Tel-Chai Nation

Michal Harodi is an Israeli model and musician who's not bothered about being filmed topless for fashion advertising:

The fashion house Versace unveiled Saturday the first two shots from the debut campaign by its new artistic director, Dario Vitale, whose first collection for the label was revealed in September. Under the title “Michal Harodi, Milan, September 2025,” the campaign features the Israeli actress, model and classical pianist Michal Harodi – a once‑virtually‑unknown face who shot to prominence overnight. In one image, Harodi lies relaxed on her forearms, topless, wearing only a sequin‑emblazoned bottom.

Harodi secured the campaign following earlier photos taken by Israeli‑born London‑based photographer Dafy Hagai, ynet has reported. Hagai’s image caught the eye of casting director Julia Lang, who was immediately impressed and quickly invited her to a photo shoot – and the rest is history. Prior to this, Harodi had appeared for a number of local photographers and labels, including Fez and the fashion site Belle & Sue of designer Inbal Boussiba. [...]

When asked if posing topless bothered her, she said: “It’s so not a 'big deal’ for me—certainly not in the international fashion industry. Only in Israel do people get worked up about it. The photographer was so respectful and sensitive, and I view it as a crazy love for female beauty.” [...]

In a 2020 interview with Shelly Gross for the “Fashion School” section in LaIsha magazine, early in her career, Harodi described her style: “I dress comfortably—pants and wide jeans, loosely buttoned shirts. A lot of white. I only started loving skirts in the past year or two. It’s really beautiful, sexy and feminine in my eyes. Sometimes I lack the courage and it feels like I’m forcing it, but I like seeing women wearing skirts in the street. A skirt‑combo makes me want to dance. Ultimately I like wearing items from my mother’s wardrobe. She has amazing pieces.” [...]

Choosing a fresh, previously unseen model signals the new agenda Vitale is bringing to Versace: not another campaign with Gigi Hadid or Bella Hadid so strongly identified with the label, but new faces. He laid the foundations in his first collection for the brand, with aesthetics that diverge 180 degrees from those of Donatella Versace, who has designed for the house since her brother’s murder in 1997. There is no doubt that this campaign will elevate Harodi’s work—both internationally and within Israel.

Interesting they note the case of the Hadids, who are some of the worst antisemites working as propagandists in the industry today, undoubtably to make it look like Islam isn't sex-negative. Well that's exactly why Judaists need to counter by making clear Judaism isn't sex-negative. Yes, seriously. And one of the ways to do that is to make clear that ultra-Orthodox zealots need to cut out their sex-negativity that goes well beyond what Christianity could follow. No doubt, that's what Ms. Harodi is alluding to, and if so, there is a valid point that, even if you think topless photography's in questionable taste, people shouldn't get overly hysterical about it. So hey, good luck on the photo project, and even with her piano career, which is also a great idea.

Labels: anti-semitism, islam, Israel, Italy, showbiz