Autoblog

Belgian official tells Brussels Motor Show to nix racy spokesmodels [w/poll]

Michael Harley — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Visitors to the upcoming Brussels Motor Show - which starts January 11, and is expected to draw some 350,000 visitors - will have to focus all of their attention on the vehicles this year, as event organizers have asked the automakers to keep the eye-candy "appropriately dressed" on the show's floor and exhibits.

Apparently, there were reports of lewd behavior (by male visitors, not the models) at last year's event. This prompted Joelle Milquet, Belgium's equal opportunities minister, to fire off a letter to Belgian car federation Febiac, the company behind the event. "A motor show is a place where you go with your family, we have to question the stereotypes we are passing on to children and young adults," Milquet wrote.

It seems that the spokesmodel's attire is coming under attack quite a bit these days. As you may recall, the Belgian minister's actions come on the heels of Chinese authorities chastising the Beijing Motor Show over its scantily clad models at its most recent event. Does this mean SEMA will eventually become a family-friendly event too?

What do you think - Should automakers stop bringing so-called booth professionals to auto shows?

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Belgian official tells Brussels Motor Show to nix racy spokesmodels [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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China chastizes Beijing Motor Show over scantily clad models

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: China, Etc., Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Beijing Motor Show, Design/Style

Our post on China's "Tiger mom" phenomenon was illustrated with that above picture; it's the Jeep Wrangler Dragon Design Concept at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show, accompanied by a booth professional. The model - her, not the Jeep - made a fair few friends in the Autoblog Comments section, but it turns out she and her kind attracted the ire of the Chinese authorities.

The Capital Ethics Development Office gave the Beijing show organizers a caning because the "scantily clad" models had "a negative social impact," and the show was warned not to let "such vulgar publicity" occur again. There's a lot of room between that leather bustier and a burqa, however, so all's not lost for next year's show in Shanghai.

Scroll down to watch the Bloomberg video on the matter.

Continue reading China chastizes Beijing Motor Show over scantily clad models

China chastizes Beijing Motor Show over scantily clad models originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 May 2012 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How Nissan trains its "Miss Fairlady" show stand models

Noah Joseph — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Videos, Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan, Misc. Auto Shows

Maybe you've seen My Fair Lady - the musical story of an ordinary girl turned into someone altogether more elegant. Now meet Miss Fairlady.

Borrowing the name from the original JDM version of the Nissan Z, Miss Fairlady is the Japanese automaker's program for training its show-stand attendants. As might be expected, the program follows traditional Japanese values like the importance of appearance, manners and pride in one's employment.

Perhaps most importantly - and counter to most car show models we've encountered at other automakers' show stands - a Miss Fairlady is well-versed in everything about the company, from its senior executives to the products they're there to promote, so they're prepared to answer your questions instead of tilting their head in confusion. Follow the jump to watch and see these beautiful spokesmodels get schooled.

Continue reading How Nissan trains its "Miss Fairlady" show stand models

How Nissan trains its "Miss Fairlady" show stand models originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoline After Hours welcomes auto show models in the studio tonight

Zach Bowman — Thu, 12 May 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising

If you have some time this evening, we highly recommend checking out Autoline After Hours. The crew will be hanging out with Margery Krevsky, the author of Sirens of Chrome. Krevsky painstakingly researched the 100-year history of the auto show model for the book and will be sharing some of her insights with hosts John McElroy and Peter Delorenzo for your enjoyment. If that's not enough to drag you to the computer at 7 p.m. Eastern this evening, the news that Krevsky will bring along a few of her product specialist friends as well should have you patiently waiting at the keyboard.

The booth professionals will model dresses from the last 50 years of the car show circuit as a living, breathing supplement to the discussion on the book. Sound like a good time? You can see all the action by heading over to the Autoline After Hours site or by checking out the uStream feed after the jump.

Continue reading Autoline After Hours welcomes auto show models in the studio tonight

Autoline After Hours welcomes auto show models in the studio tonight originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 May 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo 2009: Makuhari Messe no Jyosei ha Bijin desu*

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Tokyo Motor Show

The beautiful women of Tokyo 2009 - Click above for a high-res image gallery

As far as cars went, the Frankfurt Motor Show was the proverbial glut of riches, and the Tokyo Motor Show proved that you can't live life at the top all the time. Tokyo did, however, still provide plenty of aesthetic beauty, much of which had nothing to do with the automobiles. We won't call it a consolation prize, but it's certainly not something we're upset about.

Have a look at what arguably might have been the finest aspects of the Tokyo Motor Show in the gallery below - and the woman with the stuffed car on her head (it is still Tokyo, after all...). (*Translation: "The beautiful women of Makuhari Messe").

Gallery: The beautiful women of Tokyo 2009

Tokyo 2009: Makuhari Messe no Jyosei ha Bijin desu* originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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