Frankly, I don't know. Few of us noticed her before, so this sort of glib question really has no non-bitchy answers. Also, I can barely muster the journalistic integrity necessary to comb through the thickets of Alexa Ray Joel news items to shake the useful from the useless. Turns out Alexa Ray is a genetic experiment concocted from the loins of Billy Joel, with considerable help from supermodel Christie Brinkley. She had some sort of singing career as many daughters of singers tend to these days, what with nepotism ruling showbiz with an iron fist and all. And as common with the troubled spawn of the glitterati, ARJ self-medicated following a rough break-up and was rushed to the hospital post-haste. So what would a world without Alexa Ray Joel look like, then?

YSL's latest ads are out, and they follow suit with the brand's supermodel-centric spreads from seasons past. For FW09, Stefano Pilati once again enlisted the help of photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin as well as famous face Christy Turlington. Seeing as in the last few years YSL's ads have featured the likes of Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, and Claudia Schiffer, it appears the French fashion house has officially been bitten by the supermodel comeback bug. However, rather than feeling dull as a result of the familiarity of the mannequins in question, the pared-down ads are charming as ever.

Last night’s Vogue-sponsored Costume Gala at the Met Museum wasn’t without its fair share of controversy. And, no, I’m not talking about Madonna’s thigh-high boots and bunny ears, nor am I referring to Helena Christensen’s frock fit for figure skating, which was outfitted with crystals spelling out the aforementioned magazine’s moniker. In fact the tempest in question instead had to do with the supermodels that didn’t show up at all last night -- the result of Anna Wintour snubbing a particularly revered (not to mention Michelle Obama-approved) Parisian designer.

What makes a supermodel? According to Naomi Campbell, "Models need to earn their stripes -- I just think the term [supermodels] is used a little too loosely." Campbell, who's lucky enough to have arguably earned the title, goes on to say that "Kate Moss is obviously a supermodel but after Gisele, I don't think there's been one." The original crop of supermodels includes Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Claudia Schiffer, and of course, Campbell, who dismisses the new crop of popular models like Agyness Deyn and Hilary Rhoda as unworthy of the supermodel tiara. Easy for her to say, all perched high on her glass stilettos and hurling objects at servants.