Out of the Running

Usually around this time of year, in addition to Chanel Cruise news, we start to hear about the Dansk Fashion Awards. But this year it's been unusually quiet in regards to the later. And that's because Freja is not nominated for Danish Female Model of the Year this time around. :(

After winning the award each year it's been handed out (twice so far), Freja will have to relinquish her title to one of the upcoming Danes spotlighted this year:

Amanda Nørgaard


Caroline Brasch Nielsen


Cathrine Nørgaard

As much as I love Freja, I think this is good for the Dansk awards. If you keep giving an award to the same person it kind of diminishes the point of having the award and voting process in the first place, non? And yes, Freja is by far the most recognizable, successful Danish model working in the fashion industry right now, but Denmark has some other great models too. So it's nice to see them getting their time to shine.

Amanda is quickly making a name for herself despite her short (by model standards) 5'8 1/2" frame. Her perfect proportions help, and so do the backings of Russel Marsh and Miuccia Prada as evidenced by her runway appearances at both Prada and Miu Miu. Factor in her gorgeously refined face, a personal style that's effortlessly cool with a hint of grunge, and a supposed booking in a major Fall campaign and you have a new Danish star in the making. Caroline is coming straight off a tremendous catwalk run in Paris, walking for only the very top of the top. Already shot by Meisel in this month's VI, and turning her attentions towards modeling full time come July after she finishes with school, you can bet on seeing her lovely face in all cities for SS11. And Cathrine...well, I don't know much about her at all. In fact, I know nothing. But she's quite the delicate beauty and perhaps we'll see her make her international catwalk debut soon.

It would have been nice to see Freja at the ceremony, if only to see if she'd dress up (ha!). But if she had been nominated along with Amanda and Caroline, I can honestly say that I wouldn't have known who to root for. All three appeal to me for different reasons, and this just speaks to the depth and quality of the models coming from Denmark right now. So hooray for the Danes. You're having a great moment.

Oh, and in case any of you actually care who wins this thing, the awards are being held Wednesday night.

Image Credits: elitemodelmanagement.dk, scoopmodels.com

Danish Female Model of the Year

So I'm sure that by now you all know Freja won Best Female Model of the Year at the Dansk awards held on Wednesday. No surprise there. Even in an off year her body of work was more substantial than her competitors Agnete and Charlotte. Granted Freja's been on the modeling circuit longer than the two of them, but she's one of the top ten working models today so the odds were tough to beat. Freja's is also the most well-known model to come out of Denmark since Helena Christensen, and if she keeps on working I have a feeling they'll be giving this award to her next year, and the year after that, and the year after that.

She attended the awards looking beautiful, while staying true to her own style. There were elements of glamor--some makeup, heels, and new bag--but there were elements of Freja's everyday style as well. She wore tight, skinny black pants and layered tees under a black blazer. It's a uniform we've seen many times during fashion week, but the presence of the heels made all the difference.

Choosing to forgo her usual flat boots, Freja opted for Isabel Marant studded, heeled boots straight off the FW0910 runway. (Perhaps a take-away from walking the show?) She also left the Balenciaga bag at home in favor of the very popular black Alexander Wang hobo. Her sartorial choices may be simple, but they exude fashion, quality and quiet, relatable luxury.

That's what the best models do. They make all clothes look good no matter when or where they wear them. Yes, Freja could have gone a little more lux considering it was an awards gala. But I'm kind of glad she didn't because I always love seeing a woman who is completely at ease in her own style and sense of self.

On a last note, of course I have to mention Freja's hair. She's definitely growing it out now. Maybe my musings on commercialism actually have some substance? She already has the Gap campaign on her plate for this season. Maybe next we'll see her reprising her commercial role in an H&M campaign? If this happens, then you read it here first. :)

Image Credits: 7inch.dk, msndk.starlounge.com, uniquemodels.blogspot.com -- all courtesy of Candlebougie at tFS (thank you!) Other images: celebritycity.com, kirnazabete.com

Marni Moments

I really love this set of backstage pictures so I had to post them. Marni also happens to be one of my favorite brands.

Isn't it kind of strange to see Freja with the newer girls, instead of her usual model crew? I kind of miss the Lily, Irina, Agyness days.

It's even more strange (to me at least) that Freja is six (!) years older than Jac, yet they look the same age. Maybe Jac even look a little bit older to me because her cheekbones are so sharp.

We always get a ton of backstage pictures after shows end, but I'm willing to bet they don't even begin to convey the craziness and chaos that constitutes the actual backstage. Thus is the nature of photography that the end result is merely a small moment, captured and frozen, separated from the greater whole. Anyway, the following two pictures remind me of this.

Just check out the sheer number of girls and looks that have to come together. All the meticulous design work during the months before the show culminates in a quick flurry of activity and 15 minutes on a catwalk. Craziness indeed.

ALSO! Don't forget about the Dansk Fashion Awards tomorrow (or today, depending on when you read this). On May 20th we find out if Freja can take home the award for Danish Female Model of the Year for the second consecutive year, or if she concedes the title to Agnete or Charlotte. Regardless of what happens, I hope Freja shows up and we get some candids!

Image Credits: fashionmag.com

Congrats Are In Order

Freja was nominated for a DANSK Fashion Award in the category of Danish Female Model of the Year! She was nominated along with Charlotte Høyer and Agnete Hegelund, but I think Freja is the clear favorite (although I admit that I'm a bit....ok, a lot, biased). Thank you to tFS member candlebougie for breaking the news!

This is only the second year for this fashion ceremony. The DANSK awards were started in 2008 to promote and honor the achievements of the Danish fashion industry. At last year's inaugural ceremony, Freja won in the same category and showed up in a black suit to pick up her award. I love how she stayed true to her personal style and eschewed the typical tight, mini-dress that most other models turn to for red carpet events.


From what I can gather browsing through the official site, a panel of judges determines the winners. Hopefully they aren't opposed to having repeat winners because Freja should clearly win again if the criteria is modeling work. She's had a ton of editorials in all the top magazines, a few covers, and decent campaigns for Karl Lagerfeld and Roberto Cavalli. No offense to them, but Charlotte and Agnete's work is no where near Freja's in terms of caliber and visibility.

Agnete Hegelund


Charlotte Høyer

If you can understand Danish, here is a cute interview from last year with Freja and Mathias (who won Danish Male Model of the Year) talking about the awards:


The ceremony is being held on May 20th, so keep your fingers crossed that Freja wins so we can get some new pictures of her! She also deserves to win so that's the real reason you should keep your fingers crossed.

Image Credits: nymag.com, Freja's thread at tFS