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| Europe |
| Model daughter keeps de Villepin in limelight |
| 2005-09-20 |
| Pic at link, nice, but not my type (too sophisticated and parisian). On a more serious note, this is to be seen in the PR efforts to launch Galouzeau "de Villepin" as a presidential candidate for 2007. Dominique de Villepin who is reportedly a man, the French prime minister, has received an unexpected boost from his daughter in the campaign to eclipse his cabinet rival for the presidency, Nicolas Sarkozy. Seen by many as somewhat aloof, Mr de Villepin's chances of winning over the French public will have been greatly enhanced by the modelling exploits of the beautiful, teenage Marie de Villepin. Miss de Villepin, 19, appears across six glossy pages in the current issue of Elle, posing in low-cut or strapless silk and taffeta haute couture from the winter collections of Chanel, Valentino, Givenchy and Armani. Given the French passion for a sexy crimson pout, Miss de Villepin's timely appearance can only lift her father's profile, already helped last week when he was asked to step in for the French President, Jacques Chirac, at the United Nations general assembly in New York. Blonde, tall and fashionably skinny, if a little over made-up, Miss de Villepin - the eldest of the prime minister's three children - appeared beneath the headline "Model Daughter". She was described as having the appeal of a "Pre-Raphaelite Madonna". While she shares the bearing and privilege of her aristocratic father, her CV makes her sound just the sort of person whom Mr de Villepin's reform-minded, political rival Mr Sarkozy wants to attract to his vision of a new France. According to Elle, Miss de Villepin is studying economics, models in her spare time, has shares in a mobile telephone battery company and is an occasional actress. In 2000 she played a minor role in La Bûche, a film starring Emmanuelle Béart, which won a César, the French equivalent of an Oscar. Political analysts believe that her father and Mr Sarkozy, the interior minister, who are both members of Mr Chirac's right-of-centre UMP party, will go head-to-head in the presidential elections in 2007. The 72-year-old President spent a week in hospital after suffering what was believed to be a minor stroke a fortnight ago and he nominated Mr de Villepin to step into the UN limelight. French commentators saw this as confirmation of his protégé as "dauphin". Mr Sarkozy, 50, who has three sons, has made no secret of his ambition to be president. Mr de Villepin, 51, however, has stated that he has no desire for the post although few believe him. "Of course he's going to say that while his mentor is president and hasn't completely ruled out standing again," Robert Schneider, the political editor of the weekly Nouvel Observateur magazine told The Sunday Telegraph. Schneider added: "I don't think we should believe him." Mr de Villepin, a former career diplomat who has never been elected, was appointed prime minister in May in the wake of France's rejection of the European Constitution. The French were initially sceptical that he could revitalise the country's economy and cut unemployment but his popularity has grown in the last few weeks. His daughter's high-profile feature in Elle was published as the prime minister was preparing to leave for the UN, where he first came to international prominence in 2003 when he attacked the war on Iraq. In New York, Mr de Villepin dined with Kofi Annan, the UN secretary general, had "warm" talks with President George W Bush, chatted to the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and exchanged a few words with the Chinese President, Hu Jintao. |
| Posted by:anonymous5089 |
| #9 Looks like she went a few rounds with Holyfield. Angling for the muslim vote, Domi? |
| Posted by: thibaud (aka lex) 2005-09-20 22:07 |
| #8 I dunno. I think that death becomes her. |
| Posted by: Secret Master 2005-09-20 19:43 |
| #7 She was described as having the appeal of a "Pre-Raphaelite Madonna". The Pre-Raphaelite Madonnas were moody in a healthy sort of way. This one looks like a typical heroin-addict high fashion model. I just hope it's the fashionable make-up, and that Daddy quickly marries her off to someone who will wean her off the dope. Ick. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-09-20 13:25 |
| #6 LOL. waaay too skinny, credit due, she's got the death warmed over look down pat. |
| Posted by: Red Dog 2005-09-20 10:47 |
| #5 I can view 3 healthier and more beautiful specimens right outside my office door. She probably can't even begin to belt out a tune with 1/10 the heart of nutter Iggy. What is she wearing? Is that roofing paper or a trash bag salvaged from the top of a live oak that withstood Katrina? |
| Posted by: MunkarKat 2005-09-20 10:46 |
| #4 Iggy Pop in drag |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-09-20 10:25 |
| #3 Ahhh! She looks like a raccoon, and she's two steps away from being Courtney Love's long lost twin sister. |
| Posted by: Raj 2005-09-20 10:04 |
| #2 Also not looking like a junkie. |
| Posted by: ed 2005-09-20 10:01 |
| #1 Too goddamn skinny. The fashion industry may not realize it, but most men like women with a little meat on their bones. |
| Posted by: Jonathan 2005-09-20 09:41 |