Doutzen Kroes: a model making her own mold

[June 04, 2010]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Doutzen Kroes might not fit the mold of a top model.

She's a jeans-and-T-shirt girl. She likes -- and eats -- bread. She wasn't discovered in a remote place by a famous scout or photographer. And at 25, she has curves that have kept her off a lot of high fashion runways.

But somehow, none of that matters.

Kroes ranked No. 5 this year on the Forbes list of top-earning models. She's most recognized as a Victoria's Secret Angel, the brand's top tier of models, a spokeswoman for L'Oreal and the former face of Calvin Klein Eternity.

"My life has always been like I'm in a bubble and it's floating and it goes in the right direction," Kroes says. "I don't want to interrupt it."

It was Kroes, a Dutch native, who got the ball -- or bubble -- rolling. As a teenager, she saw a magazine photo of a model and she thought to herself, "She has beautiful hair, beautiful makeup, a beautiful dress, and I thought I'd like to look like that one day."

Her sister took photos and Kroes sent them off to a modeling agency in Amsterdam, a place she rarely visited as a self-described "country girl." Kroes' passion until then had been competitive speed skating.

Other than her sister, no one knew about her new high-fashion ambition.

"I didn't tell anybody that I sent the pictures, because I'd be embarrassed if I didn't get the job," she says.

Apparently she didn't need to worry with her long blond hair, blue eyes and Brigitte Bardot look. She relocated to New York within a year.

Kroes has a "modern style," describes L'Oreal's international general manager Vianney Derville, who also says the model is "blessed with an excellent sense of professionalism and a natural elegance."

On most days, you'll still find her in jeans, T-shirt and flat shoes, but she likes stepping it up for a night out. At last month's Costume Institute Gala Benefit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Kroes was the date of designer Zac Posen, wearing a princess-worthy blue gown that they collaborated on. For the Cannes Film Festival a few days later, she wore a glamorous Grecian-style gown with a plunging neckline by Roberto Cavalli.

Next week, she'll present the popular-vote award at the Council of Fashion Designers of America Hollywood-style awards show.

Kroes is outspoken about her feminine, curvy figure and how it's cost her jobs. She was a panelist for the CFDA's round-table discussion about too-skinny models and says she hasn't done as much runway work as she'd like because she doesn't always fit the sample size.

"I have to work really hard. My body -- I have a voluptuous body. I am not one of those skinny girls. I like to enjoy life," she says.

Her shape has served her well when it comes to Victoria's Secret. Still, in the lead-up to the big Victoria's Secret runway show she'll temporarily give up the bread, cheese and chocolate that she loves.

"I am a totally healthy girl that eats but eats in moderation and I take care of myself."

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Online:

AP Live video with Doutzen Kroes:
http://bit.ly/a1a2Y7

[Associated Press; By SAMANTHA CRITCHELL]

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