my photo album from Barbie’s 50th birthday party in Toronto and the opening of LG Fashion Fashion Week
September 7th, 2010I Was Barbie, modelling/ muse, night life, photographic projects, theatre No CommentsThese are the “real life” photos from the night I represented Barbie at Mattel’s birthday party for her, and the launch of the Barbie-inspired fashion line for real women.
I tell the story of that night in my one woman performance piece I w@s B*rbie. (Earlier version of the show were simply called I was Barbie.)
Click on the thumbnails to see the full images. All photos were taken by Michael Pihach.
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- "the wall behind me is only made of cardboard and doesn't even stand up by itself"
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- this machine rvideo recorded people's Barbie stories... no idea what was done (if anything LOL) with the footage
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- the crowd inside the Fashion Week tents
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- the twisted line-up to get into the Barbie themed fashion show for real women
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- pink crystal chandeliers cast pink light everywhere
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- that's Ben Mulroney on the left and I think its Leah Miller on the right
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- I asked to take a photo with Ben
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- inside the main hall waiting for the fashion show to start... that's Sex Matters' Cynthia Loydst on the right (at the time a Fashion Televission producer)
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- the cameras take B-roll of the crowd
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- Robin Kaye, the Head of the Fashion Design Council of Canada says a few words
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- a video montage before the show hypes the crowd... the song is Doll Parts by Courtney Love but before the track gets dark and tragic it mixes into a techno beat
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- who can stop looking at Ben? I was mesmerized
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- everybody laughed at this except the over-tanned woman sitting directly in front of me
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- these beefcake male models came out onto the catwalk awearing shirts that said "ken Who?" and they had trays of drinks for everyone in the audience
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- which girls has extensions in and who was using all their real hair?
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- catwalk shot
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- the buyers guide so you can check off which pieces who'd like to by and drop it off with the designer
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- the lights above the catwalk
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- i said to the gay guy sitting next to me "Honey, a proper model is more than a moving mannequin. Whatever energy she's bringing to the catwalk --whether she's sexy, sassy or flirty -- I wanted to feel it. I want it to be REAL.
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- the drinks were mixing with my ativan immediately
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- a beautiful high fashion Barbie with almost no tits and almost no hips
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- the drinks were called Rich Passion and they were served in a gold coloured aluminun can
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- yes!
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- chandeliers over the end of the catwalk
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- i think I'd like to pick up a few of thes epieces if I can afford it
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- gorgeous!
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- David Dixon, the designer, comes out to take a bow and gets a standing ovation. the collection is a success...
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- that final fierce moment where some of the models are coming down the runway one way and some are coming the other way
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- posing for photos after the runway show
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- post runway show swirling lights
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- camera, woman
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- fashionistas Jeff Rustia and Geoffrey
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- David Dixon and I after the fashion show
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- she said "just stay right where you are" i think "you're not allowed to talk to Barbie in that tone..."
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- they had a light up wall display that had every Barbie doll ever made
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- the Marilyn Monro Barbie was right next to the Kimora Lee Simmons Barbie
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- checking myself backstage whil Fashion Week DJ Daniel Wilson watches me watching me
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- later I walk around serving cupcakes and the people COME for my cupcakes
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- having my make-up touched up for TV
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- telling the Fashion Television producers which angles that I want to be shot from. they humoured me and did what they wanted...
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- chatting with Glenn Baxter, one of the hosts of Fashion Television
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- everyone stop being spontaneous while fix the audio levels on Glenn's mic
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- me and Glenn go our separate ways
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- after the interview Robin Kaye, the Head of the Fashion Design Council of Canada, grabs Glenn and I to pose for pictures
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- this guy bought me another can of Rich Passion
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- we found these underground tunnels under Nathan Pillips Square and went into this decrepit washroom we weren't supposed to be in
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- Glenn Dixon, David Dixon's brother, designed a Barbie themes furniture line for real people
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- i did this very strange TV interview in front of the wall of Barbies where the interviewer did all the talking and didn't let me get a word in... OK
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- in the middle of the bar was this booth where a pre-recorded video message told you how to inspect your breasts for cancer
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- there were also these booths in the bar area where women were demonstrating household appliances like steamers and irons
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- fooling around at the end of the night
The book is being published by Intellect Books. It will be an international publication. Intellect has already published books about trailblazers like David Cronenberg, David Lynch and some other amazing artists. To see their other titles check out their website http://www.intellectbooks.co.uk/ 
I’ve been a part of the Prism brand since its inception and have had some of the most thrilling nights of my life hosting parties for promoter Gairy Brown and Prism. I have seen Prism grow into the largest festival of circuit party events in North America. The line-up of international and local DJs, performers and designers that the Prism Festival showcases in Toronto is unprecidented.
