. This is a fairly standard list of items each model should own and take with them to jobs but all the items are obviously not always necessary for each job – but definitely handy to have for those occasions where they are needed.

The following are a few key items I recommend a model have in their modeling kit:

• Change scarf
• Nude seamless strapless bra
  
• Nude g string
• Black, gold, silver high heels
• Tight fitting jeans
• Fitted white and black singlets
• Black and white boob tubes
  
• Flattering pair of bikinis
• Matching underwear sets

These are the bare essentials, obviously as a model its necessary to have an up to date wardrobe of heels and clothes for castings. I like to think of any additions I make to my wardrobe as an investment

I think 2009 has been the best year for me thus far, so many things happening – some good, bad, doors opening, others closing. In terms of modeling it has been the year that made me make the decision to take some time of accounting work and travel with modeling. Here’s a summary in brief of the defining moments of 2009:

Braces. GlendaloughRenovations. BridalFair. Renee&ChrisWedding. Nanas80th. CAStudy. MyerCatwalkWithJenniferHawkins. Singapore. Supermodelme. AXN. Ricarda. SceneToChadwicks. PerthFashionFestival.  Melbourne&Sydney. SocialMediaAward. T3Interview. FTV. Diamond Model Awards.  MelbourneCupBurswood. Shekhar&AndyWedding. ScoopEditorial. BlackEyedPeas. PurpleHibiscusShoot. Lauren&ShayneWedding. MaidOfHonour. PoppysDeath. Beyonce. AleashaConradEngagement. PapaHospital. TheGame.IndiaContract. GlendaloughTenants.

• Tennis racquet
• Braces
• Gossip girl style headbands
• iPod Speaker Dock
• Twilight Book Set
  
• Angel  by Thierry Mugler Perfume
  
• 160 GB ipod
• Tan leather ballet flats
• Light Luggage Set
• Sims 3
• Wii
• Waterproof camera
• Bikini Sets
  
• Bodysuits
• Tan trench coat
• Webcam
• Pandora bracelet
  
• Black gladiator sandals
• In-ear Headphones
• Denim shorts
• Floppy Wide Brim Hat
  
• Jewellery box
• Travel wallet
• Macbook pro

1. You won the Social Media Award in the Supermodelme.tv contest. Were you already very familiar with social networking media? What gave you the edge over the competition? What or who helped you? I was certainly familiar with social networking media but I never understood the power it had before I starting using it for the show. I did a lot of research on the different ways and techniques to use social media which I think really helped me. I read a lot of blogs, visited various websites, spoke to people in the industry and used everything I learnt, together with everything I already knew to keep one step ahead of the other girls. I think the combination of having my own website, facebook fanpage, twitter, myspace & model mayhem profiles and constantly keeping these up to date is was what ultimately gave me the edge over the competition.

2. Work, play, home: What are the different tech gadgets which you need for these different facets of your life? Why are they essential? At home and work I am content with my desktop, phone and laptop when I don’t feel like being restricted by sitting at my desk. For when I’m on the go my mobile and camera are a must and when I’m not close to a computer I rely a lot on my laptop too. I see them as essential because they allow me to keep in touch, keep up to date with the news and friends and also keep others up to date with what’s going on with me via blogs, photos, emails & messages.

3. What gadgets do you carry with you when you leave the house?

I have to have my phone (Nokia E71) with me where ever I go and being equipped with 3G allows me to do almost everything I want to do online. Depending on where I am or what I am doing I usually have my camera on hand also but if not I can always take a few snaps using my mobile and I always carry a thumb drive in my purse because you never know you’ll need it.

4. As a model, you get to do a fair bit of travelling. What gadgets do you bring when you travel? And what technology do you use to stay in touch? When I travel I’ve become extremely attached to my Macbook Pro. With both my laptop and phone I feel I can keep in touch with the world easily no matter where I am. When I’m away from friends and family facebook, twitter, email, Skype and messaging are the main ways I keep in touch. Being a model I of course carry my camera with me the majority of the time too, I recently lost my digital camera and feel quite lost without it.

5. What gadget(s) is/are on your wish list? TiVo, Blackberry Bold, Leica M8.2 [Camera], A waterproof digital camera, Sony Bravia 55″ XBR Series LCD, Blu-Ray Player and since seeing and playing with the new Samsung ST550 2View camera that has definitely been added to my wish list and I’m considering getting this to replace my lost Panasonic Lumix.

6. Would you be worried if your computer or mobile phone was stolen? What kind of stuff do you have on it? I would be devastated if either my phone or computer was stolen, not because I would be worried about confidential info or pictures being released but simply because they have become my lifeline. They hold everything that attaches me to the outside world, I store all my photos, music, contacts and documents on them but of course I backup all my data because I unfortunately learnt the hard way how important backing up is when I had a [hard drive] crash on me before and lost everything I had.

7. Which social networking sites are you connected to? What do you use them for? Currently I am on facebook for personal networking and staying in touch with friends. For modeling I use my facebook fanpage, myspace, modelmayhem, Istudio and twitter profiles to network with like minded people in the industry, to meet photographers and interact with fans.

8. Have you actually met face-to-face, the people you’ve spoken to with online, be it people you’ve met on a social networking site or through your blog? Why or why not? What was the outcome if you have met them? Generally I haven’t met with people face to face that I interact with online, simply because there is no real need. Almost everything can be communicated & exchanged digitally these days. The only exceptions have been where I have collaborated with photographers, makeup artists, stylists and fellow models I’ve met through social networks to work with on projects.

9. How often do you update your Facebook/Myspace/Twitter? What kind of stuff do you post on it? Facebook I generally use for my own personal networking so it’s more specific updates on what’s happening in my personal life and interaction with friends which I update weekly. More recently I have been using my facebook fanpage, twitter and myspace to keep fans and friends/family up to date with what’s been happening with modeling and I tend to update a couple of times a week  or whenever something of interest comes up. My modeling updates are usually about what I’m currently involved in or what is coming up for me.

10. Did you start your blog, fionathomas.com.au, for the Supermodelme contest or do you already blog? What is your blog about and what kind of stuff do you blog about? I had always intended to get a website up and running but never got around to doing it so I think once I was involved in the show I had a reason to stop putting it off and just get it done. I wanted somewhere where people could go to view my full modeling portfolio and get in contact with me outside of the modeling networking sites I was already using. I have been blogging for a while but more for my personal reference but I have used my website to blog about reviews on beauty products I have used and recommend, my supermodelme.tv journey, beauty tips and tricks, advice to aspiring models and anything else I think that would be of interest to people involved in fashion, design, modeling or beauty in general. I am constantly jotting down ideas I come up with that I think will be interesting to blog about.

11. Do you tweet regularly? What do you tweet about? Do you follow anyone or any celebrity? I have recently become addicted to tweeting, my tweets vary from quotes that I have heard, photos on twitpic, links to interesting/funny articles or video clips, replies to friends, updates on my life or what I happen to be feeling at the time. I follow a few celebrities, Ashton Kutcher of course simply because he seems to be the twitter King so I figure I can learn from him and I also follow celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Tyra Banks, Miley Cyrus, Lauren Conrad, Dwight Howard – because I’m interested in what they have to say and what I can learn from them. I like twitter because it is a direct link between fans and celebrities cutting out the need for media to a certain extent and it’s a great way for celebrities to verify/deny rumours that the media has spread. I find twitter has filled that void, bridging the gap between fans and celebrities that really we have never seen before. But I guess that isn’t always a good thing, my boyfriend showed me this NBA player called Stephon Marbury who has absolutely broken down online … for everyone to see, hear and read.

12. What are your favourite websites and why? eBay, I am a self confessed eBay addict and working in an office during work hours limits the time I can dedicate to shopping but eBay allows me to shop wherever and whenever for basically anything I desire. Apart from twitter, facebook and myspace I also frequently visit YouTube to check out the latest video clips or episodes and Wikipedia for a quick reference on anything and everything.

13. Now that the Supermodelme.tv contest has ended, what’s next? Well as you may or may not know [don't tell anyone] I’m an accountant by day, but this coming 12 months I’m planning to go overseas and pursue my modeling further. I will continue to use social media to help build a strong social profile and gain as much exposure as possible, of course you’ll be able to keep up to date via fionathomas.com.au as well as my twitter, facebook & myspace pages.

Today is the day I officially made the change from Scene Model Management to Chadwick Models. I’ve been thinking of making the switch for a little while, after talking to a few other models who’ve done the same. I had been with Scene a little over 3 years and they’ve been very good to me but I just don’t think I was getting anywhere. I think sometimes everyone just needs a change because 9 times out of 10 change is a good thing and I think it was a case of me being too comfortable with where I was. I’m not a risk taker and don’t like confrontation but I just needed to pluck up the courage and just do it.

I decided on my way to a casting I’d drop into the Chadwick office and I met with Tanya & Sanela to discuss my options and to see if they would be interested in having me on their books for a start, as I’ve heard of a few cases where agencies are not willing to bring a model on board. I went in confident and was delighted when they told me they liked my look and definitely had a place for me at their agency. They were both so welcoming that I felt right at home and they seemed very optimistic about my modeling future. I think thats half the battle, finding an agency that believes in you and will therefore push to get you work because there’s no point being with a top agency that doesn’t believe in you and doesn’t get you work.

I was given all the contracts/docs I needed to sign to make it official and was told now all I had to do was call Scene and let them know I was leaving. This by far was the hardest part, despite knowing that models do it all the time, but as Sanela said its like a bandaid, the faster I do it the faster its over so I did. I thanked Anthony for all that he had done for me but explained that I just needed a fresh start and I’d like to hope we parted on good terms.I have only good things to say about Scene and would encourage any aspiring model to keep them as an option as well as Viviens & Chadwicks when initially deciding on an agency (in Perth).

I’m very happy with my decision and am looking forward to what the future brings….

Now i know this is something a lot of women spend a lot of time on, as i am definitely one of them. I have to admit i’m a trial and error type of girl, i feel like i’ve tried almost every product there is on the market in an attempt to find my perfect mascara. I think over the years I’ve tried more than 30 different types of mascara and i think I’ve found my favourites…but i must admit if a new product hits the stores i do still try it just to make sure my favs are still winners.

With modelling makeup is very important, but whether I’m going to a casting, heading to the office or just hanging out with friends I want something that is easy to use and achieves my objective. I’m looking for something that will enhance my features the best and last the longest because I don’t want to be reapplying 3 or 4 times a day to maintain the look – once its on I want it to stay on. In my opinion mascara is one of the single most valuable cosmetics a model or any woman can have. If i am extremely pressed for time and I have to choose only 2 items of makeup to use they would be foundation and mascara. Mascara can make you look more awake, open your eyes up and can really enhance your  overall look.

Lets face it theres just so many options out there claiming to solve every possible problem you can imagine and of course the price range is incredible – you can pretty much spend anywhere from $8 to $80+. To be perfectly honest in my experience the cheaper mascaras have done the best job for me. I do think though that different occasions call for different mascaras, depending on the overall makeup look so I have my favourite daytime mascaras and my favourite nightime mascaras.

Here are my fav’s for under $25:

Daytime/Casual:

1. Maybelline Full & Soft – this does everything i want in a mascara, lengthening, thickening and no clumping. I find during the day one coat is plenty. Its a great multipurpose mascara too so if you just add a few more coats it gives you an extremely glam look for nightwear.
2. Maybelline great lash
3. Covergirl LashBlast
4. Maybelline Lash discovery
5. Max Factor False Lash Effect

Nightime/Dramatic:

1. L’Oreal Telescopic
2. Max Factor 2000 Calorie
3. L’Oreal Lash Architect
4. Maybelline Volume Express Cat Eyes – I have only found this is Singapore…not available in AUS so i’ve resorted to buying on ebay, well worth it trust me!
5. Rimmel Volume Flash

I admit I’ve never been a fan of the two step mascaras that include primer before the mascara coat because I don’t believe them to be user friendly. From all the two-step mascaras I’ve tried i’ve experienced clumping and really i would prefer to apply two coats of your normal mascara than having to use one coat white primer and then attempting to cover the white with mascara. Too much effort if you ask me and if you’re in a rush its too easy to miss spots leaving you with spots of white on your lashes.

So overall I’m a big fan of Maybelline mascara’s in general as you can tell. If you’re looking for the one mascara to cover all occasions you can’t go wrong with Maybelline full & soft. Just apply as many coats as the occasion calls for and to boot its one of the best value mascaras i’ve tested so its not too hard on the wallet. Also something to note it is recommended that you throw out your mascara after 3 months, yet another reason why I don’t want to break the bank for a tube of mascara.

Another alternative i am a huge fan of is lash tinting. Perfect alternative to mascara especially in Summer when you will be likely to go swimming or in Winter when its raining where you don’t have to worry about your mascara running & I’ve heard good things about lash perming but I have yet to try it. Let me know if you have any suggestions on mascara’s you have good reviews on so I can give them a try…

My overall favourite

I‘m a contestant on Supermodelme.tv a reality show in Singapore attempting to find the next top Asian Supermodel – the more twitter followers, facebook fans, video views and votes on the website I receive the better chance I have of winning

To show your support please:

Follow me on Twitter

Become a facebook fan of Fiona Thomas

See videos, photos and episodes of the show at supermodelme.tv and vote me as your favourite model each week

I was recently asked by a friend of mine what tips I had to maintain clear skin. I haven’t always had good skin, my skin went through a very bad patch and I was put on Roaccutane a very strong drug with a long list of side effects but it does achieve its objective and that’s to clear up problem skin. I would only recommend this option in very extreme cases, which mine unfortunately, was.

Having said that these are my basic tips for keeping healthy, clear skin:

• Cleanse and moisturise every morning and night. Both your face and body need moisturising. Every night i make sure to put extra moisturiser on my elbows, knees and feet (the driest parts of my body) and slip on a pair of cotton socks to help retain the moisture
• I don’t believe in toner, I don’t see the benefits and I personally think its a waste of money
• Exfoliate once a week
• Use a face mask once a week
• Get a bowl of boiling hot water put your head over it n put a towel over the top for about 30seconds to open up your pores and clean out all the buildup once a month (great for blackheads), than exfoliate and follow with a face mask
• If your skin is oily use an oil free moisturiser (but still always moisturise or your skin becomes even oilier)
• If your skin is dry use a rich creamy moisturiser, after Roaccuate my skin went from oily to dry and i use either a very rich cream or a night cream
• Always remove makeup before going to bed, no matter how tired you may be, it’s a MUST!

These simple tips should help in keeping your skin clean, beautiful and healthy and will help to reduce the chances of breakouts.

1. What preconceptions about models have you found to be true? I had a lot of preconceptions about models coming into this competition (bitchy, judgmental, unfriendly, arrogant) but I think this experience has proved every one of them to be wrong. I think the idea of stereotyping and categorizing all models as the same is very difficult because we all come from different cultures, backgrounds and experiences. Models vary in personality, education and attitude as much as any given group of people.
2. Describe your experience doing the Her World “cover” shoot. I found the shoot to be quite challenging because being a headshot there was no room for error in the facial expressions. I wanted to achieve the desired “intelligently beautiful” look without making it too obvious in my face that I was trying so hard, the hardest part was coming across naturally I think.
3. Beauty, brains, wealth. Rank these in order of importance to you. Why?I would rank these as (1) brains (2) beauty (3) wealth. I think these are all very important in their own right but without brains I don’t think you can get very far in life and particularly in the modeling world it is too easy to be taken advantage of without a good head on your shoulders. Beauty is something that can provide a lot of perks and rewards in life and if used correctly can also get you quite far. Wealth I think is something that a person can live a happy and fulfilling life without and though it can definitely help you excel in life money can also corrupt a persons true self.
4. Who do you think is your strongest rival in the competition? I think my strongest rival in the competition would be Anna, , I think she has a very strong look and has a great catwalk.
5. What do you think are the responsibilities of a supermodel, if any? I think the title “supermodel” does carry certain responsibilities with it. In particular I think it’s important for a supermodel to portray a healthy image and represent something that girls can look up to and aspire to be.
6. If you could turn back time, how do you wish you could have better prepared for the competition? I would definitely do a lot more research on high fashion posing and would also have taken a few acting classes to help me loosen up and break out of my shell a little more.
7. Name one thing that you can’t live without, and have brought with you to the house in Bukit Timah.The one thing I can’t live without is my photographs – I find it’s the best way to capture memories of precious moments. I took photos of my loved ones with me into the house as a constant reminder of home.
8. Which to you is scarier, a spider or a snake? I am actually quite scared of both but I think snakes terrify me more than spiders do.
9. Will you do a photoshoot assignment that requires you to go naked? Why? I’ve always held the position that I would not do nude photo shoots but I think depending on the cause or situation (eg Miranda Kerr for Koalas, Celebrities against fur)  I may consider it if it is done in a tasteful manner. I certainly would never consider doing Playboy style nudes under any circumstances simply because that is not the modeling style I am working towards. My reasons for not doing nudes are mainly cultural, I don’t think it’s something my family as Asians would be comfortable with me doing and my naked body is something I would prefer to keep private and for the eyes of only those I choose. I think it’s possible to pursue a modeling career without having to do nudes.
10. Will you ever consider going under the knife to enhance your physical features? Why? At the moment I don’t think plastic surgery is something I would consider, not because I think I’m perfect the way I am – I have as many insecurities as the next girl and have a long list of things I wish were different about me physically but with age I’ve come to terms with the fact that I am the way I am and I have to work with what I’ve been given. I think the danger with plastic surgery is drawing the line at where to stop, for every one thing you change there will be 10 more changes you want to replace it. It may however be something I could consider in the future so I would never rule it out as circumstances always change.

Initially after leaving the supermodelme house, I was feeling quite despondent and it had really taken a toll on my confidence. But after it had sunk in that I had been eliminated I started to realise what an incredible journey it had been and I began to feel proud for making it as far as I did in the competition. I had learnt a lot from the whole experience and I had made some incredible contacts in the industry which I’m sure will benefit me greatly. I think i realised my leaving had anything to do with my potential but more a reflection on how I did in the challenges thus far, maybe supermodelme was not the right competition for me but something else might be. The whole experience made me realise how much I actually love modeling as a job and that its something I should start to view as a profession rather than a hobby. I’m lucky because I have the advantage of having already completed my bachelors degree and having that education under my belt means that I can pursue a modeling career and know in the back of my head that I have a professional degree to fall back on. Looking back I have a very positive view of supermodelme.tv and have no regrets and only high expectations for my modeling career.