"Pucker your lips slightly, as if you're about to kiss," Leila instructed Heidi while holding the camera. "Yes, that's it! One more shot! Very good! Smile at me, squint your eyes."
Heidi's infectious smile, especially when Leila asked her to smile, made the camera shine as if it was captivated. She possessed the vivacity of youth and the sensuality of a mature woman, making the photo shoot proceed smoothly.
Next up was Gisele Bundchen, the future supermodel who was supposed to be discovered by Victoria's Secret years later, but Leila's presence changed her fate, allowing her to enter the coveted secret realm of models years ahead.
For models, youth is crucial. They feed on their youthfulness, and being able to start their modeling careers a year earlier is a stroke of luck, not to mention several years earlier. Leila believed that barring any unexpected events, her achievements would be even more splendid than those in the future.
Well, this supermodel who could take the runway to the opening ceremony of the Olympics, Leila wondered how much more splendid her achievements could become. Would she be walking on the moon next?
It wasn't just these two; Victoria's Secret had an abundance of high-quality models. The future Czech beauty Daniela Pestova, France's Laetitia Casta, and the Black Pearl Tyra Banks, to name a few, were all future supermodels with renowned names.
The pace of the shoot wasn't fast, or rather, it couldn't be. Changing outfits wasn't just about changing clothes; the corresponding makeup also needed to be altered. Thus, Leila spent the entire day in the photography studio.
She didn't bring Claire along because she knew her tendency to lose track of time when working. Having Claire around would surely prompt her to eat and rest. The problem was that inspiration wasn't something that could be summoned at will; once interrupted, it might never return. Moreover, models hardly ate anything during working hours, at most consuming low-calorie fruits like tomatoes or celery.
Leila couldn't possibly sit there enjoying a meticulously prepared lunch while the waiting models looked at her drooling. So, she left Claire in Hollywood, claiming she was assisting with some company matters, but in reality, it was an excuse for her to take a break.
After completing the indoor shoot, the next day Leila took the Victoria's Secret models to Las Vegas and checked into a five-star hotel.
Victoria's Secret was quite generous, effortlessly arranging the presidential suite for her. Of course, this room wasn't solely for her use; it was also meant for her to utilize the "equipment" here to capture beautiful photos of the models.
Before the shoot, Leslie, the owner of Victoria's Secret, had already communicated with the hotel's manager. At their level, their connections were extensive, and getting a guest room to take a few photos wasn't even worth mentioning. Furthermore, upon learning that Leila was taking photos for Victoria's Secret models, they even expressed, "Feel free to shoot."
Despite not having reached the age of twenty, Leila's influence in Hollywood and even in the United States was not to be underestimated. Being able to have the hotel featured in her photos would certainly lead to widespread recognition through the models' images. As the clientele grew, the money earned would surpass the value of a presidential suite.
So, Leila escorted the models to the presidential suite without needing anyone from Victoria's Secret to swipe a card; she gained access with facial recognition.
This realization surprised her, making her chuckle while feeling unexpectedly happy. Who would have thought that after half a lifetime of frustration in her previous life, she would find herself in such a situation?
Heidi was the first to start shooting once again. In the room, Leila had her reclining on the bed, the silky sheer fabric sliding down from her waist, revealing her deeply curved waistline and full hips.
"Stretch lazily, as if you just woke up from a dream." Leila circled the bed, capturing every moment worth recording.
Undergarments were props for showcasing "inner beauty," and one shouldn't ignore their presence just because not many people would see them. Ill-fitting undergarments would draw attention away from the clothing, focusing on discomfort instead. Similarly, well-fitting, sensual undergarments would provide comfort and boost confidence.
During the shoot, Leila not only had to capture the models' graceful poses with the merchandise but also their confident and joyful expressions, as well as their makeup. Only this way could she attract more people to buy the products.
After finishing a session, Leila had the makeup artist touch up Heidi's makeup while contemplating if something was still lacking.
She had reviewed the photos taken the previous day, and they were close to what she had envisioned. To outsiders, they might already be quite impressive, but Leila felt something was missing, something that could truly captivate her.
It was like the feeling with Roy when shooting for Burberry. Leila believed that Heidi and the others were also lacking something. A kind of impact, a shock that could resonate in people's hearts upon seeing the photos.
"It seems I need to make a trip there after all!" After much consideration, she finally decided to try out her initially devised third method of shooting—the horror-themed amusement park under the banner of the Phoenix Company.
But before that, she needed to prepare some other things...
While Leila was getting ready for her adventure, a crowd had gathered at a nearby square not far from the hotel.
There were so many people, and almost everyone visiting Las Vegas knew what was happening there. However, Leila only learned about the auditions for "American Idol" during dinner, from a conversation with someone nearby.
Those who hadn't seen the first round of auditions wouldn't understand how spectacular it was.
This wasn't a tentative show like in her past life, but rather a carefully planned effort to expand the show's influence. From the moment the show was conceived, Moran Media's various outlets had inundated the media landscape with intensive coverage. They made sure that the entire nation knew about the upcoming reality show that could turn ordinary people into stars.
Want a cash prize? Want a chance at fame? Want to rise to stardom in the entertainment industry? Want to achieve remarkable success and stand out from the crowd?
"American Idol" is the shortcut nearest to you!
Seeing these advertisements, those who aspired to enter the entertainment industry but lacked opportunities couldn't remain calm. They hurriedly looked up the audition locations nearest to them and rushed to register, regardless of everything else. Rumor had it that the top ten would get signed by agents, and the top three would receive extensive resources for training. Whether you ranked high or not, as long as you were chosen, you'd have a chance to appear in Hollywood's blockbuster films directed by famous directors!
With all sorts of claims and rumors circulating, some true and some false, people who were caught up in the frenzy had lost the ability to discern. They only knew one thing: this was an excellent opportunity to showcase themselves!