GLAMOUR - November 2001

cover confidential

Who's That Girl?
Josie Maran, with the scoop on her Glamour cover

Your very first magazine cover was Glamour's June 1998 issue. Remember it?
"Totally! I was living in Los Angeles at the time and flew into New York for the shoot. It was a big deal--my first one--but Stewart [Shining, the photographer] said, 'You can do this.' The mood was fun so I was like, 'OK,' and it was so easy! It was a perfect modeling moment. To work for Glamour is like being with family!"

Is there a certain "uniform" you wear to shoots?
"Something comfortable. I know they're going to be dressing me, but still, I try to be a little bit fashionable so people don't think I'm totally out of the scene! There's nothing else I need--just my phone."

Is it true that you just finished filming a movie?
"Yes, I just shot my first film, in Montreal--a low-budget independent movie, The Mallory Effect. It's a dark comedy, and I play Mallory. It's slated for release next year."

What do you want people to think when they see this month's Glamour cover?
"Just that it's fresh and beautiful. And happy and alive."

Caption:
Where'd you get that dress?
When Glamour editor Karen Hanes de Larrain spotted this Oscar de la Renta Pink Label dress, she immediately knew it was cover-ready. Josie agrees: "It felt like it was made for my body. It would be fun to wear it to a premiere."

Josie is no longer with Elite.

circa 2001

Main Board Biography

Growing up in Northern California, a face-paced career in the modeling and film industry was not exactly what Josie Maran had foreseen while growing up outside San Francisco. At least that was until she stumbled upon a Maybelline ad featuring their long-time contracted model, and later Josie’s role model, Christy Turlington. Josie’s ascent into the fashion world is that of a model storybook. Eating at a local BBQ joint with some friends one day after school, Josie was offered a position in a San Francisco fashion show. There, she was spotted by an agent who signed her at the age of 12 to model in her breaks from school. Upon high school graduation, she signed with Elite Los Angeles, becoming one of their top models—appearing in over 25 commercials and music videos—before making the move across the country to Elite New York.

Quickly rising the ranks of the industry, Josie has established herself as a top editorial model and a much sought-after advertising image. She has been photographed by renowned photographers such as Patrick Demarchelier, Bruce Weber, Antoine Verglas, Ellen von Unwerth, Michael Thomson, Michele Comte, Mark Abrahams, Terry Richardson, Walter Chin, and Herb Ritts. Josie’s been featured in top magazine such as Glamour, Mademoiselle, Sports Illustrated, international editions of Elle and Cosmopolitan and Vogue, Self, Max, and Arena. Concerning campaigns, one of Josie’s trademarks was the Guess campaign, as well as appearing in Ann Taylor, Finesse, Jigsaw, Gap, and Sisley ads. And lastly, in a pleasant irony, Josie is now under contract for the prestigious international campaign for Maybelline, just like her childhood inspiration and role model, Christy Turlington. In addition, Josie will be having her own calendar coming out in the fall of 2001.

While Josie is having fun in front of the still camera for print work, one of Josie’s aspirations has always been film acting. Currently pursuing an acting career, Josie has signed on with the highly prestigious Endeavor agency in LA and is currently filming the movie “The Mallory Effect,” where she plays the female lead, Mallory.

BIOGRAPHY

Dreams do come true…

As a young girl in northern California, JOSIE MARAN did not fantasize about the world of fashion until she saw Christy Turlington whose undeniable poise and grace --as the face of Maybelline, she aspired to achieve. At just twelve years old, Josie participated in a fashion show in San Francisco where she was spotted by an agent and began modeling during breaks from school. Upon graduation from high school, she signed with Elite in Los Angeles becoming one of the top girls in the market, and appearing in over twenty-five television commercials and music videos.

Josie has since established herself as a top editorial model and has been featured on the covers of such publications as LUCKY, GLAMOUR, MADEMOISELLE and SELF, and in such advertising campaigns as ANN TAYLOR, FINESSE, and GAP BODY. She has been photographed by such renowned photographers as Patrick Demarchelier, Bruce Weber, and Antoine Verglas, and repeatedly featured in the highly coveted annual SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIM SUIT ISSUE --in which she currently appears.

Just like her childhood idol, Christy Turlington, Josie is now under contract with MAYBELLINE COSMETICS for their prestigious International Campaign.

In the future, Josie hopes to use all of her experience in front of the camera for a career in acting.

MAXIM - August 2000

Joltin’ Josie
Guess? model Josie Maran is everybody’s favorite pussycat. But her wild side just can’t be tamed.

By Bob Ivry

“My dream is to have sex twice a day. Every time I get into bed, I want it.”

Growing up in northern California, Josie Maran spotted a magazine photo of Christy Turlington and immediately began fantasizing about becoming a famous model. Now, at 22, the New York-based beauty has appeared in major campaigns for Guess? and Maybelline and has starred in more than 25 television commercials and music videos. But as we quickly discovered over a seafood dinner with the sultry sensation, Josie has moved on to other, slightly more visceral fantasies.

Josie on dinner: “Red wine and sushi is my favorite. I like eel, yellowtail, and tuna, but I’m obsessed with sea urchin roe. Obsessed. I need it. When I eat it with my friends, I freak them out a little because it’s almost orgasmic. I say, ‘Can you guys feel it?’ They’re, like, ‘Whatever.’ Eating it is an experience that I like to have alone. I love the creamy texture.”

Josie on acting: “I’ve done commercials for BMW, Neutrogena, and Crest. I also did an Herbal Essences shampoo commercial. You know—‘It’s organic’—three girls getting really excited while shampooing. Basically, I wore a G-string and had fake orgasms in the shower for three days straight. The director would actually say, ‘OK, it’s starting…OK, it’s building!…OK, you’re peaking!’ My mom came to visit me on the set. It must have been interesting for her.

“I also appeared in an old Backstreet Boys video where Howie is a vampire sucking blood from my neck. It was really sexy, kind of an orgasm scene. There was controversy because Backstreet Boys fans thought that I must be his girlfriend. He had to go out onstage and say, ‘That wasn’t my girlfriend in the video.’ He did ask me for my number, though. I said no. They’re nice guys, but butt ugly. And they weren’t all that famous yet, either. I really hate their music, especially when you have to hear it all the time.

“I want to become a real actress. You can’t model forever. I’d like to go to Juilliard to study acting and then get kicked out after one year. But I don’t want to get typecast as The Pretty Girl. I’ve played The Dark Girl in a few commercials, and I like it. My dream role is the serial killer Juliette Lewis played in Natural Born Killers. She’s powerful. Sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll.”

Josie on her temper: “I’m usually a mellow, go-with-the-flow person, except when someone tells me I should do something. Then I get stubborn. If they don’t back off, I get this horrible rage and want to kill them. When I was four and my mom would send me to my room, I’d get so mad I’d go outside and bang my head on the sidewalk.”

Josie on alternative careers: “When I was younger, I wanted to be a sex therapist—a hipper Dr. Ruth. I’ve never had a boring conversation about sex. When you talk about sex, people come alive. My friends told me, ‘You know, guys are going to come to talk about their wives, but then they’re going to want to sleep with you.’ I figured I’d just wear a bag over my head.”

Josie on top: “I love talking about sex, but doing it is better. I’m good at psychology, and I’m good at lovin’. My dream is to have sex twice a day. Every time I get into bed, I want it. Guys are, like, ‘Whoa, slow down!’ For most guys it’s time to sleep. I’m, like, ‘No, it’s not!’ They can’t keep up with me. And I don’t believe in marriage. Why do people screw up a perfectly good thing with a contract? I just want to have fun, happy sex and romance.”

Josie on alternative stimulation: “Vibrators are really important for girls. Boyfriends should accept them and make friends with them. I just got my first vibrator, and it’s so exciting. I called my mom and said, ‘This is the best! You have to get one!’ I just feel open about myself, and a bit raunchy, with it. I know myself better. The thing needs a name, though. Maybe Maxim readers can write in with suggestions.”

circa 1998

"I'm still figuring out why people would want to look at me. Maybe it's generic beauty, but it's weird to be valued for something I was born with."
- Josie Maran

This chestnut haired exquisite beauty is best known for her work in the Summer '98 and Fall '98 Guess? advertising campaigns. Josie Maran was born and raised just outside San Francisco in Menlo Park, and graduated from an all-girls private school. Although she now resides in Manhattan, California will always be considered home. Following the path of many other models, Maran did not initially aspire to be a model.

She was hanging out with her friends at a BBQ in her hometown three years ago when a woman asked her to be in a fashion show. This request was the beginning of her modeling career, since a modeling agent at the show spotted Maran and encouraged her to start modeling.

Presently managed by the Elite Model Management, Maran has graced such magazine covers as Fitness, Glamour and Teen, as well as Shape, Seventeen, Stuff, and Sport. Apart from her work in the Guess? advertising campaign, she also appeared in ads for Maybelline and American Eagle Outfitters. People may recognize her as the main female character in the Backstreet Boys video, "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)".

Although Maran has already had an impressive modeling career at the tender age of 20, she is still down to earth. Not only does she "look at life as an adventure", but she also enjoys learning about different people, cultures and countries. When not working, Maran makes time for her favorite pastimes: reading, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.

With such a large number of young girls being approached by modeling scouts, she advises young aspiring models to finish high school, since there is always time for modeling after graduation. She also suggests to keep an open mind, not to take life so seriously and be deceived -- modeling is not as glamorous as it seems! It may not be glamorous, but with Maran's natural beauty, she makes modeling seem like second nature, despite the fact that she is only 5' 7" tall (below the standard for female models).

Guess?

circa 1998

At 20 years old, Josie Maran has one of those unforgettable faces. With chestnut hair and chocolate brown eyes, Josie has a simple beauty that gets her noticed. It was this magical loveliness that prompted Paul Marciano, President and Creative Director of GUESS?, Inc. to include her in the Summer '98 and Fall '98 GUESS? advertising campaigns. Standing at just 5', 7" tall, she has been a familiar face on www.guess.com.

Born and raised just outside San Francisco in Menlo Park, she's a California girl at heart. She graduated from an all-girls private school where she learned to value friendship and determination. When asked how she was "discovered," her answer is pretty simple. She was at a BBQ in her hometown with some friends and a woman asked her to be in a fashion show. A modeling agent at the show saw her and encouraged her to begin modeling, and that was only three years ago. Needless to say, her career has been going in fast-forward motion ever since.

Josie looks at life as an adventure. She loves to learn about other people, cultures and countries. She enjoys reading, running, hiking, traveling and spending time with her family and friends. There is never a typical day for Josie. When she's not shooting a GUESS? campaign, she is meeting with clients for new jobs or shooting a cover for a fashion magazine.

Her advice for those that are interested in modeling -- if you are still in high school, finish; there is always time later on after you graduate to pursue modeling. She recommends being open minded because there is a lot to see and learn. She reminds us not to take life so seriously and that modeling is not as glamorous as it may seem. The main thing is to be yourself and people will follow you!

Now living in Manhattan, she would like to continue modeling for a few more years and eventually do some acting. Although traveling keeps her quite busy, she remains grounded. Her dream is to live on the beach and enjoy the good life. But, whose isn't?!

TEEN - July 1997

Q. How did you get into modeling?
Someone came up to me on a street in San Francisco and asked me to be in a Benetton fashion show. Then an agent scouted me at the show, and I joined an agency. I was 12. I've been modeling for six years now.

Q. How do you like it?
Modeling's a love/hate relationship. The love is [the promise of] fame and fortune. The hate is that it's a big competition. I come home to my normal friends, and they keep me nice, so it doesn't go to my head.

Q. What's your sign?
Taurus, but I don't think there's very much bull in me. I'm very go-with-the-flow. I know what I want and I usually get it, but I just work hard at getting it. I don't step on other people.

Q. What's your beauty regime?
Just lotion in the morning. I'm very natural. I usually don't wear makeup. No hair products. Nothing!

Q. What's in your future?
I want to be the next Dr. Ruth. I'm studying psychology in school so I can be a sex therapist. I'm a freshman in college at San Diego State, but I'm taking a semester off because I'm working so much right now.

Q. Who do you admire?
I love Madonna because she does what she loves, and she's not afraid to express [herself].

Q. What's your favorite food?
Chocolate chip cookie dough. My favorite candy is watermelon Now & Laters [we didn't ask, but she needed to tell]. And I keep my model figure by eating Slim Jims--just kidding!