Sports Illustrated | Alex Woo Jewelry

Steuben / African Wildlife Foundation Event

Alex Woo attended the unveiling of “The Big 5 Collection” gala event in New York City tonight. The Steuben sponsor event was hosted by Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover, runway model and AWF Goodwill Ambassador Veronica Varekova.

To support these animals natural habitat, starting in September through December 10% of all proceeds from these designs will benefit the African Wildlife Foundation, the leading conservation organization focused solely on the African continent. Since its inception in 1961, the AWF has protected endangered species and the land and habitat they depend on; promoted partnerships with the private sector to benefit local communities as a means to improve livelihoods, and trained hundreds of African nationals in conservation — all to ensure the survival of Africa’s unparalleled wildlife heritage.

A portion of the proceeds of all pieces sold within Alex Woo’s Sweni Collection is also donated to the African Wildlife Foundation. In the photo, Alex Woo is pictured with long time supporter of AWF, co-founder of the pioneering hip-hop label Def Jam and creator of Phat Farm, Russell Simmons.

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2009

Sports Illustrated 2009 For the past 4 years in a row, Alex Woo jewelry has been featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition for a total of 5 times. This year’s coveted Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, features 23-year-old Israeli model Bar Refaeli on the cover, and 19 models in 5 different locations. Photographers shot over 100,000 photos for this issue of the magazine. Several of the models including Jarah Mariano, Anne V, Julie Henderson, Damaris Lewis and tennis star Maria Kirilenko wear Alex Woo jewelry.

Jarah Mariano: Jarah is an American fashion model of Hawaiian, Korean, and Chinese descent. Born in the city of Lihue on the island of Kauai in Hawaii, at the age of 4 relocated with her family to California. At the age of 15, she was discovered in Santa Monica, California by Next Agency and after graduating from high school, she moved to New York City, where she continued to model and attended Pace University as a full-time student, receiving her degree in Speech Communications with a Media Studies Concentration. In the photos and interview, she wears Alex Woo’s Little Luck Wishbone.

Anne Vyalitsyna: Born March 19, 1986, she is simply known as Anne V, and is a Russian model. Born in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod, formerly known as Gorky, she started her professional modeling career at the age of 15, after IMG scouts discovered her in Saint Petersburg while looking for new faces for MTV’s Fashionably Loud Europe. In the photos, she wears Alex Woo’s Siri Necklace.

Damaris Lewis: From Brooklyn New York, she was born 1991 and is the “rookie” of the bunch similar to Julie Henderson in 2007.

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2008

Sports Illustrated Winter 2008 As always, the widely anticipated Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition causes heads to turn and searchs online to soar for everything from “sports illustrated swimsuit” to “si swimsuit 2008.” This year, the lovely Marisa Miller (wearing Alex Woo jewelry in previous issues) graces the cover. Race car driver Danica Patrick and other lovelies, including 4 athletes’ wives, 12 NFL cheerleaders, Leonardo di Caprio’s girl friend, Heidi Klum, and Will Ferrell are also inside. This year’s edition was photographed at the Cayman Islands, Israel, Maui, Russia, St. John as well as several other exotic locations.

Irina Shayk (Shaykhlislamova): Born January 6, 1986 in Yemanzhelinsk Russia she was discovered in 2004 at the age of 18 and soon appeared in magazines throughout Europe. Her big break came last year in the 2007 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue which propelled her into an international fashion start, which was followed up by another appearance this year where she is seen wearing Alex Woo’s Siri Necklace. Approximately 5′ 10″ tall she has green eyes, brown hair and has been a model for ‘Annabelle’ (May 2005), ‘Jalouse’ (February 2006), ‘Woman’ (July 2005), and ‘Bolero’ (June 2005).

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Calendar 2007

MarissaMiller Sports Illustrated 2007 The most prestigious swimsuit calendar again struts its stuff, showing once more why it’s a favorite with men around the world. Includes a bonus full-color poster of all-star SI cover models! Large format for a better view! In the calendar for November, Marisa Miller is photographed wearing Alex Woo’s Little Seasons Daisy Pendant.

Marisa Miller: With a face that has graced the cover of magazines like Vogue, Fitness and Shape, it’s no wonder SI called her back for the 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 Swimsuit Editions. Born New Years Day in 1980 in the coastal city of Santa Cruz, California, she still says “The first thing I do every morning is go online to check the surf. If the waves are good, I’ll go surf. The beach is 10 minutes away.”

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2007

Ten years ago, Tyra Banks became the first black supermodel to appear alone on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. This year, singer and actress Beyoncé Knowles has landed the cover and is the first woman to be on the cover of the magazine that is not a model or an athlete. With a music theme, this super issue features supermodels with Kanye West, Aerosmith, Kenny Chesney, Gnarls Barkley and Panic! At the Disco. And inside, three of the supermodels, wear Alex Woo’s Little Big Notes and Little Big Numbers.

Julie Henderson: The “rookie,” this 20 year old Houston, Texas born model marks her first appearance in the swimsuit issue. Discovered at a modeling school in Houston when she was only 8, by the time she graduated from the Barbizon School of Modeling at the age of 18, she had already signed with New York Model Management. What attracts her to a man? “If they make me laugh and they are taller than me (5 feet 10 inches)

Oluchi Onweagba : Born in Lagos, Nigeria, this 24 year old beauty was discovered by a modeling scout at the age of 17 while selling bread on the streets of her home town. Shortly thereafter she moved to New York City to begin her modeling career and marks her third appearance in the swimsuit edition. in Oluchi’s native Nigeria, her first name means “work of God.”

Jessica White: Just 22 years old and hailing from Buffalo, New York, she was 14 when she went to New York City for a IMTA (International Modeling and Talent Association) competition and did so well that she got so many call backs for both modeling and acting the rest is history. Marking her fourth appearance in the swimsuit edition, she is the first African-American model to appear in three consecutive editions of the SI Swimsuit Issue (2003, 2004, and 2005).

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2006

Sports Illustrated 2006 With an All-Star Model cover featuring Veronica Varekova, Elle Macpherson, Rebecca Romijn, Rachel Hunter, Daniela Pestova, Elsa Benitez, Carolyn Murphy, and Yamila Diaz-Rahi – you know the issue is going to be a keeper. With 250 pages featuring 25 of the world’s most beautiful supermodels including tennis superstar Maria Sharapova, it really is mmm… for the three M’s who wear Alex Woo jewelry of course!

Molly Sims: Famous for being one of the hottest runway models, her photos have glistened in Victoria’s Secret, SI swimsuit issues and countless advertising campaigns for a long time. Known for being both intelligent as well as beautiful, she hosted MTV’s House of Style and in 2003, she joined the cast of NBC’s fast-paced and sexy drama Las Vegas in the role of Delinda Deline. Having also been in “Maxim’s Hot 100,” and finished a role in an indie called “Venus and Vegas,” it is only appropriate that she proudly wears Alex Woo’s Vegas Collection in Sin City for her photoshoots. Wearing both a “lucky 7″ from the Little Numbers Collection and a “spade” in many of the photos, what can anyone say but we’re happy she switched from being a lawyer to pursue a modeling career.

Marisa Miller: With a face that has graced the cover of magazines like Vogue, Fitness and Shape, it’s no wonder SI called her back for the 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 Swimsuit Editions. Born New Years Day in 1980 in the coastal city of Santa Cruz, California, she still says “The first thing I do every morning is go online to check the surf. If the waves are good, I’ll go surf. The beach is 10 minutes away.” In many of the photos, she is seen wearing Alex Woo’s Little Season’s Daisy Pendant.

Mallory Snyder: First spotted in MTV’s Real World in Paris 2003, this 5’11″ soccer athlete was born Jan. 7, 1984 and silenced all the dissenters with multiple appearences in Sports Illustrated and a clear sense of ambition. In several of the photos from her winter shoot in Huahine, Tahiti, she is wearing Alex Woo’s Daisy Pendant.

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2002

Sports Illustrated 2002 Viva el Bikini! This year’s cover model Yamila Diaz-Rahi sits pretty in Mexico wearing a swimsuit by Macarena Gutierrez, shoes by Manolo Blahnik, and Alex Woo’s classic Malia armband. Born in Argentina, Yamila is of Lebanese and Spanish descent and ironically had no intention to become a model. Everything changed however when she was spotted by a modeling agency scout in Buenos Aires and eventually selected to grace the cover of SI’s Swimsuit Edition. Favorite quote? “Some people have active imaginations, but they don’t know me and they’re wrong if they think they do.”

Also inside the famous magazine was native bahaman export Shakara Ledard heating up Brazil’s shore wearing Ambika and Alex Woo’s Angel armband. Born to a Bahamian mother and a French father she attests “It’s hard for a black girl to make it in the fashion industry, but it has fueled me even more and made me all the more determined to make it in the world.” She has succeeded.