WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 2008
News | WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
9
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Nicki Zimmerman, Iowa City, Iowa, sophomore,says that when she found out she would be in the calendar, one of the first people she called was her grandmother.
an online application. Voshell had to last through two more in-person interviews before making the final cut.
Voshell said the calendar selected its models based on their activities, grades and future goals — of course, models had to look great in a two-piece as well.
Voshell and the rest of the girls found out in mid-May that they'd be splashed across pages of the 2009 calendar.
When Nicki Zimmerman found out she'd made it, she couldn't wait to tell her grandparents. The only problem? Zimmerman's parents had already spilled the secret.
"How many people get to say they were in a swimsuit calendar?" Zimmerman said.
Since May, the girls have gone through months of preparation. They've had lessons in modeling nutrition and fitness.
Addie Fike has always been interested in fitness. She's majoring in health and exercise science and she said she wanted to be a physical therapist. Fike said showing off your flat tummy is just a part of the calendar.
"It allows you to highlight all your other qualities," Fike said. "Your intelligence and your other interests."
For Jenni Henslee, that means highlighting the fact that she's a McNair scholar, a program that assists low-income and first-generation or underrepresented minority college students as they prepare for graduate school.
Dave Gillispie finished up with Rupp on the boat and walked along the dock at Clinton Lake.
"Check these out," Gillispie said holding his camera. "These are hot."
Gillispie's job is to ensure that the calendar stays fresh and sexy after nine years.
That, he says, is the biggest challenge. Gillispie's been the head photographer for the calendar for four years.
"I love my job," he said. "I get to hang out with hot chicks all day long."
But Gillispie also is responsible for making sure that every model feels comfortable. Few - if any - of the girls have had modeling experience.
"If a girl wants to get into modeling, this is a huge stepping stone," Gillispie said.
Gillispie said the calendar sold most of its copies in Lawrence and the surrounding areas. But the calendar has sold copies all over the world, including requests from Denmark, Spain and Sweden.
And although 20-year-old males buy the majority of the calendars, Gillispie said people would be surprised how many mothers and young women buy the calendar.
Of course, he admits most of those calendars turn into gifts for sons and boyfriends.
He said the calendar tried to keep it in the Sports Illustrated vein.
"I think it's a testament to the classy, tasteful vibe," Gillispie said.
"We try to keep it sporty, sexy and hit the broadest target," he said.
And once the shooting is done and the calendar is produced, the models' job has just begun. They have to spend the next three to four months promoting the calendar, making as many as eight appearances a month around Kansas.
It all gives the models a chance to bond.
"It turns into a mini-sisterhood," Gillispie said.
Standing on the dock, the models draw a crowd. A few young boys gawk from a nearby boat and a woman wants to see Rupp's photos on Gillispie's camera. Rupp's pleased. The photos look calendar-worthy, but none of these will be used. The real photo shoot is three weeks away.
Rupp begins to put her cover-up on over her swimsuit.
"When you think of the large scale of KU, how big it is, and we're one of 13" Rupp said. "It makes it that much more special."
Edited by Mandy Earles
Jenni Henslee, Shawnee senior, is part of the McNair Scholars Program, a program that assists low-income and first-generation or minority college students as they prepare for graduate school.
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