Belén Cuesta to Star in Disney+’s First Spanish Period Drama About Celebrated Fashion Designer Cristóbal Balenciaga

Posted on July 13, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Belén Cuesta is dressin’ up her resume with a little Balenciaga…

The 38-year-old Spanish actress, who has starred in Netflix’s hit series Money Heist, will star opposite Gemma Whelan and Albert San Juan in Disney+’s first Spanish period drama Balenciaga (working title).

Other actors set to appear in the drama include Lourdes Iglesias, Jose Mari Goenaga, Jon Garaño and Aitor Arregi.

The six-part drama centers on Cristóbal Balenciaga (San Juan), the son of a seamstress and a fisherman who uses his natural talent, constant work and sharp nose for business to become one of the most prominent fashion designers of all time.

It began filming in June and will continue until autumn in several locations in Spain and France with a team of 100 professionals and 2,000 extras.

Cuesta won the Goya Award for Best Actress for La Trinchera Infinita — a previous series from Iglesias, Garaño and Arregi. She will play Fabiola de Mora y Aragón before she became Queen of Belgium. Balenciaga designed her wedding dress in 1960.

Whelan will play Prudence Glynn, a journalist for The Times newspaper.

Elsewhere, Patrice Thibaud will portray Christian Dior; Josean Bengoetxea will play San Sebastian businessman Nicolás Bizkarrondo; Cecilia Solaguren, his wife, Virgilia Mendizabal; Adam Quintero will be Ramón Esparza, partner and collaborator of Balenciaga; and Elvira Cuadrupani plays Bettina Ballard, correspondent for Vogue magazine in Paris.

The main cast is rounded out by actors Thomas Coumans (Wladzio D’Attainville, Balenciaga’s partner and associate), Gabrielle Lazure (Carmel Snow, fashion director of Harper’s Bazaar), Isabelle Bres (designer Jeanne Lanvin), Anna-Victoire Olivier (actress Audrey Hepburn) and Eva Bley (designer Elsa Schiaparelli).

Streamer Disney+ unveiled the show last November as its first Spanish original as it seeks to meet its target of 60 international originals by 2024.

Las Villa Release Bachata-fied New Single “La Carta”

Posted on April 30, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Las Villa are switching up their sound again…

The Colombian duo, which has recorded trap, perreo and pop music, is now experimenting with bachata for the new single “La Carta.”

Las Villa, comprised of twins Laura and Lucia, present their new single composed by themselves alongside Vibarco, La Pardo, and Casta (who also produced the track).

“La Carta” fuses traditional bachata rhythms with edgy urbano beats, and tells the story of a letter where an ex-partner claims they have changed, but Las Villa believes not for the best. “Now I see you using Balenciaga when a year ago you didn’t care about that/ You’re not happy and soon you’ll realize that your movie will end,” the chorus goes.

“We came to the studio with the idea that we wanted to do a bachata,” the duo expressed in a statement. “It was clear to us that day that we wanted to do something different. The song ends up being about someone who changed from heaven to earth, overnight, and who you used to know and had a very strong bond with, and suddenly that person changes. Their tastes have changed, you don’t recognize them anymore, they now like fine and expensive things, and have completely turned their back on you and on all their values, changing all the fundamentals of life for superficial things.”

In the colorful music video, directed by Sergio de Avila and Jerome Lehoucq, the two sisters are shopping at a local clothing store and gossiping around the streets of Colombia.

Camilo Releases New Single “Ropa Cara”

Posted on January 24, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Camilo is talkin’ expensive fashions in his latest track…

The 26-year-old Colombian singer, whose full name is Camilo Echeverry, has released the new single “Ropa Cara,” a pop track that thrives off of its tropical vibe.

Penned and produced by Camilo and Edgar Barrera, the track finds Camilo reminiscing on past relationships and the lengths he’d go to please his significant other.

“Now she wants me to wear expensive clothes Balenciaga, Gucci, Prada … but I don’t have any of that,” Camilo confesses.

“The story occurred at a time in my life when I tried to alter who I was for love,” Camilo said about the song. “I have been very open about my present and what I’m living today, and I felt like it was time to share a little bit more about my past.”

“Cara Ropa” is the third single from Camilo’s forthcoming sophomore album.

ViacomCBS International Studios Developing Series About Late Fashion Icon Cristóbal Balenciaga

Posted on December 5, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Cristóbal Balenciaga’s life story is heading to the small screen…

ViacomCBS International Studios is developing a series on the late Spanish fashion designer, with director James Kent set to helm and producer Frida Torresblanco to executive produce.

Written by Rebecca Pollock and Kas Graham, the project — which is slated to shoot in 2021 — will depict the life of Balenciaga, who helped lead a revolution in fashion, with his precision and perfectionism earning him the admiration of contemporaries, including Christian Dior, Hubert de Givenchy, and Coco Chanel.

In 1917, at the age of 22, he established his first fashion house in San Sebastian, and later opened fashion houses in Madrid and Barcelona, before moving to Paris in 1937, where his work won the admiration of an influential cosmopolitan clientele. In the 1950s, Balenciaga unveiled never-before-seen styles and shapes, which were considered radical designs at the time.

“I have long admired the genius of the greatest Spanish fashion designer in history,” said Torresblanco. “After discovering Balenciaga’s influences this triggered the implacable need to capture the life of a brave artist who intensely and relentlessly lived for his love of an aristocrat, a handsome gentleman whose life was threatened by the dangerous times he lived in. He liberated women who were restricted in their corsets, by creating a timeless, provocative and avant-garde way to live that continues to influence future generations.”

Kent added: “There are few artists who have affected our world’s material reality – its texture, color, shape and form – in the way Balenciaga has. His creations changed the face of fashion, and his story, until now, has only been told through his fashion designs.”

Cardi B Named Footwear News’ Style Influencer of the Year

Posted on October 29, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Cardi B’s kickin’ style is being honored…

The 28-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar has been given a special award as part of Footwear News’ FN Achievement Awards.

The “WAP” singer has been named Style Influencer of the Year, which is no surprise as she’s always including high-end kicks in her lyrics (red bottoms and those Balenciagas, the ones that look like socks).

On November 13, Cardi B will be dropping a full collaboration with Reebok, which she announced on her birthday earlier this month. The Cardi B Club C sneakers feature a black and white design with a see-through sole, and are available in toddler and adult sizes, costing $50 and $100, respectively.

“I’ve always been into fashion. Back then, I couldn’t afford what I wanted, now I can. It’s easier and I have more connections with brands,” Cardi B told Footwear News. “I could wear the most uncomfortable shoe and I’m just going to take it and love it because it’s fashion, it’s beauty, it’s amazing, it’s different. I get bored, so that’s when me and my stylist [Kollin Carter], we get creative and come up with something new and amazing.”

Cardi will accept the honor during the first virtual FNAAs on December 8.

Bündchen Tops Forbes’ List of the Highest Paid Models of 2015

Posted on September 19, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Gisele Bündchen is beautiful woman on top…

The 35-year-old Brazilian supermodel and entrepreneur tops Forbes‘ annual list of the highest paid models of 2015.

With an income of $44 million dollars, Bündchen’s salary is a league ahead of Cara Delevingne‘s income, which at $9 million has them tied for the second spot.

Bündchen’s earnings are slightly smaller than the $47 million she earned last year. She’s been atop the rankings since 2002.

The versatile Brazilian beauty continues to clock lucrative beauty and fragrance contracts with Chanel and Carolina Herrera, supplementing those money makers with prestigious high fashion campaigns for Emilio Pucci and Balenciaga. Gisele’s Under Armour advertisement, which pictured her attacking a punch bag while social media commentary blared in the background, was perhaps the most impactful this year. Gisele has turned her name into a brand: She gets a cut of sales from the jelly sandals she designs for Brazilian shoemaker Grendene, while her line of Hope lingerie — Gisele Bündchen Intimates — also plumps up her paycheck.

But Bündchen isn’t the only Latina to make this year’s list…

Adriana Lima comes in at No. 3 on this year’s list, with a reported earnings of $9 million.

Joan Smalls comes in at No. 6, with a reported earnings report of $5.5 million.

Alessandra Ambrosio comes in at No. 8, with a reported earnings report of $5 million.

Here’s a preview of the most successful pretty people:

Gisele Bundchen ($44 million)
Cara Delevingne ($9 million)
Adriana Lima ($9 million)
Doutzen Kroes ($7.5 million)
Natalia Vodianova ($7 million)
Miranda Kerr ($5.5 million)
Joan Smalls ($5.5 million)
Lara Stone ($5 million)
Alessandra Ambrosio ($5 million)
Candice Swanepoel ($5 million)
Karlie Kloss ($5 million)

Messi: The Top-Ranking Latino on Forbes’ Celebrity 100 List

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Lionel Messi is a Latino at the top of the global earnings game…

The 28-year-old Argentine soccer star has earned the No. 13 spot on Forbes’ Celebrity 100, the list of the world’s highest-paid superstars of 2015.

Messi, the highest-ranking Latino on the list of the highest paid entertainers on the planet had earnings of $74 million during the reporting period.

In 2014, Spanish club Barcelona awarded Messi, a four-time FIFA player of the year, with a $9 million a year raise in his seventh contract since 2005, bringing his take home pay to $50 million a year through 2018. Messi holds records for most goals in Barca competitions, most goals in La Liga competitions, most goals scored in a calendar year and most hat tricks scored. That incredible talent is why sponsor Samsung cast him as superhero Iron Man in their ad to promote the Avengers film. It’s also why his main sponsor Adidas launched a Messi icon line of shoes and apparel, which has exceeded company sales expectations, including in the U.S.

He recently ranked as the top-ranking Latino on Forbes’ 2015 list of the World’s Highest-Paid Athletes, coming in at No. 4.

Meanwhile, Gisele Bündchen has earned the distinction of highest-ranking Latina on this year’s list.

The 34-year-old Brazilian supermodel, who has been the highest-paid model in the world since 2004, comes in at No. 46 with earnings of $44 million.

Bündchen, the world’s highest-paid model in 2014, continues to out-earn her younger counterparts. Despite rumors that she was retiring from the runway, Bündchen’s earnings have not suffered. She continues to land lucrative fragrance and beauty contracts with Carolina Herrera and Chanel, supplementing those deals with high fashion campaigns for Emilio Pucci and Balenciaga. Her Under Armour advertisement, which showed her attacking a punching bag while social media commentary blared in the background, was one of the most impactful this year. Bündchen has turned her name into a brand: she gets a cut of sales from the jelly sandals she designs for Brazilian shoemaker Grendene, while her line of Hope lingerie – Gisele Bündchen Intimates – also pumps up her paycheck.

Coming in at No. 52 is Bruno Mars, with earnings of $40 million.

The 29-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer-songwriter’s recent collaboration with Mark Ronson, “Uptown Funk,” spent 14 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard charts. It was only one of many reasons Mars solidified his place on the Celebrity 100. After being the featured musician in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Class of 2014, Mars continued to make a name for himself by completing his Moonshine Jungle tour. He’s currently working on his next album, and if it is anything like his previous studio effort, Mars can expect the awards and dollars to keep rolling in.

In all, 10 Latino/a celebrities made this year’s list, including tennis star Rafael Nadal, soccer phenom Neymar and multi-hyphenate extraordinaire Jennifer Lopez.

Here’s the complete list of Latino superstars on Forbes’ Celebrity 100 list:

No. 13 Lionel Messi, $74 million
No. 46 Gisele Bündchen, $44 million
No. 52 Bruno Mars, $40 million
No. 63 Fernando Alonso, $35.5 million
No. 76 Rafael Nadal, $32.5 million
No. 82 Neymar, $31 million
No. 86 Carmelo Anthony, $30.5 million
No. 89 James Rodriguez, $29 million
No. 95 Jennifer Lopez, $28.5 million
No. 95 Sofia Vergara, $28.5 million

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