When your whole family is madly creative, modeling is just the beginning...
It's hard not to notice Ruby Aldridge when she enters a room. It's not that she's loud, or showy; in fact, she comes across pretty self-effacing. At 5'10", she's tall, but not freakishly so. But she's so darn beautiful - not "pretty" but beautiful - it's tough to look away.
And her legs probably belong in the Guinness Book of World Records - they're that long.
"I took endless grief for my height in school," she says with a shrug. "People were always making fun." You get the impression it didn't bother her much; that even barely into her teens, Ruby already saw a world after school that would be far more interesting and it was that world she had her eye on.
When you meet her parents, and learn a little about her family, Ruby's wider worldview becomes a bit easier to understand. Her mom, Laura, still stunning in her Fifties, was Playboy's February, 1976 Playmate of the Month, and worked as a flight attendant on the official Playboy jet "Big Bunny."
To travel on Big Bunny was no small thing back then. Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner knew everyone who was anyone from rock royalty to jazz greats, to literary giants. "It was a fabulous opportunity," says Laura. "I met incredible people," including Elvis, who bought her a necklace she has to this day.
Ruby's dad, Alan is a legend in art direction and illustration especially well-known for his wild, intricate, illustration and design work on album covers for the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who and Elton John, as well as book jackets, posters, magazine illustrations, children's books and all kinds of rock paraphernalia. He's still in high demand: GQ just published an article featuring his work, and the latest Incubus album cover is also his work. A children's book "The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast" is being re-issued by Templar Publishing just in time for the holidays, and next spring, Harry N. Abrams will release "The Man With Kaleidoscope Eyes; The Art of Alan Aldridge," a survey of his work since the 60s.
That's just the beginning: Ruby's half-sister, Saffron is a model-turned-author, her half-brother is fashion photographer Miles Aldridge. Her sister, Lilly, is a successful model herself, her brother Toby Joe Jackson does special effects for film and television, brother Pim manages composers, and James is studying electronic musical composition.
As her very proud dad (who joined Laura and Ruby during the shoot) puts it, "I think we're kind of a dynasty at this point."
So putting on wild clothes and getting in front of a camera just seems like a perfectly natural thing for seventeen-year-old Ruby Aldridge to do.
"Ruby! You've got to loosen up in front of the camera" her mother jokes as she watches her daughter bend and contort her incredibly long limbs to make the perfect picture [see this month's fashion feature].
For her part, when the camera's rolling, Ruby takes care of business, and if you think that's easy, try hitting the pose on this month's cover. On a chair. Again and again. For half an hour.
Her first modeling gig came four years ago, with Elle Girl. "I was still in school. I wasn't planning on being a model," she explains. "My sister, who's a little older than me, had booked the job, and they found out Lilly had a younger sister."
Apparently, the Elle Girl crew took a look at Ruby, and decided that two Aldridges were better than one and "the rest is history," she laughs.
She's since completed school and devotes herself to modeling fulltime with her mom doubling as traveling companion and manager.
At this stage of the game that means being willing to pick up and go where the work is for weeks at a time.
Which suits her just fine. She recently returned from a month in Tokyo where "I modeled my heart out and got to see the culture first-hand. I've always wanted to go there and I love the fact that I get paid to travel the world and it's fun to dress up! It's just insane to be able to do this! What a blessing."
She acknowledges that modeling has a downside as well. "You have to have very thick skin to do this," she explains. "I don't mind when I don't get booked for a job - I understand it's a process. But when it becomes 'Oh, we don't like her face,' or 'she's a little overweight' I don't like that. It's how girls become anorexic. It's one thing to say 'she's not right for the job,' it's not necessary to say stuff like 'Her feet are too big!'"
For the record, Ruby's feet are perfectly fine.
When she's not working, she hangs out with her friends, listens to music, goes to concerts and writes songs. "I think I'd like to pursue something in music later in life," she says.
She's also started taking pictures of her own, so who knows? The Aldridge Family Business seems to be a lot of different things; in front of the camera, behind the camera, drawing, designing, making music, listening to music, sky's the limit.
Her father thinks she'll be a photographer. "She's got a very good eye," he says, proudly.
But whatever she does, she has her family's encouragement and for now, it's modeling. "When I said I wanted to try modeling, both my parents were all for it," she says. "The only thing they said was 'Go for it, be the best you can be.'" Pretty good advice no matter what you want to do.
The Loves of Ruby Aldridge
Music: "Ariel Pink, Vampire Weekend, Nine Inch Nails. I like strange, weird, electronic, rock - and Little Wayne."
Love Interest: "No one at the moment."
Designers: "I like vintage clothes. I only shop in vintage stores. I have a few Marc Jacobs and some Vivienne Westwood pieces I love."
Shoes: "Flats. I'm too tall to wear heels."
Food: "I love vegetarian baloney sandwiches. I love being a vegetarian. I feel good. I love animals. I do eat dairy and eggs, but no fish."
Comments
I loved seeing Nick and Sharon together. I've been waiting for that to happen for so long! I think they work a lot better than him and Phyllis, however, I do love Phyllis sooo yeah.
And I don't understand whats going on with Catherine, but I think they are all in for a big surprise. Can't wait.
First, I think Nick and Sharon need to stay with who they're married to now! Vicot and Nikki need to bury the hatchet and get back together. AND it would be great if Kay left everything to Amber, especially if Kay returns..because Jill will only fight to get it all back...Amber is loyal to Kay! This show is the best thing on daytime TV I think! I'm a senior citizen and work part-time. I look forward to "becoming a part of their lives" in Genoa City daily. Too bad it's not on during the weekends...I'd surely watch it just as faithfully. Everyone has such believable acting abilities....I feel like the stories are real, even though I know they are not. Now THAT takes talent and they definitely have that!!
Hi everyone! Well, I've been reading some of the readers' comments...wow! I agree with about all of them. First, I never want to see Nick and Sharon back together either!! True, she does whine a lot! Plus, it seems to me everyone's forgotten about HER indescretions with Brad..all the blame gets shifted to Nick and Phyllis! Second, I'm hoping Jill has to relinquish ALL of her control of both the Chancelor AND Abbottt Dynasties. Further, it would really be the icing on the cake if she left everything to Amber, don't you think?? THAT would get the tongues wagging for sure, don't you think? As for Victor...I think he's giving Nikki a raw deal. She didn't know how David really was..not totally. He needs to give her a break and they need to get back together and STAY together!
A little confused by the issue... if this is November's issue (Ruby Aldridge on cover) and it is supposed to be the "Paris" issue, how come we don't see the cover model that got photographed with Phyllis in Paris?? Hmmm.....
I have watched the show for over 20 years and have grown to expect something exciting to always happen to make me come back and watch the next show. Believe it or not, it works to leave us sitting on the edge of our seats to find out what will happen next. Sharon, Sharon Sharon, Ms. C., Ms. C. and the rest of the cast really add a bit of spice to keep the show on top of the ratings. I must say, I love the theme song because it has not changed. It is really a trade mark that should always be a part of the show. I find the show always interesting even though there may be some areas that drag. Keep the show alive and moving with exciting new adventures such as the Paris visit. The adventures are just one reason why I love to watch the Young and The Restless. Can you add a segment on the site for us to participate and in the Paris visit?
I don't ever want to see Nick and Sharon get back together as a couple the make me ill.
all sharon does is wine and wine.. waisting pressious Y & R time. please keep nick with Phyllis . Get rid of Sharon and bring back our drucilla.
I have been watching the Young & the Restless since day one. I don't feel Nick & Sharon are right for each other, times have changed and although they share a son. There is no other reason why they should be together. Nick & the gorgeous redhead belongs together. Sharon always gets her man and then she gets antsy and starts wandering for a new love. That's always been her problem for not sticking to a commital marriage.
The Mrs. Chancelor story line is veery good. Can't wait to see Jill not going to get control of Chancelor industries. I'm sure that is wat is in the new will.
maybe it will go to Brock.
So interesting to read about Ruby's life! What a cool cover model!
I want to see Nick and Sharon back. Phyllis' sickening goofy smile makes me just that, sick. Have we forgotten what horrible things she has done? Trying to kill people? I think that summer really is Jack's baby, he never showed anyone the results. I bet she will be crazy like her mother.
I normally don't post on things like this because I am usually at work when reading them and don't want to take out the time to. LOL but I hope that Nick & Phylis stay together. They bring a sort of romance and passion that no other couple currently does. I mean think about it. Victoria and JT are a little boring. Michael and Lauren are hot but with his crazy family always doing something it kind of ruins the romance. (Wonder how much longer Lauren is going to want to deal with Gloria and Kevin for that matter)Lilly and Cane are perfect together but they are not a couple so that leaves no one unless you count Adam and Heather or worse yet Chloe and Cane. Anyway as for Sharon I like her character but I like her with Jack because deep down Sharon is sneaky and kind of low down. She just doesn't display it as openly as Jack. Jack brings it out of her and its interesting to see on screen. Nick & Sharon both out grew each other. To see them together again would just be boring. Plus I love how Phyllis puts Nikki in her place. But as you know it is in the soaps storyline to break them up of course. Looks like its heading that way and that's when I will take a break from watching the show.
Personally I would rather not see Nick & Sharon get back together. I love the chemistry between Nick & Phyllis. Also Summer is the one, who needs a stable family. She needs to have both her mommy & her daddy together. Noah on the other hand is now a teenager, it won't be long until he is an adult. He loves and accepts Jack as his step-father and considering everything, he has adjusted & accepted his parents divorce.
In Real Life my own grown children told their father & I, who are coming up on 35 years of marriage, "Mom & Dad, we may not have had all of the things our friends did when we were growing up; but the one thing we had that our friends didn't were two parents, who love each other.
You gave us stability & though we didn't realize at that time, what a blessing that is; we understand it now we are adults & we thank you for that."
Let's leave Nick & Sharon in the past. Let's not turn them into another Nikki & Victor.
Let's not break up Summer's parents. Let this little girl be given a stable home life with her two parents, Nick & Phyllis, who passionately love each other. What did Summer do to any of you, that you would want her to suffer so that you can see Nick & Sharon back together again? That is a selfish wish. If they were still married & had never divorced that would be a 'horse of a different color'. Alas they are divorced & a part of Sharon still has the 'hots' for Brad; so if she gets together with Nick again she still won't be happy & she will end up cheating on Nick again with Brad. Is this what anyone really wants to have happen? I don't want to see this happen. It would be a boring, over used storyline. Love, lust & betrayal. Enough already. My husband & I love the intrigue, suspense & mystery lines that Y&R has been coming up with these past few years. We want to see more of them. I wish they hadn't killed Sabrina off cause Victor & Sabrina together were amazing! I had always love Victor & Nikki. I was disappointed with the bad choices Nikki had made getting involved with David Chow. I had hoped Nikki & Victor's marriage would last forever. It didn't & now I don't want to see them get back together. They had their chance & they couldn't make it work so now it is time for them to stop beating a 'dead horse'.
What Nick & Phyllis have together makes a far better love story than Nick & Sharon ever did. I hope they don't try to turn them into another Nikki & Victor there should be "Only One" just like The Highlander.
Passion & love can grow better & hotter with time. Just ask my husband. Our favorite place in the world to be is in each others arms every chance we get. We have never been separated from each other nor have we ever filed for divorce.
When we have had disagreements we worked through them together as lovers and spouses should work through them.
I do wish they would have Amber sing more. It would be nice if Neil made her an offer to sing at Indigo.
In any case I much prefer to watch drama than to have it in real life. Everyone, who does watch soaps need to keep in mind that the things the soap characters put each other through can actually be avoided in RL. Viewers: Don't do as they do in the soaps, do as they should do if they were applying some common sense. Your life will be happier & you will make fewer mistakes.
I hope Nick and Sharon get back together..I have always seen them as the next "Victor & Nikki" a couple tht just cannot live without each other for a very long period of time. Every time i see Jack and Sharon get a little frisky I wanna hurllll!!!! he is wayyyyyyyyyyy toooooooo old for her!
What is it about the cover of the magazine that shows High Fashion Style-nothing that I see? I'm sure there were many stylish garments that would have been sexy and not kept behind the store check out counters. Wouldn't it have been better to go to New York Fashion Week and get something that represents the coming Fall Fashions?
I don't want to see Nick and Sharon back together. Sharon is too much of a spoiled brat. She whines if something isn't to her liking. Phyllis is much better for Nick. The passion they share is unreal. And as for this Chloe thing. I wish Billy would just come out about their past. Lily and Cane are hot together. I have been watching Y&R for about 15 yrs, and it is absoulutely getting better and better.
heck NO!!! I do not wish Sharon and Nick back together. Nick looks much better and happier with
Phyliss.
I like this article but I want to know why can't we see the good bye article on Jack and Sharon and Lilly is so good enough to be on the cover we want to see more or Lilly. Her public is waiting. we want to know more about Cane and Lilly and the love to hate her Chole. We want to know more about Amber's site too where and when can we see. come Phillis and Nikki and Nick get on the ball make a move to a great magazine.
it would be awsome if sharon and nick got back together i think thats whats going to happen i hope they do it would be nice to have the family back toghther again thanks and i dont like phillis
Where's the goodbye to Jack and Sharon???? Sheesh!!!!
I love this magazine and site...very chic!