New American Apparel Ad Stars a Senior
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MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)(NEW YORK) — Call it the Betty White effect. Her Facebook campaign and resulting SNL hosting gig, Super Bowl commercial spot and senior citizen prank show have let America know “women of a certain age” are no longer willing to be out to pasture.
She even tweets.
But it’s not just Betty. Senior citizens are now officially cool. How do we know? Los Angeles-based clothing company American Apparel is featuring a grey-haired woman named Jacky, exact age unknown, as the model in a brand-new ad.
American Apparel? Isn’t that the company whose CEO was accused of sexualizing young female models and making them look even younger?
Indeed it is. But it seems the clothing company known for racy ads featuring young, nearly nude models has had a change of heart, at least for this latest campaign. The line of clothing Jacky’s modeling is appropriately called Advanced Basics.
The company wrote on their Tumblr page:
“There was something so compelling about Jacky’s look and energy when we first spotted her in a New York restaurant this winter, we introduced ourselves and pulled up a chair. During a long discussion that touched on everything from career choices and nutrition to insights on relationships, age and beauty, we asked if she would consider being photographed by us. We were thrilled when she agreed. Here are some photos we’ve taken of Jacky over the last few months showing how she likes to wear American Apparel. We hope you enjoy them.”
American Apparel has posted several photos from Jacky’s shoot on their Facebook page. Judging from the comments, the campaign is a big hit with the public; the vast majority were positive.
Blog Fashionista reports that Jacky recently moved to New York City and bought her first apartment. The ads mark her modeling debut.
The ad is not without its controversy: There’s one photo of Jacky that could certainly be considered suggestive. It’s American Apparel, after all.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio