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Juicing

A lot has been in the media lately about sugar and how bad it is for you. For years I have always read the ingredients listed on food products I've been purchasing, and I've always been amazed just how much sugar features how on the list. Especially in everyday .
savoury foods, you expect it in cakes, ice cream and and chocolate. But Mayonaisse? Tomoto ketchup? So called healthy low fat fruit yoghurts - all loaded with sugar.
Ive always gone for products that list the least amount of additives, whether it be butter or full fat yoghurt, and prefer to make my own veggie soups - easy and low in cost.
The same with fruit drinks, many contain sugar. Which is why I like to juice and make my own fruit drinks.
One of the best juicers you can buy are the ones that slow press. Basically they sqeexe the goodness out, thus enabling more vitamins to remain in your drink and less sugar.
one of the most cost effective ones that I have found is the Matstone 6 in 1 juicer. Not only is it a masticating juicer, but it also makes nut butter. Which is a bonus as there again- try finding a nut butter that hasn't had sugar added.

I love to juice

Small changes, big results, by cutting down on sugary foods and making your own soups and juices. Even low calorie chemical sweeteners are not good. i used to take them in abundance until I realised they were causing my headaches, and once I quit them, I could also quit headache pills. These days I use honey to sweeten my hot drinks and pour on my full fay yoghurt. I love it. Not any old honey, the best ones for you are the ones as local as possible. The one I use is a raw honey called Bee Mercy. It is naturally medicinal and very healthy.

Playboy Fitness

There's been recent publicity following a new exercise trend- Playboy Bunny Bootcamp, where participants are invited to sweat it out in a class in order to 'earn' their bunny tails!

Whilst I was living at the Playboy mansion in LA, waiting for my centrefold shoot to be scheduled. I too had to exercise. Mainly as a necessity as I had just discovered chocolate chip cookies that the chef's made (unfortunately) daily. I was eventually banned from the kitchens as I was expanding in all the wrong places!
My fellow playmate decided to take me in hand with an exercise routine that involved from jogging around the mansion grounds, past the flamingos and peacocks, to doing water fit in the grotto and some tennis.

That coupled with a diet that consisted of just water melon, (can't stand the stuff now!) I was ready to become a Playmate.

jogging past the peacocks in the mansion grounds

waiting on the Playboy mansion steps for the  exercise to  commence

My Hair Tips

One of the most defining moments in a young woman's life is when she has her hair styled for the first time. Mine was when I was thirteen. I looked completely different and went from being an awkward girl to a glamorous teenager. Its such an instant transformation for anyone.
My friend took me to the hairdressers as she thought a good haircut would help my lack of confidence. She was right!

Over the years I've dyed my hair red,blonde and brown and have gone from having it cropped short to having hair extensions put in that reached my waist!

One of the mistakes I tended to make, and I'm sure others have done, is to copy a 'look' on a celebrity or model- just because I liked it. But I didn't have the right type of hair for the style to make it work for me.
Once I had my hair cropped very short and let my friend put 60% volume peroxide on! Apart from nearly burning off my scalp, the desired look didn't happen and instead of a white blonde trendy crop, I had a slight but very noticeable green tinged hair colour. It was about that time that I discovered baseball caps with a vengeance!

These days I think the best style is the easiest one to maintain. I found short hair hard work for me as it needed styling every day, while longer hair can easily be put up if i'm in a rush.

Ive gone through a small fortune over the years on hair styling products, most collecting dust in the attic! But I recently came across Haito styling tongs and I love them. They have a spiral, which is easy to position your hair in and a clip to hold the hair in place while you tong it. I like the fact that it is so quick and easy to use and has a lasting effect, even the next day.

Light Up Your Life

                                     

  Light Up Your Life

One of the things I pick up when I was modelling was about how lighting can make or break a photograph.

This can also apply to our everyday lives as well. If you've have spent ages getting ready to go somewhere special, or even just out for a meal. The last thing you want is to look your worst because of the venue's lighting!

These little tips will help you prevent that from happening.

One of  things you need to avoid when going to a restaurant is sitting underneath a spotlight, they are seriously unflattering, creating shadows where you don't want them. I don't know why places insist on installing them as they make you look awful.

Candles on a table are fine, as long as they're not too close as they will also cast shadows.

If you are going somewhere during the day where you will be seated. It is always good idea to try and face a window as opposed to sitting side on to one. By facing the window you will get an even light, which will create a brightening effect to your face and will look better than side on, which will emphasis any flaws you may have. 

The same logic applies to if you are skyping. You can see for yourself, how much better you will look with a window in front of you.

If you think you are going to an event that has overhead strip lighting, wear slightly stronger lip and eye colour. This type of lighting can be very draining and has a tendency to make you look washed out.

Clothes wise, a top or scarf with metallic hues of silver or gold in will act as a soft reflector and bounce a nice light to your face, which always looks good, especially in the dark winter months.

Vitamin boosting breakfast for great skin

One of the best ways to have great looking skin is to feed it with nutrients.
My favourite way to do this is with breakfast, which is load with skin enhancing nutrients- and it tastes great!
My papaya, seed and nut breakfast is good for this.
To make life easier, I fill a jar with a selection of seeds and nuts, which include- brazil,walnut,pine nuts, pumpkin, sesame and chia seeds.
After cutting a papaya in half and scooping out the seeds, I like to add a mixture of my seeds and nuts mix into the papaya's cavities.
I then add a dollop of organic natural yogurt, scatter with some fresh berries and sprinkle with  cinnamon.
This tasty recipe is quick and easy to do, and contains the following nutrients and their benefits to your skin. I've noticed a difference in mine and its a lot better than an expensive face cream!

Photo: By Carol Needham

PAPAYA - Not only is this fruit delicious, it contains high amounts of vitamins A & C, which not only boost the immune system, they are also fantastic for the skin.

WALNUTS - An excellent source of Omega 3 and vitamin E, as well as containing many B vitamins. All proven to keep our skin looking healthy.

BRAZIL NUTS - are high in selenium, which assists skin repair.

PUMPKIN SEEDS - contain zinc, which promotes the growth of new skin cells.

SUNFLOWER SEEDS - these are great for skin as they are high in vitamin E. Which is a powerful antioxidant, slowing down the ageing of skin cells.

SESAME SEEDS - another seed high in zinc, which promotes collagen and gives skin more elasticity.

CHIA SEEDS - the new superfood!Chia is high in antioxidants, proteins and over 60% of essential fatty acids, which help absorb the fat soluble vitamins - A,D,E & K. These in turn keep our skin and hair healthy.

RASPBERRIES - contain strong antioxidants such as vitamin C, quercetin and gallic acid.

BLUEBERRIES - not only taste good, but again high in antioxidants, which protect skin against premature ageing.

STRAWBERRIES - high in vitamin C, which fights free radicals that damage our skin by breaking down collagen.

CINNAMON - is also high in antioxidants and a great source of manganese, fibre, iron and calcium.

PINE NUTS - is actually a seed and a powerhouse of vitamins that nourish our skin. These include E, K, niacin, magnesium and potassium.

NATURAL YOGURT - contains protein, calcium and vitamin D, potassium, zinc and B vitamins.

A cocktail of nutrients that taken on a regular basis will improve and maintain skin.
                                   

How to be a Poser!

It's all very well posing for a happy snap when you're doing something, like a sport etc, or even pulling funny faces and poses. But on the occasions when you would like to look your best and not awkward, it can be quite difficult. Especially when you're not sure of the best position to hold our body in. Our instincts tell us to just stand there grinning at the camera, and then complain when we witness the results!

In my experience as a model, it was my job to pose for photographs, looking relaxed and natural. Only it was all fake!

It can be a little bit embarrassing when you're not used to having your photo taken. I felt that way on one of my first photo shoots for The Unipart Calendar. It was taken on a busy street in Los Angeles and I was wearing a see through bikini! So I had to get over my inhibitions very quickly as the light was fading and the photographer was shouting at me to do the photos. So, I understand how uncomfortable it can be when you're posing and aware that people may be staring!
Especially in a public place like in a restaurant or on holiday.
I will share with you a few tips that worked for me and will for you too. Giving you the confidence to strike a pose!

First of all, it will always be more flattering on your body to turn 3/4 away from the camera and then twist your top half back in slightly, while bending your leg that's nearest to the camera.
This will give you a nice shape to your body which slims hips and waist.
This pose works whether you are seated or standing.
It's very simple, but effective, you can automatically just fall into the pose when you need to.
If you are standing next to someone in the photo, try leaning slightly into them while twisting your top half slightly to camera, maybe resting your hand gently on their shoulder.
Do this while remembering to pull your stomach in, relax your shoulders back and bend your front leg, so you have an S shape to your body.
Face wise- again slightly off camera is usually more flattering, with a soft smile and don't forget to smile with your eyes.
Many times when I modelled with young children, I would have to freeze my pose until the child smiled. Because that is the frame the photographer would want and he wouldn't want it of me looking away. This is also good in happy snaps when being snapped with animals or children. Try to hold your pose until they get it right.
Hands can be awkward. I always found it best to keep them looking natural by either resting on hips or an object or someone.
So next time somebody whips out their camera phone - you'll be ready.

I have attached a few images of myself to demonstrate this.

This photo was taken for the Unipart Calendar in Los Angeles on a busy main road!

break time while modelling swimwear in Thailand

swimwear shoot in Bali