A Model Of A Boy

CNN's Anderson Cooper flashes his fashion credentials at CFDA awards...by announcing he was a child model

By Rachel Quigley

Last updated at 4:02 PM on 7th June 2011

Hosting something as prestigious as the CFDA awards is an honour usually only reserved for the most fashionable of celebrities.

So you'd be forgiven for wondering what style credentials CNN anchor Anderson Cooper possesses to be given such a privilege.

Although he appeared on stage only twice at Monday night's Council of Fashion Designers of America awards - to open the ceremony and to introduce the Lady Gaga award - he ensured that he informed guests exactly why he deserved to be standing there.

Dressed in a dark Ralph Lauren Black Label suit, the handsome anchor revealed he had once been a childhood model.

And for the most sceptical of audience members, who are used to only seeing him on the front line or behind a desk, he flashed up some head shots of his modelling days.

The black and white picture - showing a young, broody, dark-haired Cooper - drew laughter from the audience.

But it had the desired effect - he had proved his qualifications to the audience at the fashion version of the Oscars as proof of why he deserved to be acting master of ceremonies.

That, and the fact that he is a long-time friend of CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg, and that he is the son of late designer jeans magnate Gloria Vanderbilt.

Cooper has also worked as a fit model for both Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. He joked with the audience: 'There was no way you'd be critical, or that's what Diane said, anyway.'

Before the ceremony he joked: 'I'm not sure I'm qualified. I'm completely unfashionable.'


Fashion Oscars: Anderson Cooper was the host of last night's CFDA awards and looked dapper in a Ralph Lauren Black Label suit, custom-made for the news anchor by Lauren, who he used to model for.

The 44-year-old journalist looked dapper in the Ralph Lauren suit which was designed specifically for him.