She said:

Vogue has always been supportive of healthy models and will continue to be so in the future. And I hope that Lara’s success as a model, even though her image does not fit into the existing norm, will inspire the industry to rethink its current preferences.”

This is good news for Lara too, because the busty beauty – who is a UK size 4 – recently confessed she wishes there were other curvaceous models.

She said:

I’m different because I am fat. It would be nice if I wasn’t the only person with t*ts and an a**e. If I could have the discipline to be super-skinny I would be. I think of dieting, then I eat pizza. I’m a woman, and every woman wants to be thinner – unfortunately.”

The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund is one of such. It is now six years old and offers emerging talents to get noticed and appreciated.

What is less encouraging is that no other country except the US holds this competition.

But as it is getting more and more popular I think we can hope that soon the situaion will change to the better. The U.K. has just launched its own new-designer competition and Italy has similar plans.

Vogue’s editor Anna Wintour is interested in the subject a lot. She said she’d recently had a meeting with the French minister of culture about starting a similar contest in France.

And Brazil, India, Russia, and China aren’t far behind,” Wintour added. But still, she argued, “New York is the place to come for young designers to show what they’re capable of.”

The winners of this year come from different backgrounds. Womenswear designer Sophie Théallet is French. She was awarded the grand prize of $200,000 and a year-long mentorship.

Sophie commented:

I’m French, so I’m going to try to do my best. Thank you for making my American dreams come true.”

Among the runners-up were mentioned jewelry designer Monique Pean and menswear designer Patrik Ervell who received $50,000 each to pursue their designer plans. The former promised, “I won’t disappoint you,” while the latter told the judges, “Thank you for thinking of this award. We all appreciate it.”

You might not know these names yet but it is sure that soon you will. Sophie Théallet, for instance, has already got some recognition for dressing the First Lady for Senator Ted Kennedy’s funeral in August.

And the award she received can become a good start in her career of a world designer.

Remember Alexander Wang?

He was last year’s winner and now he is known all over the globe. Among other winner we can name: Rogan (2007), Doo-Ri Chung (2006), Trovata (2005) and Proenza Schouler (2004).

The US Vogue editor feels sorry to those plenty of young designers who strive to get into the fashion industry as the current fashion market is already swamped with lots of impressive talents.

She commented:

Now is not an easy time to start as a young designer – unless you are very special and dedicated, and not afraid of hard work.”

One of the most influential persons in the fashion world says upcoming designers must think twice and question their determination and longevity before making a step to start their fashion career.

She explained to Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper:

Talent is obviously important. But you need someone with personality, too, someone who is willing to listen. A designer really needs to spend five or 10 years learning the craft, learning the business. Sometimes you can get someone who has become a huge star overnight, but it is so rare that it works. Sometimes a lack of understanding, a certain naivety about the business can be refreshing, but it so often doesn’t work. People can get carried away with what is new and young and different, but unless you are someone like Marc Jacobs, you should think long and hard. So many are struggling.”