Keith Girard
Charlie Riina, a Canadian model, is the latest buxom blonde to promote a brand. Is she benefiting from a trend? (Photo: 138 Water)
The look was last popular in the 1950s. Stars like Brigitte Bardot, Jayne Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe, Anita Ekberg and Kim Novak were celebrated in Hollywood and pop culture.
But the look went out of favor in the 1960s with the rise of feminism and women’s rights. Buxom blondes were relegated to girly magazines like Playboy.
Oddly the rebirth of feminism, and a backlash against the ultra-thin model fashion trend from 1990s, also contributed.
Charlie Riina the Latest Blonde Bombshell
(Click Photos to Enlarge!)
Upton was discovered on YouTube after a video of her dancing the Dougie went viral. She later caused a sensation in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.
Her ample curves touched off a huge debate and Kate was initially body shamed by “thinspriation” web sites. One labeled her “sloppy.” Victoria’s Secret’s fashion director vowed never to put her in the brand’s lingerie.
But Upton went on to rep for both lingerie and swimsuit brands at a time when growing protests over body-shaming opened the door to more voluptuous models. Upton went on to appear in a Carl’s Jr’s hamburger ad and graduated to high fashion.
Vogue Editor Anna Wintour personally embraced Upton and put her in the magazine’s high-fashion spreads. Plus-size models have been gaining visibility ever since.
Upton was replaced at Carl’s Jr.’s by another voluptuous model, Charlotte McKinney. Her profile skyrocketed after she appeared in a an ad during the Super Bowl earlier this year. She’s now an in-demand swimsuit model and featured in the upcoming issue of Vanity Fair magazine.
Riina, 31, is a Canadian who’s best known for posing in Playboy. When she first stripped, she was featured as a “natural” model and sported 32C breasts. But that was then. Riina has undergone a noticeably visible breast enhancement.
But in the current climate, that only seems to have enhanced her career opportunities. She’s been repping for 138 Water, which bills itself as the “first fashion water.”
The Beverly Hills brand favors Playboy models for its ads, and Canadian model Riina fits the bill. The 5-foot, 8-inch tall model is easily fits the profile of a buxom blonde.
Check out her racy photos, let us known your thoughts and be sure to follow IM for the latest fashion news.