TEAM
Claire Unabia was the sixth model eliminated on America’s Next Top Model {Cycle 10}. Throughout the show, Claire had consistently strong photos and standout performances, winning two reward challenges and the Cover Girl of the week title five weeks in a row. Despite also winning the make-up challenge held at Wal-Mart, Claire was sent home due to her lack of versatility. “To go home was kind of heartbreaking in a way, but after being in the bottom two the previous week, it was kind of hard for them to choose anyone else,” she said.
Even though she was disappointed, Claire maintained a positive outlook and has since proven to be a role model for mothers, daughters, photographers, designers, actors and directors. Her participation on the show took her away from paradise and required her to be without her inspiration for the competition. Claire described the task of balancing motherhood with her modeling career as a tricky one, especially when you live in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, so, she packed up her husband and baby relocating to New York City…Hawaii will always be her home.
Since the show, Claire has an ad for Kodak and modeled for Fati Light. She’s appeared on a recent cover of Digital Photographer, Parents magazine with her daughter Halina in 2007 and February 2009 and was additionally in Unvogue, New York Daily News and Supermodels Unlimited. She is trained in ballet, ice skating, kung ku, and constantly exercises the right side of her brain. When Claire’s not walking the runway or posing for the camera, she’s producing a play or fashion show, coordinating an art opening, promoting a benefit or directing a short film. Claire is a woman of many talents.
Nicole Marie Polec is the creative guru behind Thai iced tea, and grew up in the town of Romeo, Michigan. She started shooting at the age of 13 and never lost the passion. It is rumored that one new years eve Nicole hitch-hiked to New York and has not looked back since ~ from that night on, going home and milking goats on the family farm was no longer an option. She enjoys a great game of stick-ball with the kids in the park, acting out on the subway, and music that makes you say, “let’s dance until the morning sun or wow, that bites!”
Nicole’s unique eye has granted her the chance to work on amazing campaigns producing images published in Page Six Magazine, Babble.com. Nerve.com, Teen Vogue, Relix Magazine, Swoon Magazine, Billboard, Brooklyn Vegan, Deli Magazine, Hour Detroit Magazine, SLAM Magazine, Metro Times, Ready Made Magazine, Perry Gargano, Women’s Mafia, Ankasa, Traque Model Management, Alisha, Clutch Magazine, Fashion Indie, Rebel Spirit Music, Razor & Tie, Shore Fire Media, Kitchen Table Films, Detroit Red Wings, Crush Restaurant, Zalza Foods, CasinoDogg, Ann Arbor Film Festival, Ragmopp Records, Family Records, Major Who, Rockwood Music Hall, Canal Room, The Local 269 as well as an extensive list of starving artists.
Wenya Chang’s history in photography and music performance has brought her to her career in make-up. She received her training at Make-up Designory, accredited by ASSC in New York City. She has a strong sense of style, creativity and color, catered to each individual face and complexion. She knows how to enhance one’s natural beauty. Wenya specializes in creating a flawless, glowing complexion. Her experiences range from print to runway, commercial, television and film, special events and bridal.
When Wenya is not doing make-up and working with photographers such as Tom Concordia, Michael Morrison, MG Oania, Frankie Batista, Photoreclame Photographers, Ricky Kim, Richard Guaty, JC Cerilla, Nick Suttle, Chris Leung, Tanya Payano, Benoit Cornet, Maxwell Mason, Brandon Gilbert, Eric Workum, Nicole Marie Polec, Kris Lau, Saana Wang, Peter Jacobsen, Lori Hawkins, Caitlin Mitchell, Damian Sandone, Joyce Anderson, Quincy Cardinale, Tania Guinsberg, Alex Frantz Ghassan, Matthew Cooper, Alicia Taylor, Eric T. Williams, Jessie Adore, Shari DeAngelo, Spencer Kohn, Jason Guffy, Jeff Brown, Guillermo Cano, Ysa Perez to name a few, she loves to train for marathons, discover new exotic foods, take pictures and travel.
Candice Crawford has spent the last ten years of her life practicing hair styling and makeup techniques.
Experience has led her to work in many countries, like Israel, Peru, and Guadeloupe and helped her acquire spots working on music videos, films and photo shoots.
She has organized several non-profit hair shows, donating to various charities and small businesses.
Candice Crawford is currently a Mirabella Master Educator, and has been an instructor for Paul Mitchell.
She has taken classes at the School of Visual Arts for special effects makeup and Make-Up Designory for Beauty and Airbrushing.
She also directs/design Kids Eco-Fashion shows at Habana Outpost in Fort Greene and many other children’s events in NYC.
Erica Lavelanet and David Pena, are a fierce wardrobe styling duo hailing from Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Very early on as students they realized the synergies in their thoughts and tastes for fashion and created a business to utilize it. LPFashionPhilosophy is the result of their love of the business, creative input, and unique personalities merged with great thoughts, ideas, expectations and results. LPFashionPhilosophy’s unique and bold vision, solidify their business and allow them to aim high, exceed expectations, dedicate themselves to their task, and accomplish their vow to never settle for anything mediocre. David and Erica are known to work overtime, a million times, to get the job done, correctly and without flaw.
Running wardrobe for various editorial shoots, ad campaigns, independent films, videos, shows, tours, and appearances, the duo serves as full-time stylists for many up and coming artists and believes hard work is the key to creativity and inspiration. Additionally, LPFashionPhilosophy performs Image Consultation in the form of Closet Edits, Shop Your Closet, and Personal Shop. David and Erica believe firmly in self-expression and individuality, and the duo brings an extraordinary focus to all of their clients. Erica and David’s work has been featured on MTV Networks, in Teen Vogue, on Sony Music rockstars, Factory PR celebrities and International Playground Showroom to name a few.
Nic Grigorian is originally from Los Angeles. He started working in the hair industry in 1999 and shortly transitioned into stylist education. He spent three years teaching with Joico. In 2003 he continued his educational pursuits with Sexy Hair Concepts and traveled nationally with their street team. During his run with Sexy, Nic opened his own studio, Blostudios, in 2004. Blo is a private, referral-only salon and photography studio catering to high-profile clients. In 2006, Nic opened a second location in Silverlake, CA exclusively for the cast of Twilight and other celebrity clientele. In 2010, Nic moved to Manhattan and now works as a stylist in Gramercy Park when not touring for Camp Couture. His hobbies include multimedia photography, car racing/collecting, and trapeze.
Nic’s clientele have included: Adriana Lima, Amy Allen, Amy Smart, Anna Kendrick, Britney Murphy, Bullets and Octane, Charlize Theron, Chelsea Handler, Dane Cook, Heath Ledger, High Risk, Katharine McPhee, Kristen Stewart, Mary-Kate Olsen, Matt Lillard, Nikki Reed, Paul Rudd, Pink, Scott Wielend, Shannon Doherty, Slash, The Laiz, Unwritten Law, and 30 Secs to Mars.
