Mentors for Models? How About These...

Harold Tillman, the new head of the British Fashion Council, wants super-models like Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell to mentor girls working in the industry. With all due respect to the better-sides of Naomi, I don't necessarily think she's the best suited for the job. Here are a couple of former models (in no particular order) I'd rather see jump in.

Paula Reed -- former model is now the Fashion Director of Grazia magazine and sat on the panel which helped the BFC form its recommendations.

Elle Macphearson -- models-turned-designers are easy to mock, but I was impressed by Elle's business acumen after hearing her talk to a group of cosmetics executives about how her lingerie line came into existence and how she works to protect her intellectual property.

Twiggy -- OK, nothing she's done since modeling has managed to put that skinny little girl image in the closet forever, but she's trying. And when I featured her in Time magazine a few years back she insisted that we run a current picture of her -- not one from the 1960s. Something a few of our newspaper columnists here might want to think about.

Christy Turlington -- While I'm not a big fan of yoga-inspired clothing brands, she did quit the game to get a college degree.

Tyra Banks -- From model to TV host -- not as easy a jump as it looks.

In short, the vast number of girls walking down the catwalks today won't be wanted in the business 10 years from now. Let's find them some mentors who can not only teach them how to eat and how to protect themselves from exploitation, but also teach them how to make sure they have a life after the cameras stop clicking.