Brazilian models see diversity on the runway as officials set quotas on how many blacks must be given a go at modeling.

Now that’s affirmative action!

www.PaulFDavis.com – worldwide speaker & life-changing author of 18 books including “Diversity, Multiculturalism & Global Cooperation“

RevivingNations@yahoo.com – Invite Paul to speak in your city!

WASHINGTON DC (AP) – In a shocking announcement yesterday, the United States of America announced that it is officially severing all ties with the rest of the world after nearly two and a half centuries of peaceful coexistence on the same planet.

US officials cited egregious rudeness and worldwide ingratitude as primary reasons for the separation as well as the rising costs of “defending the rest of the world from itself.”

A top advisor to America released this statement: “For years we’ve been sharing our superior currency, language, and fast food chains with them while receiving nothing in return but a few hand-crafted trinkets, brand name knockoffs and the occasional tanker full of oil.  Well this is one trade deficit that will not stand.”

Vice President Richard Cheney stated that America was particularly disappointed with the world’s contributions to the soft-drink and entertainment industries.  “How many Asians enjoyed a crisp, refreshing Coca-Cola last year?  How many Europeans had their minds blown by The Dark Knight last summer?” asked Mr. Cheney, speaking on behalf of America.  “Do you know how long it’s been since anything from Europe blew my mind?  I’ll tell you.  Fourth grade, Swiss army knife.”

The decision, which has apparently been in the works since the rest of the world attacked America on September 11, 2001, was fast tracked after President Bush was forced to accompany Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to a cricket game during a recent trip to Delhi.

“I remember sitting there thinking ’so we’ve single handedly invented baseball, football, and the X-Games in the past 100 years, and this is the best they could come up with?’” pondered the one-time leader of the free world.  “This is even worse than soccer!”

“America has been carrying the world on its very capable back for the past six centuries,” continued Mr. Bush. “It is tired of doing all the work while those freeloaders, especially Mexico, reap the benefits of its political stability, stylish mp3 players, and Twilight vampire novels.”

Early reactions to the startling news have been mixed.  Israel says it will miss the babysitting, and China will be sad to see its weekly allowance go, but, on a positive note, the European Union has expressed delight that it will no longer play second fiddle to its more creative, more successful younger brother, and Canada is looking forward to being the undisputed ruler of North America.

Regardless of what the rest of the world thinks, the emancipation seems to enjoy the overwhelming support of the American public.

“I’ll definitely miss the burritos and Brazilian supermodels,” said 26-year old cable installer Marty Davidson.  “But it’s only a matter of time before America figures out how to copy those things and make them even better.  So I’m cool with it.”

Models with John Marcheschi

Last night Gc (Guess Collection) Watches launched in India at a smokey soiree over cocktails and casino chips. The real shocker of course was that Mumbai’s well-heeled showed up for an 8:30pm event at 9:30pm! This, I’m guessing (pardon the pun) must be some kind of Fashion Week hangover where the fashionably late missed most of the fashion. But anyway, today’s party trend is to get a social butterfly to play host for you which Anish Trivedi (sans Cigar since the smoking ban) did with elan at the Trident Hotel Regal Room. (That’s the hotel previously-known-as-the-Hilton-formerly-known-as-the-Oberoi) while everyone bounced to the beat of DJ Megha Kawale.

Narendra Kumar Ahmed and Nina Manuel

Black Jack

Among the first few to arrive were Dolly Thakore, Krsna Mehta, Vijay Kalantri and Rashmi Uday Singh followed by Kim Sharma, Narendra Kumar Ahmed (revealing that he needed to go hat shopping), Kadambari, Monica Vazirali, Esther & Raju Daswani, Lubna Adams, Naaz & Remu Zaveri (who seemed to be on a roll at the blackjack table), Ganesh Hegde, Chaya Momaya and Ashish Raheja with his new foreign flame.

Brazilian Models

At some point 12 Brazilian models sashayed through the crowd and I can safely say the watches adorned on their black-gloved hands were not what everyone was staring at.

Carol Gracias

Lisa Haydon and Karan Bhoj

The desi model brigade trooped in later including Kelly Dorjee, Carol Gracias, Mashoom Singha, Nina Manuel (with her after hours camera crew), and Lisa Haydon with DJ-boyfriend Karan Bhoj (psst He’s Nina Manuel’s ex – good thing the Joker was MIA!)

Brazil must be the place! Let’s see…if we were in Hawaii we’d say: Brazil is ‘da kine’ place! In Europe, Brazil is often referred to as ‘da bomb’ and allow me to say that the origin of such is a direct compliment to Brazilian women. Sort of like the country is exploding with bronze bombshells. And you know what? It is!!

Starting the clockwise direction from the top: Just up and to the left is Gabriela Rabelo who at a very young age signed with Penny Preville and some other big name glamour and beauty names…besides, she is about as perfect as anyone I’ve ever seen!

I think that Brazil is magical kind of like Disneyland is magical. I’d swear that some kind of genetic experimentation is going on there…but it’s not just looks that are so spectacular. From film to fashion, food, colorful clothing, with the spirit of love in the air,  Brazil is the place that renowned artists write and sing about. Have you ever noticed how happy the people are?

I can vividly recall being a little person with my parents at the movies and hearing, “Girl from Ipanema” playing in an endless loop. Somehow I never tired of the tune. And today…I still hear the same tune from the same artist just about weekly! Then again Barry Manilow made a career and a fortune singing about at the “Copa.” Even Duran-Duran did some marvelous tributes to Rio and all of Brazil.

And of course to the immediate right is the one the only Leticia Burkheuer who is and has been one of Brazil’s more successful models. Leticia for me is real cutting edge…I mean if it’s a hair cut, denim endorsement, or lingerie—Leticia takes modeling just one step further up.

Anyone catch the film, Turista’s last year? Well it was just one of those ’screamer’ films made much in the same genre as Nightmare on Elm Street, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween, or anyone of the hundreds of ’slasher’ films made annually in the industry.

I featured it about a year ago here on Simpleminds and even offered an I.D. challenge for the mystery girl in the cast. All up the film was okay; however, the cast and location shots were outright amazing. We’re talking under water caves, beaches, and jungle. The film did have enough powerful dialog in it to make me look up several statistics regarding such a gorgeous country.

Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, it is today South America’s leading economic power and a regional leader.

As most know I believe one of the greatest qualities a model can have is known as versatility. I have featured several models intermittently on this site who for some reason have the ability to look Asian, African, Caucasian, or Latin while at the same time being blonde, brunette, big, small, athletic, and Divine.

 Opposite and to the right is the sensational Ana Gequelin; seriously, it would not be a stretch to feature an entire week’s worth of material simply on the salacious Ms. Gequelin. 

Many, many Brazilian models are able to fit this versatility virtue to perfection. I mean these are the kind of professionals that one may compare in two separate photographs and say, “No way!!” That can’t possibly be so-and-so; or ‘you’re kidding me!’ I didn’t know that was her!

Certainly one of the most successful models to come from Brazil personifies the versatility virtue. Ana Beatriz Barros is just one of the more gifted ladies of having this talent. Did you know that there are actually experts that all they do is cover Ms. A.B.B? I know a couple of them and they even have a difficult time.

 With special thanks to our fabulous and diverse models from Brazil: Gabriela Rabelo, Leticia Burkheuer, Ana Gequelin, the one and only Ana Beatriz Barros, and the Amazing, Amanda Irby.