Feature: Gina Iannece Meeting The Moment

Portrait of Gina Iannece wearing vintage armor. Photo Tony Ward Studio
Gina Iannece. Vixen.  Photo: Tony Ward, Copyright 2025

Text by Gina Ianneci, Copyright 2025

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Model: Gina Iannece

Photographer: Tony Ward

Creative Director: KVaughn

Hair & Makeup: Michael Connor

Lighting Grip: Anthony Colagreco

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Meeting The Moment. A Career in Fashion

In Tony Ward’s “Heroines and Vixens” photo series, I resonate with the duality of strength and allure that defines these women. As someone who has navigated the dynamic world of fashion, I try to embody the resilience and determination of a heroine, while also embracing the bold, confident spirit of a vixen. This series beautifully captures the multifaceted nature of women, reflecting both the power and grace that I strive to bring to my professional and personal life.

My fashion career started in wholesale operations and sales for Nomination Jewelry in the 2001 at the height of their composable charm bracelets popularity in North America.

Next, I had the pleasure of working for the iconic sisters Tish and Snooky, the creators and owners of alternate beauty brand Manic Panic NYC. While managing global sales for key accounts, I traveled to London and
Germany to represent the brand. I also personally negotiated a deal for placement in Sephora stores in the United States.

Because of my success at Manic, I was offered a new position, I went from Punk Rock to Polo. Shifting to a more corporate environment at Jones Apparel Group, working on sales for Oxen Workwear and as the assistant to the VP of Design for Polo Jeans Co, was licensed to Jones at the time. Polo Jeans Co was bought back by Ralph Lauren, and I stayed with the brand transitioning into merchandising. I helped create and launch the brand Denim and Supply by Ralph Lauen, managing men and women’s denim apparel and accessories.

The immense popularity of Denim and Supply led to the end of another Ralph Lauren brand Rugby which ended up leading to layoffs. I lost my job. This is the first time I was laid off and I was devastated. I had developed a love of denim while at Ralph. The different fabrications, weaving and wash techniques, I love all of that. So, I was targeting new roles in denim merchandising and this took me to Giorgio Armani.

I joined that A/X Armani Exchange during a new transformative period for the brand. At the time ,ownership was split between Giorgio Armani corporation and Presidio.  The creative team was attempting to change the brand direction away from the overly embellished “Jersey Shore Vibes.” I was responsible for merchandising, buying and sales for women’s denim and woven’s and  was a part of the team that helped to elevate the assortment and brand back to its 90’s aesthetic.

Unfortunately, this was short lived, and I was laid off again when Armani decided to buy out Presidio as they shifted the merchandising roles to the Italy team. While at A/X, I was responsible for buying and I could see
Ecom taking over retail. Feeling like I wanted a change of direction I started to seek roles in ecommerce, I took an in-between job and eventually landed an opportunity in digital back at Ralph Lauren.

It was a contract freelance position to cover a six-month maternity leave, but I would end up being hired and stayed with the company for four years. There were merchandising aspects to the job, but the primary responsibilities were to manage digital assets to be used for sales and marketing for the Chaps brand. The role grew to include managing operations and Ecom account management. I played a key role in launching Chaps brand apparel accessories and home goods on Amazon, the first RL brand to sell via the platform.

portrait of woman in vintage fighting armor
Gina Iannece. Heroine. Photo: Tony Ward, Copyright 2025

We reached 2020 and were hit with the Covid 19 Pandemic. Retail stores were shutting their doors. The entire Chaps team in all departments were placed on furlough except me and maybe five others. I continued to manage Ecom accounts and create new content, still traveling to various offices in NY and NJ. I found ways to work with the photo
studio and still adhere to health restrictions. I kept the hustle going. Then one day, I was invited to an MS Teams meeting with the entire team and informed that Ralph had sold Chaps, resulting in immediate layoffs. I was asked to stay until spring 2021.

My most recent position was with Randa Apparel and Accessories. RAA is a private family owned company that has been in business for over one hundred years. They hold licenses for many top brands and produce mostly small leather goods like belts and wallets. I managed operations and sales for their Ecom accounts and marketplace/DTC. I joined as they were starting to move into women’s accessories and facilitated highly successful brand launches for Calvin Klein, Cole Haan, Levis, Sam Edleman and Tommy Hilfiger.

But I knew what was coming in 2024, when Randa announced that they would be acquiring Totes and Isotoner. The inevitable restructuring happened, and I was a part of the layoffs. It happened right around the winter holidays when hiring is slower or on hold. So, I began my new job search, started networking, and taking online classes. And I said yes to this chance to be in front of the camera for the first time.

As for this opportunity to be photographed by the TWS team,  even though I sought it out, I was not prepared when Tony Ward asked me to contribute to this project, but I am so happy that I did it.  I decided to meet the moment, and everything just seemed to align perfectly. I started sharing wardrobe ideas with the creative team and Tony shared the background which I absolutely love. Kvaughn had a vision for silver and Anthony Colagreco  found the armor that I ended up wearing. It was giving synchronicity vibes.

The weeks leading up to the shoot were about collaborative preparation. The day of the shoot I was nervous but that quickly turned to excitement by the time Michael Connor finished with me in the makeup chair.  Everyone was professional and encouraging. The studio space was incredible – bright with beautiful wood floors and white walls covered in photos. It felt like being in an RL showroom. The energy was infectious  and I felt seen and heard in the room. This experience was one of the best of my life. I will cherish the memories, images, and the shoes that Kvaughn sourced and gifted to me forever. A week after this photo shoot, I accepted a job offer and am excited to start a new position soon.

Portrait of Gina Iannece by Tony Ward copyright 2025
Gina Iannece. Photo: Tony Ward, Copyright 2025

About The Author:

Gina Iannece is 48 years old, living in New York.  She is a decades long   Tony Ward Studio fan and first time contributor to this webzine.

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To access additional articles by Gina, link herehttps://tonywardstudio.com/blog/gina-iannece-on-grief-and-hope/

Studio News: Day Rentals Available

Interior photo of the new Tony Ward Studio located in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. USA
Tony Ward Studio
Tony Ward Studio South Facing entrance seating area and executive desk
Tony Ward Studio

Tony Ward Studio located at 361-63 Cadwalader Avenue, Elkins Park, Pa. 19027 is available for day rental. The space is suitable for strobe, continuous and available light photography.  The rate to use the facilities is $50.00 per hour with a one hour minimum. Photographers are required to bring their primary gear: that would include cameras, tripods, lighting equipment and backgrounds.  The studio can provide additional equipment support if needed including; light stands, background supports, grip equipment, super salon studio stand, extension cords etc.

Amenities include off street parking, private model dressing room, client lounge, prop shop with tools, full service kitchen and dining facilities. Tony Ward Studio  also offers creative services, art direction, in house hair & makeup artists on an as needed basis. Additional fees will apply for all creative support services, including Tony Ward private photography classes, consultations, portfolio reviews  and tutorials.  Tony Ward is a world famous photographer and former instructor at the University of Pennsylvania. The first international book release on his photography Obsessions was  published by Edition Stemmle, Zurich, Switzerland in 1998 to critical acclaim.

To schedule studio time: contact Tony Ward  at 267-475-0828 or email Tony@TonyWard.com for queries.

photograph of client lounge office at Tony Ward Studio
Client Lounge
Full Service Kitchen at Tony Ward Studio rental
Full Service Kitchen
Model and talent dressing room at Tony Ward Studio rental
Dressing Room
Tony Ward self portrait with available light 2025
Tony Ward. Self Portrait With Available Light.

 

David Biddle: Sound Effect Infinity

David Biddle new ebook Sound Effect Infinity
David Biddle: Sound Effect Infinity

PRESS RELEASE

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Authors Note:  I wanted readers to have an experience totally off the literary grid. Sound Effect Infinity is a future paranormal mystery rolled up in puzzles about the real magic of music, then wrapped in questions about the power of the human mind. As one special character says deep into the story: “There’s always been questions people don’t understand to ask about music and sound.” Hopefully, readers will come away from this book understanding those questions and, possibly, realizing some of the answers as well. 

The premium hardcover will be released in March. Here’s an excerpt from the first chapter of the book that may touch a little close to home for many these days. The year the narrator is speaking from is 2062. 

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Things had broken down. It always felt like America only half noticed. Certainly, those of us in the media knew better than to harp too much on the breakdown. Somewhere in the course of things had been what we began to call the Drift Away. Some people simply called it the Drift. There was no secession or war, really. Not even an agreement that had been discussed in the media or codified with a memorandum of understanding between those in charge of regions. One of the methods of the Middle Lands was to eliminate much of what was considered official. There had simply been too much turmoil and too much inability to define anything useful between the major groups. Incompetence on all sides. The Middle Lands became a new kind of territory — still America but certainly not the United States thereof.

sound wave illustration by A.I.
Sound wave illustration by ImageFx

Rules flattened. Expectations shifted. Laws seemed to have become more fluid, difficult to predict, and weirdly random. Geography itself had lost definition. It was the opposite of a revolution in many ways, even though it had been building since the days of the so-called Final Recession. They called it the last straw here, but wed sensed where things were going way back in my teen years. Collective memory had long ago dissipated because of computer storage and data. But that kind of predictability wasnt even available anymore on the coastal zones. Somehow not knowing had become a version of acceptable simplicity. There was a new cognitive process that seemed to come and go with all sorts of people. They wanted to know little about the past and cared less about the future. A vague way of thinking came into vogue that seemed to emphasize the near present. It was difficult to track, though, because people seemed to fluctuate in and out of it. You sensed an intelligence fog around them. There was the present, almost like a version of mindfulness, but it was only attached to a next step or two like going to the store, having dinner, that first cup of coffee in the morning, screen watching, some basic way to catch a buzz, nudge dopamine levels up a few notches. The joke we came up with way out in Philly is that a lot of people in the Middle Lands probably lost interest during sex because they couldnt remember they were hoping to have an orgasm.

David Biddle’s latest release Sound Effect Infinity is being published as an ebook by The Story Plant, link here: https://www.thestoryplant.com

To order on Amazon, link here: https://www.amazon.com/Sound-Effect-Infinity-Control-Altered/dp/1611883741

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Portrait of author David Biddle
David Biddle

About The Author:  A freelance writer since he published his first article on appropriate technology education with RAIN: Journal in 1985, David Biddle has published work with the likes of Harvard Business Review, BioCycle, Huffington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, GetUnderground, Resource Recycling, BuzzWorm, Talking Writing, etc. He was also a contributing editor to InBusiness (the 2nd best sustainability publication of all-time) for over a decade. His novel, Old Music for New People, was published by The Story Plant in 2021. This is David Biddle’s first contribution to this webzine.

Bob Shell: You’ve Been Lied To

A.I. rendering of large drones hovering over the nations capitol
Simulation by A.I. ImageFx

Text by Bob Shell, Copyright 2025

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You’ve Been Lied To

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In the new administration’s first press conference on January 28, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the ‘drone mystery’ had been solved. The mystery drones seen in New Jersey and other parts of the USA were all research drones operated by the FAA, the Federal Aviation Administration. 

That is simply nonsense! Some of the ‘drones’ were the size of SUVs, at least one was the size of a schoolbus, and they hovered for hours completely silently, or darted around in seemingly random ways. They moved in prohibited airspace over sensitive government facilities, even caused closure of airports. FAA research drones? I don’t think so. 

In addition to being seen in the USA, they were seen in England, Europe, and Australia, and most probably other countries as well. The FAA, even if they had gigantic silent drones, does not operate outside the USA.

I was pleased that Chris Cuomo on NewsNation called out this ridiculous pack of lies. He’s followed the ‘drone’ story from the beginning, and knows just how idiotic this ‘explanation’ is. 

Whatever people were seeing, and shooting video of, they weren’t drones. They were UFOs. Quite simply, they were unidentified, they were flying, and we must assume they were objects, not hallucinations. Hallucinations don’t show up on video. 

I had hopes that the Trump administration would treat the American public as adults, not children. We’ve been lied to about UFOs since at least the coverup of the Roswell event in 1947. We’ve been told we were seeing weather balloons, stars, planets, the moon, swamp gas, swarms of fireflies, etc., etc., and now FAA research drones. 

Professional pilots have been insulted by being told that they did not see what they knew they did see. Astronomers have been similarly insulted. 

I can only hope that President Trump is unaware that he’s being lied to and hasn’t signed on to this conspiracy of mistruth. The American people deserve to be treated as adults, they deserve the truth. 

Back in 1997, when I was heavily involved in UFO research and writing, I had a long telephone conversation with the Air Force Colonel who wrote the Pentagon’s book, ‘Roswell: Case Closed.’ He told me that this book was simply propaganda, that he’d seen films of the autopsies of alien bodies. When I mentioned this conversation on an online UFO forum, he denied ever speaking to me. 

But he forgot that he’d mentioned our conversation to Phil Klass. Phil was the most vocal UFO skeptic, and published a skeptical UFO newsletter. In spite of our disagreements on the subject, Phil and I were friends. And he was an honest man. He called out the lie that the conversation I mentioned never happened. Nothing more was heard from the Air Force on the subject. 

I personally interviewed most of the living Roswell witnesses in the mid-1990s, and came away convinced that they were almost all telling the truth about what they saw in the summer of 1947. Some of the people I interviewed have never gone public with their stories. They were not publicity seekers. 

People have been seeing things of nonhuman origin for thousands of years, what government whistleblowers call things of NHI, Non Human Intelligence. In an exclusive, NewsNation recently broadcast video of the recovery of an NHI egg-shaped craft by the US government. These things are real, we know very little about them, and they move through our skies with impunity. 

Mr. Trump, the time has come to stop the lies.

A.I. rendering of large drones hovering over the nations capitol
A.I. simulation by ImageFx

About The Author: Bob Shell is a professional photographer, author, former editor in chief of Shutterbug Magazine and veteran contributor to this blog. He is currently serving a 35 year sentence for involuntary manslaughter for the death of Marion Franklin, one of his former models.  He is serving the 17th year of his sentence at Pocahontas State Correctional Facility, Virginia.

On September 16, 2024  Shell’s release date got moved up six years due to new “mixed charges” law to February 2, 2030. It was 2036.

To read additional articles by Bob Shell link here: https://tonyward.com/bob-shell-ufo-stupidity/

Fashion: The Allure of Teen Modeling

Teen model strikes a pose wearing a tight fitting black dress
Photo: Tony Ward, Copyright 2024

Fashion: The Allure of Teen Modeling

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Potential Risks and Rewards

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The world of teen modeling often shimmers with allure—fashion shows, photo shoots, and the promise of fame. For many teenagers, it’s a dream career that promises glamour and creativity. However, the path to success is far more complex than it appears, fraught with challenges and risks that accompany the potential rewards.

For aspiring teen models, the appeal is undeniable. Modeling offers opportunities for creative expression, travel, and exposure to the fashion and entertainment industries. It can also serve as a platform for building self-confidence and connecting with like-minded creatives. Success stories of young models landing major campaigns or becoming household names fuel the dream, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.

The journey to becoming a successful teen model is anything but smooth. The industry is fiercely competitive, with casting calls often bringing rejection after rejection. Many teens struggle to balance school commitments with the demands of modeling, including travel, photo shoots, and fittings.

Additionally, the industry’s strict beauty standards can be mentally and physically taxing. Constant scrutiny of one’s appearance can lead to insecurity or unhealthy habits as teens try to meet expectations. The pressure to maintain a specific look while navigating the formative teenage years can take a toll on self-esteem.

Teen models are particularly vulnerable to exploitation. Scams are common, with fraudulent “agencies” preying on young hopefuls. Even within legitimate spaces, teens may face inappropriate requests or unsafe working conditions. Without proper guidance, they may sign unfavorable contracts that limit their control over their careers.

Furthermore, the industry’s demand for perfection can contribute to long-term mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, or eating disorders. Families must be vigilant, ensuring their children are supported emotionally and professionally.

Despite its challenges, modeling can offer valuable life lessons. It teaches discipline, professionalism, and resilience. For those who succeed, the rewards can be significant—financial independence, global exposure, and the chance to influence industries beyond fashion. Many models leverage their platforms to advocate for causes or launch secondary careers in acting, design, or business.

For teens considering modeling, preparation is key. Research reputable agencies, involve parents or guardians in decision-making, and set clear boundaries. Prioritize education and personal well-being, and never compromise integrity for success.

Modeling, like any career, comes with risks and rewards. For those ready to navigate its highs and lows, it can be a transformative journey—but only when approached with caution and care.