Beauty and the Bump

As an accomplished model I've taken great pride in my body and have felt incredibly comfortable in front of the camera for my various photo-shoots. Coincidently my most famous covers from FHM Magazines have been of me half naked in bikinis!

Now my toned stomach has turned into a beer belly of twins! Everybody was asking when I was going to do my maternity shoot, as a model this would come second nature to me. But I was hesitant, my husband is very private, I have step-kids and I just didn't know if this was right for me. I am so satisfied finally being pregnant, so did I need to do a shoot? I went to my husband and he was so quick to reply "Of course hunny document this historic time in your life, and celebrate the changes in your body." Boom all my hemming and hawing vanished with my husband's resounding confidence & encouragement.

There was only one man for the job, my friend, and world renowned photographer, John Russo. John is someone whom I deeply respect & could trust for this intimate moment in my life. Seven months pregnant with twins, in the privacy of my Los Angeles home, our pregnancy photo came to life.
I did the styling myself, being a New York City girl, I armed myself with some sophisticated fashion pieces from Roberto Cavalli,  Hanro lingiere  and my secret weapon Topshop.
The concept was 1980's Jerry Hall look, red lips, blonde tousled hair, fabulous furs and a scene staler naked belly. The photos exceeded my expectations and made me fall more in love with my baby bump than ever. It's truly a miracle to be growing two humans in my stomach! I encourage all women to embrace their pregnancy journey, to celebrate it and simply enjoy it, the highs and the lows!

"Giving birth and being born brings us into the essence of creation, where the human spirit is courageous and bold and the body, a miracle of wisdom."  ~Harriette Hartigan


Love,
Kaki

7 months pregnant with twins

My favorite shot with my baby Rook

Black & white delight

In Roberto Cavalli & my Bump!

My dog Roki actually was sleeping & we loved it.

The perfect red lip done created by the amazing John Russo!

I am expecting Twins!

I am bursting at the seams with joy to announce that we are pregnant with twins! I waited until I was half way thru the pregnancy before sharing the news (19.5 weeks). Our little bundles of joy are due January/February. Twin births always come early, which make it that much more exciting! It has been a long road in becoming pregnant, my empathy is with all couples whom have struggled with fertility issues. Starting a family is a true blessing & the most wonderful act of love between two people.  I walk around NYC amongst the hustle & all of a sudden I feel a flutter in my stomach. It's the most incredible experience of my life. My body is creating lives right now. I am lucky to live in NYC and have the best team of doctors and holistic healers aiding me on my journey. I will post that journey in another blog!

Love,
Kaki

Beauty Regime

Welcome to the secret world of my medicine cabinet, a peek into my personal skin care regime. I am obsessed with trying new products, whether they are from CVS or the beauty counter at Neiman Marcus! I decided to elaborate on my favorite high-end brands verses my favorite drug store brands. It's important to know what your skin type is, and don't be afraid to splurge on your skin! Maybe it's an indulgence on chanel eye cream, or the tried and true vaseline from the drugstore. But your personalized skin care regime is essential, take time to love and care for your skin. Love yourself from the inside out.  A healthy girl, is a happy girl!

Love,

Kaki

“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart”

Kahlil Gibran

Coconut Oil, my secret weapon; Almay make-up eye remover, can take anything off; Neutrogean moisturizer with spf 50, lightweight smells good; Neutrogena face wipes calming, easy swipe off makeup; ROC eye night cream,very potent; ROC Retinol deep wrinkle cream, contains Retinol A; Cetaphil, daily gentle cleanser; Witch Hazel astringent,  doesn't sting; Carmex lip treatment, this stuff tingles and cures; Tee tree oil, best zit treatment; Bio Oil, body moisturizer, I use it in the shower.

Cle de Peau toner, so nourishing; Clarins gentle cleanser, delicate on my skin & strong; Clarins gentle exfoliator, use once a week; Chanel sublimate ultimate regeneration eye cream, no lines, no bags, no dark circles its magic;  ESPA eye cream, this lifts and makes you look wide awake; Chanel Lip treatment, its in my purse at all times; Lip Scrub, best for dry lips, Aquaphor, as a step-mom its my go too; Dr Brandt Glow, Retinol A use once a week; LA Mer, my moisturizer won't use anything else; Amore Pacific, hydrating mist spray & go!

Take Care of the skin your in- Kaki West

Blush Fashion Magazine Cover

In 2014 I am starting off my year with a fashion bang! On the cover of "Blush" magazine, a high fashion/lifestyle magazine in Panama. Please enjoy the photos & article as well, if you are fluent in my favorite second language Espanol!

Love,
Kaki

Credits:
Shandrew PR
GEA Photo
Fadil Berisha, photography
Evelyn Ramirez, Makeup
Andrew Hernandez, Hair
Sherri Hill Gowns
Locations: NYC & LA

Kaki West Cover of Blush Magazine

Kaki West Blush Magazine

Kaki West Blush Magazine

Entertaim.net Feature

Happy Fall  friends. New article in Entertaim.net.  Thank you to photographer Eric GEA for the great photos. Big kisses to my glamour team of Evelyn & Andy. Enjoy my interview, as I hint of new ventures coming soon.

Love,
Kaki

 Kaki West photo by GEA 9/2013

 Kaki West photo by GEA 9/2013

Oh my Vine

I was introduced to the joys of the latest social media craze Vine ! Not a photo like Instagram or a sentence like Twitter but rather a a quick video. A video created in snippetts of anything your heart desires. Allow your inner director to shine thru & capture life's stupid, funny, real, loving or spontaneous moments. Enjoy my reel time life!

Love,
Kaki


"In feature films the director is God; in documentary films God is the director."- Alfred Hitchcock 

My Vine

Kaki West in MensHealth Espanol magazine

I began my love of espanol in middle school in CT. I was the new girl & Spanish class made me feel right at home. My name translated into "Catalina".  While in college "Catalina" became my alter ego name when it was girls night out! Though my Irish heritage with green eyes & freckles certainly didn't fool anyone. I have spent time in Mexico, Spain, Puerto Rico & Dominican Republic, the latin culture is warm, fun, passionate & the food delicioso! It is my honor to have a feature in MensHealth Espanol magazine. I am an advocate of a healthy lifestyle & a exelente fiesta!

"Barriga llena, corazón contento"
~A full belly and a happy heart

The Ides of March

I traveled to my 2nd home in LA for the weekend, for a friends baby shower. I spent 48 hours in LA-LA land & realized so much of what I had valued was no longer relevant to my future. In the land of Peter-Pan syndrome had I all of a sudden grown up? Perhaps it was my newlywed glow or sense of contentment?

On the plane back to NYC I read a book that seemed to resonate within me; The Ten Golden Rules by M.A Soupios, PHD. 100 pages of 10 simple rules in life & spirituality. My favorite rule is #2 : Worry only about the things you can control. So often we, especially women, take on the emotional taxings of others, friends, spouses, relatives & hem and haw over dramas out of our control. Which leads me to rule #5 Master Yourself " Self mastered people are self-assured without being self-satisfied,quietly confident without being vain or proud. I arrived home to my husband of 1 month & while at dinner I realized the most important rule #10 Kindness towards others tends to be rewarded. My husband is my life's reward & true love makes you a better person.

Sometimes we must let go of the past & look to the future. Most importantly keep our eyes wide open in the present to realize it's okay to move on.

"Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn."