It’s been a long time coming that I pit two top models against one another, for sheer malicious joy. It happened once before between Natasha Poly & Lara Stone, with a clear winner. Here, the outcome is unpredictable, but we’ll take a look at each in four separate categories: name, body, memorability, and versatility. Please note that while they are #3 and #2 on MDC’s Top 50 respectively, those numbers will be ignored for the sake of argument. Let’s get started shall we. Freja, please step into the ring.
A. The Name — Freja Beha Erichsen. Also abbreviates to Freja Beha. While some may argue Freja Beha sounds like somebody trying to talk through a mouthful of burrito, Freja Beha is quite a sultry rhyme that could catch the wandering ear of a taxi driver. One might even go so far as to call her Fray-Bay, a play on the word baby, which is also kind of cute, if you’re into that sort of thing. Sasha Pivovarova (Pee-voh-VA-roh-va). Let’s be frank, we’ve had some trouble pronouncing her name before. And just plain Sasha could refer to anybody. If you thought that was difficult, try a crack at her real name: Саша Пивоварова. Yikes! Although Cawa isn’t very appealing, I assume that it sounds different in her native Russian. Wasn’t that the name for the guiding force and deity of Pandora and the Na’vi in Avatar? Cawa, cawa!
Uh oh… Sasha is looking a bit nervous. B. The Body — Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. As I’ve mentioned before, Freja Beha sort of resembles my boyish figure at the age of 14 (read: gross). This is one of those few times I would endorse anyone to wear a snuggie. Her flat chested, curveless figure isn’t all bad, though. Freja Beha has been celebrated for her androgynous look regardless of where she appears. Only she has been able to successfully pull off both genders. While it’s not fair to say Sasha has been blessed in the regions Freja lacks, but she does have a little more of an edge when it comes to body bounty. In this category, just due to sheer mystery, I would say that Sasha takes the prize for leaving it up to us to guess what’s under there.
C. Memorability — This category is a tie, because as well as being able to pose as a boy, Freja Beha is undeniably good at the innocent pouty face. Also, being brown haired and brown eyed in a sea of blondes, Freja easily stands out as the best brown haired beauty the world over. Yield, folks. Sasha, while blonde haired and blue eyed, has a gorgeous heart shaped face and almost resembles a cherub from the 15th century. You know, like one of those baby angels.
D. Versatility — Okay, so far we have a tie. And this category will prove to be the most controversial. Freja Beha’s novel look, androgyny, has served her very well in the past. She has booked thousands of editorials as a butch babe, but I invariably remember when this cover came out and everybody and their dog freaked out because Freja looked so smittenly feminine. But then came Sasha and her steely-eyed, badass side came out to play. She can be an angel, a devil, a teen, cute, sultry, and everything in between. Which leaves us to announce our winner…
Though it pains me to declare a winner and leave a model in the dust, just keep in mind that we are all winners, right Naomi? My opinion isn’t the end all be all, I mean, these two even appeared in an editorial together! So without further ado, we would like to congratulate our favourite Moscow model SASHA PIVOVAROVA! It was a close battle, but the Russian cuteness won me over.
