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When American model Kristen McMenamy posed for Vogue Italia in August 2010 with her long gray hair, women were pleasantly surprised by the bold move.  Now McMenamy, 46, is yet again a Vogue Italia cover girl for their May 2011 swimwear supplement.

As described by StyleBistro, “McMenamy flaunts her enviable curves in a tribal print bikini… and proudly poses in her long, gray-white hair.”

McMenamy broke multiple stereotypes about age and gray hair when she posed for Vogue Italia last year, proving that a 45-year-old with a full head of gray is equally, if not more, stunning than a bottle-blond teenager.  Now she’s done it again, this time while revealing a bikini-ready body that puts teen and 20-something models to shame.

Vogue Italia has made a positive statement by putting McMenamy on the cover of its swimsuit supplement.  Beauty is ageless, and McMenamy is their proof.

The representative from a New York City salon is still looking for a 20-something with at least 45 percent gray hair to be interviewed and featured on a national TV show in a story called “Embrace Your Gray.”

E-mail us if you are interested – info@goinggrayblog.com – and we’ll help you get set up for your national TV debut!

Were you made for TV?

Going Gray readers, a representative from a New York City salon is looking for a young woman in her 20s who made the decision to go gray and turned down the hair dye.

The ideal candidate will be interviewed and featured on a national TV show in a story called “Embrace Your Gray.”  She needs to be at least about 45 percent gray, and the show would like to film the week of April 26 (next week!)

If you are interested and fit the general description, send us an e-mail – info@goinggrayblog.com – and we’ll help you get set up for your national TV debut!

Last week, we shared one reader’s story about a great gray hair experience in Italy.  But she was not the only one in Europe showing off a new silver hairdo.  Last month, Jean Paul Gaultier’s fall 2011 collection debuted at Paris Fashion Week, and many of the models made their way down the catwalk in gray-haired wigs.

But although they were wearing “silvery beehives,” the clothes were hardly meant for Grandma.  Creative Loafing blog considered the collection to not be age-specific, that although “Jean Paul Gaultier’s collection hit the runway with the appeal to women of a certain age … [Do] not be fooled … Take what you see here and create them as your own — the runway is meant to be inspiration.  Mix the classic pieces with what is current age-appropriate.”

The tone of the show was also anything but conservative.  The models emerged wearing beautiful outerwear pieces but teasingly shed their coats, jackets and scarves halfway down the runway, giving the show a youthful and flirty feel.

What do you think of the collection?  Did you see anything you’d love to wear with your own silver hair?  Check out close-up photos of the looks at Style.com.

Valentine’s Day may traditionally be about romance, but the day of love also reminds us to appreciate each of our loved ones, whether it’s by sending your mom a bouquet of flowers, helping your child fill out Spongebob Squarepants Valentine’s Day cards, or even doing a little something special for the person who is always there for you—yourself.

At face value, treating yourself, whether on Valentine’s Day, your birthday or any other day, might appear a little vain.  But don’t confuse self-love with narcissism.  While the latter leads to a sad and lonely death by a reflective pool or water, self-love involves appreciating, accepting and respecting yourself unconditionally.  (And that includes loving your gray hair!)

It’s that sense of self-worth that tells you, “I deserve to be happy.”

Sometimes by putting yourself first, you actually improve the effect you have on other people.  Hence the saying, “You must care for yourself before you can take care of others.”

Mastering the art of self-love has positive effects on many other aspects of life.  Self-love can even make you more fashionable.  Designer Christian Siriano told the Houston Chronicle that people with love on the brain “project themselves better, which makes them look better in what they’re wearing.”  Maybe that’s why our Going Gray readers look so good?

None of us are the center of the universe, but as Kate Winslet’s character in “The Holiday” says, “You’re supposed to be the leading lady of your own life.”

Valentine’s Day might be over, but just as we should appreciate our loved ones all year-round, we should also show ourselves some love every so often.  Go ahead, it’s good for you.  Read LiveStrong.com’s “Unconditional Self-Love and Self-Acceptance” to learn more about the concept of self-love and ways you can achieve it.

Have you heard of the growing internet campaign called Operation Beautiful?  If not, read on.  If so, keep on.

According to the website,  ”The mission of Operation Beautiful is to post anonymous notes in public places for other women to find. The point is that WE ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL. You are enough… just the way you are!”  In addition, they have some amazing content about loving you for you!  Check it out!

This incredible movement represents everything we believe in here at Going Gray.  We know a few people who will start participating in this amazing activity – hope you’ll join us!

Jamie Lee Curtis recently told magazine Marie Claire

“My stylist, Sean James, keeps my cut edgy and contemporary — otherwise I can go Bea Arthur very quickly.”

So, in order to avoid that Golden Girl look, keep a trendy outlook on your hair cut and style for your gorgeous gray hair and you can’t go wrong, in fact, many styles will look even more interesting if they’re sporting lovely silver locks.

The website HairFinder has some great information about finding the cut that works for you.

“Think of your gray hair as simply another color in a broad spectrum of hair colors. Apart from the changes in hair structure that occur as hair turns gray (usually tightening of the cuticle making the hair more resistant, and a slight thickening or coarsening of the hair itself) that is all it truly is. The biggest difference between pigmented hair and gray hair is the presence of coloring pigments.”  Hairfinder urges you to think outside of the gray and instead about your facial structure.

“Try not the think of your hair styling in terms of what suits “gray hair”. Choose styles that flatter your face and features. Look through style books and find hairstyles in the lengths you like and talk to your stylist about whether they will work with the texture of your hair. As for knowing if a style will work for you to flatter your face and features, be sure to look for “models” with similar facial structure to your own.”

Need ideas?  How about these:

Photos courtesy of Belknits , wip-hairport & Loess is more

We told you all about this in January, but we’re now seeing more and more of it. From the fashion week catwalks to the streets of New York, gray hair is a trend that’s heating up. Kate Moss, Peaches Geldof, Pink, Lady Gaga and other trend setters are paving the way for gray to be fashion forward.  The difference is, they are seeking hair color treatments to get gray, not hair treatments to cover gray hair.

Gray is very "right now." Photo courtesy of Trend Hunter

Britain’s Nicola Moulton, beauty and health director at UK Vogue told The Telegraph “Stopping at nothing to look just a few years younger is starting to look dated itself … which is why I think we’re seeing models and younger celebrities embracing things like wrinkles and a smattering of grey. The bottom line is, it doesn’t stop a woman looking beautiful – on the contrary, it just makes her look more attractive by speaking volumes for her confidence.”

We don’t doubt you’ll see more and more gray tresses as the trend makes its way to the masses.  The New York Times reported “In embracing a tint their mothers would have shunned, such role models are lending gray new cachet, giving shades from ash to ermine an unlikely fashion moment. Now, some say, the trend, which trickled down from the runways of Chanel, Giles Deacon and their rarefied ilk to fashion hot spots around the country, seems poised to go mainstream.”

So, how about that, ladies – you can say you were there first!

Gray is very "right now." Photo courtesy of Trend Hunter

Trend Hunter spotted a new must-have this 2010.

Yep, you guessed it. Gray hair is in, folks, and not just in, it’s en vogue! Hot fashion designers Gareth Pugh, Giles Deacon and Proenza Schouler flaunted their Spring 2010 collections with models clad in funky gray hair (check out the photo gallery here). Stylelist reports that beauty blogger and London hairstylist Alex Brownsell (who does Keira Knightley’s hair) “calls gray hair classy, understated and perfect right now,” in this article. And, in fact, in place of “how to dye gray hair,” 2010 is turning things around with stories like “how to dye hair gray!” More and more people are going gray by choice, just like you.

We’re loving 2010 so far.. aren’t you?

Featured earlier on this blog, Liz Rizzo is a beautiful 30-something with gray hair.  Along with 70% of our readers, Liz’s hair started turning gray in her twenties.  She is an inspiration to all!  Listen to her review of Anne Kraemers’s book Going Gray. Liz also gives a great gray hair styling tip at the end.  We hope to hear and see more of Liz!