Hip Hop Models:
"Hip hop" models are female models who appear in mainstream hip-hop oriented music videos, men's magazines, calendars, award shows, and live performances. Hip hop models are also known as hip hop honeys, dimes (or dymes or dime pieces), video vixens and eye candy. There are primarily two classifications of Hip hop models. There are models who strictly do print media (magazines, calendars, etc.), while others do print media as well as hip hop videos.
Controversy
There is a long list of criticism pertaining to controversies created by hip hop models. Many people in the mainstream feel that hip hop models represent negative, subservient or misogynistic images of women, especially black and Latino women. Detractors accuse hip hop models of causing a misrepresentation of the morals and values of minority women, because hip hop videos are the only way many people around the world are exposed to American Black and Latino culture. For instance, in 2004, Nelly caused protests because of his music video for the song "Tip Drill".
In 2005, a former Hip Hop music video star and model Karrine Steffans aka "Superhead" released her debut book Confessions of a Video Vixen, where she lashes out at the world of hip hop modeling, especially its degradation of women. The book's publisher describes the book as "part tell all, part cautionary tale". Another hip hop model, Candace Smith, said in an XXL interview, "what I've seen on [music video] sets is completely degradation".Criticism has also reached the very networks that broadcast such videos. BET's former late-night program "BET Uncut" often featured explicit music videos that ordinarily would not have been shown during the day, and many contain partial nudity. "Before, artists were mostly making sexually oriented material for the underground market — providing them to strip clubs, or selling them as part of videos or DVDs. Now, they're bringing them directly to television, through places like BET Uncut and the Playboy network. And more outlets are growing for those who want to see more — or less — than a bikini".
Successful hip hop models
For those who have been fortunate enough to make a name for themselves as hip hop models, there are many avenues to bigger success. Some of these girls have only done limited work as hip hop models but, have found ways to market themselves. Many hip hop models have marketed themselves successfully through fan websites, film, calendars, DVDs, import car shows, personal appearances, party hosting, and various other projects.- Rosa Acosta
- Nicole Alexander (Winner of VH1's Flavor Of Love Season 1)
- Leila Arcieri
- Esther Baxter (Known also by the nickname "Miss Freek-a-Leek")
- Sagia Castañeda ("Shone", Flo Rida, "I Know You Want Me" and "Hotel Room Service", Pitbull)
- Chandra Davis
- Melyssa Ford (Playboy Model of the Month, Numerous music Videos and Mens magazines, Maxim Feature, BET Co-Host of BET Style)
- Vida Guerra (Featured in FHM, Playboy and on Telemundo)
- Toccara Jones
- Lauren London (Appeared in Entourage and was first featured in a video featuring Pharrel and Jay Z)[5]
- Angel Melaku ("Good Life", Kanye West, Blackmens Magazine, SSX, King Magazine, Smooth Girl)
- Nicole Narain
- Lisa Raye
- Tomika Skanes (Candy Shop, B.O.B)
- Karrine Steffans
