Octagon First Call

Below is the second half of this month’s Talent Email. Be sure to also check out our feature in PR Week.

Dancing in September
Reality television’s reigning dance queen and rising country singer Julianne Hough is partnering with Wrigley, one of the world’s leading makers of chewing gum. Hough joins R&B music sensations Chris Brown and Ne-Yo to deliver their fresh new takes on Wrigley’s Doublemint, Juicy Fruit and Big Red commercial jingles. Hough’s DWTS partner, comedic radio personality Adam Corolla, is trading in his dancing shoes for tacos and burritos. Corolla is teaming up with Taco Bell to promote their all-new Big Bell Box Meal, which is said to satisfy all hunger needs at a low price. Taco Bell is also continuing its music promotion program called “Feed the Beat,” where the chain rewards successful indie rock bands such as Myriad with meals after their late night concerts.  All My Children actress and upcoming DWTS competitor Susan Lucci is starring in an infomercial for Malibu Pilates, a Pilates machine made by Gunthy Renker.  

Blue Jean Baby
William Rast, a denim brand created by Justin Timberlake and business partner Trace Ayala, is using scripted trailers as a unique way to promote the brand, starring none other than Timberlake himself.  The video can be found on http://www.williamrast.com/williamrast/index.html.  Olympic gold medal winner Nastia Liukin is starring in a series of print ads for Vanilla Star’s “Smart Girls Rock” campaign.  The ads for the jean brand will appear in national magazines, buses, kiosks and billboards in NYC and Los Angeles.  Levi’s has enlisted a list of celebs to promote their “Unbuttoned” campaign, including next-generation artists Estelle, Nikka Costa  and Wale.  Each artist has their own subsite, where users can download free content.  BMX rider Jamie Bestwick and celebrity blogger Perez Hilton are also participating in the promotion.  Levi’s will continue to unbutton new artists over the next year.  

Model Behavior
Clothier Hurley International has chosen model Bar Refaeli to star in an advertising campaign for their Young Contemporary collection.  She will be modeling next spring’s lineup of sporting bikinis, sheer T’s and denim shorts.  Yaya DaCosta, runner-up in Season 3 of America’s Next Top Model, is featured in a television commercial table dancing her way into a pair of high heels lined with Dr. Scholl’s massaging gel insoles.  No stranger to the beauty industry, model Gisele Bundchen will be the next spokesperson for Max Factor cosmetics, just in time to celebrate its 100th birthday.  Former model turned actress Brooke Shields has teamed up with VW in advertisements for the upcoming Routan minivan, the “only minivan in America with German engineering.”

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