Portrait of a Top Male Model: Perhaps the most prominent male model from South America, Argentinean Ivan de Pineda is regarded as a model for all seasons- from Versace to Kenzo to Carolina Herrera to DKNY to Moschino, he has done it all. Photo- Ivan for Gucci. Photoshoot courtesy of Ivan's mother agency, DottoModels

By Jed Medina, updated December, 2003

We first described Ivan as "...originally from Argentina- but his hectic modeling schedule has made him a temporary resident of at least 4 of the most important cities in the world- Paris, Milan, London and New York. He is probably one of the most admired figure in South America, reaching that of a Hollywood celebrity.

Aspiring male models look up to him as their role model and he has every reason to be that..." That observation still rings true even to this day.

After a brief respite, Ivan is back- stronger than ever, with a renewed vigor and the enthusiasm to raise his modeling into the next level.

Professional, down-to-earth, extremely competitive yet friendly even to those who seem distant and guarded, de Pineda has been on the limelight since the 1990s.

As a glimpse of what's to come, we bring back our profile of Ivan, in anticipation of the upcoming Interview, where we asked not only all the obvious questions, but some surprising queries as well, stay tuned for the Interview next!

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A different era? "...Ivan has his signature pout, with his hair almost touching his eyes, "bangs" as a hairstylist might remarked." de Pineda for Versus.

The shoots were in black and white, with both Stella and Ivan holding masks- signifying the many faces of an actor in film.. Ivan wears leather, in black, with his flesh sensually exposed, as with Tenant- both wear the same colour, while they were captured staring at each other, in one of the shoot.

Another series shows Ivan reclining in Stella, while she was sitting on a rather expensive piece of chair holding the mask, as before. Even the Luciano Cassin's YSL Rive Gauche shoot is no match to this impressive piece of artistic photography.

GIANNI VERSACE'S VERSUS featuring Ivan de Pineda: Once again, Ivan wears leather, with a prominently white tie, fitting jeans and white socks over 1960's era shoes (which reminds me of James Dean and an early Johnny Depp in the ridiculous "Cry Baby")

The pair (Ivan is paired with a model, which escapes my memory at the moment) is walking in a football (or soccer) field, they are holding hands together and it is as if, they are "conscious" of being together. Ivan has his signature pout, with his hair almost touching his eyes, "bangs" as a hairstylist might remarked.

Controversial? In our upcoming Interview, we asked Ivan about the Gucci campaign with Carmen Kass and its "S&M" theme.

This shoot perhaps captured Ivan's image best. He looks so handsome that I could stare at the photo for hours.

IVAN DE PINEDA FOR VERSACE: It was the sideburns that provided the maximum impact, coupled with his prominent (or pronounced) nose, an adam's apple, some "hint" of body hair as he wear a rather expensive Versace suit.

The shoot obviously focused on Ivan's facial features to bring in the "goods" and whatever effect they wanted was apparently delivered- the message was clear- Versace wanted the best male model and they got him.

IVAN DE PINEDA FOR CAROLINA HERRERA: "silence is sexy" says the ad. Indeed, with Ivan and his partner, who is reclining over him in a rather seductive pose, delivered the message. The perfume bottle is on the left side, making the usual impact as in other prestigious fragrance ads, the only (and important) difference is that Ivan is the model and that makes a whole lot of difference.

WHAT IS SEXY (really?): With Ciao! written across his Moschino shirt, he seductively held the shirt up to expose his abdomen and with it provides the "completeness" the shoot requires. Photoshoot courtesy of Ivan's mother agency, DottoModels

IVAN DE PINEDA FOR MOSCHINO: Indeed, signature Ivan- his rosary prominently displayed, a sign of either religious fervor or a means to remind himself of his birthright and origin or both. As South America is known for being in the Catholic majority, where religion is regarded with awe.

We might be going overboard with so much emphasis on the rosary, but Moschino, being an Italian design house, is also home based in another bastion of Catholicism, thus it maybe appropriate to dwell on the "religious flavour" of the campaign.

On another issue, Italians are also sexy and "sexual" and as such, Ivan tried to follow the same concept. With Ciao! written across his Moschino shirt, he seductively held the shirt up to expose his abdomen and with it provides the "completeness" the shoot requires.