Canada’s Next Top Model
Posted on May 28, 2009 - Filed Under Charity, HSUS, Nigel Barker Today, Photography
Canadian Models Protecting Seals
Harp seals have always held a special place in my heart. That is why season three of Canada’s Next Top Model premiered with three lucky contestants winning a trip to visit the baby harp seal nursery, courtesy of Humane Society International.
Last year, when Jay Manual (the creative director for America’s Next Top Model) approached me to appear once again on Canada’s Next Top Model, where he takes Tyra’s position and hosts the show in his native country, we decided to do something extra-special. We wanted to come up with a unique episode, because we both believe that being a role model is the most important part of winning either America’s or Canada’s Next Top Model. Combined with the fact that I am the official spokesperson for the ProtectSeals campaign of Humane Society International/The Humane Society of the United States, filming with the seals seemed like a natural choice.
The idea originated after I flew out to Toronto (where CNTM is filmed with my crew) for the first photo shoot of the season. The concept for the shoot was “Faux, Not Fur”. On the set, the contestants were surprised to see they each had to pose with another model, one who could easily steal the show: their partners were rescued animals from the Muskoka Wildlife Centre – http://www.muskokawildlifecentre.com/. At the end of the shoot, creative director Nole Marin and I picked the woman who had performed the best. The lucky winner got to pick two friends, and all of them were in for the trip of a lifetime! As the spokesperson for the ProtectSeals campaign, I was going to take the women to the birthing grounds of the harp seals off Canada’s eastern shores.
Last year, I directed and produced a documentary and collection of photographs celebrating the beauty of the baby harp seals from the moment of their birth to the tragic hunt that commences as soon as 12 days later. The crux of the film is how amazing the seals are and how lucky Canada is to be endowed with these wondrous animals who migrate from Greenland every year to give birth on its shores. I have always advocated ecotourism as a wonderful alternative to the hunt that would benefit not just the seals but also the fisherman who currently often risk their lives to kill these innocent animals for their fur in a manner that has been condemned by the international community.
The women had an incredible time on the ice and were wowed by how fortunate Canada is to have these beautiful animals as part of its national identity.
Comments
2 Responses to “Canada’s Next Top Model”
Leave a Reply
I have been following you on America’s Next Top Model Nigel and I love your work. The pics on this site are also awesome Nigel. Keep inspiring the rest of us.
Does Nigel do private photography for “ordinary people,” meaning not model quality, does anyone know if he is for hire? I am a HUGE fan of the America’s Top Model. I was visualizing myself in a pictures holding all of my published novels. Oh I forgot to mention I am an Author of fiction books.
Well, if anyone can be of assistance with this question, I would be mighty obliged!
-Lesa Dyer Kitching