So many times when watching week after week of the girls of ANTM get decked out in drag-queen hair and homeless-lady makeup, only to then contort themselves into whatever harebrained scenario Jay Manuel has chosen for them, I wonder why we can't ever have a fucking beauty shoot? Tell me why. I'd seriously rather watch girls be forced to be pretty without any ice-cream sprinkles or war paint getting in the way. And so, maybe the same should follow for Winston. Maybe I get a little too conceptual at times and need to scale it back, to keep it simple, stupid. After the jump, is some unadulterated, uninterrupted kitty porn that comes from a photo shoot that we did early in the morning on the bed, as Winston basked in the most beautiful light of the day. Tyra would have been proud.
This one's blurry, but it's worth it for the tongue:
That was his response when I told him to "make it fashion."
And, because it's literally my favorite Winston picture ever taken, here's the non-closeup of the shot at the top of this post:
Of course, I do realize the irony of attributing anything related to Winston as "beauty." After all, he does sort of look like Salvador Dali (as first noted by my boyfriend)...
...Cap'n Crunch (as first noted by Bex)...
...and maybe even Lauren Bacall...
But you know what I realize even more? That I think my animal looks like everything in the world. Everything is Winston!
Harriet from Small Wonder?
Is Winston!
Jamie from Small Wonder?
Is Winston!
By extension, Billy Corgan (since he's often mistaken for Jamie)...
Is Winston!
This illustration of an IUD?
Is Winston!
The Magna Carta?
Is Winston!
Winston! Winston! Winston! Everything is Winston!
Edit: The Untrained Eye made an awesome LOLcat out of the best Winston picture ever (as spotted at the Cat Macros LiveJournal).
It's really nice when someone does your work for you like that.
This is too much. The cuteness is killing me. He looks like a stuffed animal in some of these. I just want to rub my face in his fluffy fluffy tummy!
Posted by: nicolelaroche | May 23, 2007 at 09:34 AM
These pictures are fantastic! You've captured everything we love about both ANTM and Winston in one post. Question in reference to the banner - anyone know where you can get stickers, tee shirts, etc. with the Kodami (sp?) on them?
Posted by: Shelley | May 23, 2007 at 09:36 AM
fierce!
Posted by: sarah | May 23, 2007 at 09:37 AM
I have to finally comment to say, ohmyfuckingod he's adorable.
And I love your blog, ANTM or not. In fact, I've never actually seen ANTM, I just read about it on your blog.
Posted by: amy | May 23, 2007 at 09:43 AM
work it, feline!
yes, ah yes, i am enlightened. Everything Is Winston.
Posted by: moss | May 23, 2007 at 09:52 AM
lol omg i want that cat
Posted by: lee | May 23, 2007 at 09:53 AM
Winston would have KILLED in ANTM. The camera, clearly, loves him.
Posted by: kate | May 23, 2007 at 09:58 AM
I TOO AM WINSTON! He is not showing enough neck in the photos but he is still on his way to becoming America's Next Top Cat Model.
Posted by: Hateraid | May 23, 2007 at 09:59 AM
He is too FIERCE! Wish I could get my cats to pose like Winston!
Posted by: Neenee | May 23, 2007 at 10:03 AM
Did you rub Vaseline on his cheekbones? Because that's what really makes it fashion. Also, you should talk to him about his neck, it's lost in these shots.
Posted by: elb | May 23, 2007 at 10:06 AM
I want to squash his head. In a good way.
Posted by: Leanne | May 23, 2007 at 10:19 AM
ahhhhhh adorable. i totally want your cat. if you ever need a kitty-sitter, i'm more than happy to oblige!
also: you've gotten me absolutely obsessed with i can has cheezburger. me AND my girlfriend. it's kind of a problem. thanks a lot, rich!
Posted by: lauren | May 23, 2007 at 10:19 AM
You've ruined Billy Corgan for me forever with the deadly truth of the Jamie comparison.
Luckily, I don't care that much about Billy Corgan.
Posted by: courtney | May 23, 2007 at 11:14 AM
:: sigh ::
And I fall in love all over again.
Posted by: Val | May 23, 2007 at 11:15 AM
Let's see what the panel has to say:
Tyra: Winston, you have a tendency to lose your neck. And this is why we say it's important to know your angles, because when you do this *pose*, your nose is a little puggy. Instead of this *pose*, you want this *totally same pose but with crazy eyes*. But your look is undeniably fierce, and it's that fierce that saves you from week to week. Your fierceiness is just too fierce for us to fierce.
Twiggy: Yes, I think the camera loves you. Who are you again?
Ruffles: Work it out, girl.
Nigel: *Leery glare* I think I want to take you home tonight.
Okay, there you have it....good shoot, Winston can stay!!
Posted by: alyson | May 23, 2007 at 11:17 AM
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. That Winston injection should last me all day. Oh GOD he is a cute cat. Kiss his weird head for me. And those big clubby paws!!
In that favorite picture, Winston looks like he's saying, "Who, moi?"
Posted by: n | May 23, 2007 at 11:17 AM
Not to be obsessive or stalky, but could you provide a large version of that amazing picture? I'd love it on my desktop...
Posted by: n | May 23, 2007 at 11:22 AM
omg! magna carta all the way.
Posted by: queen rat | May 23, 2007 at 11:27 AM
I just wanna stick my face in his adorable tummy! Winston just made my day!
thanks!!
Posted by: | May 23, 2007 at 11:27 AM
Click to enlarge, n! I uploaded all of them so that clicking on them pops open a window with 800 x 600 versions of the shots.
Posted by: Rich | May 23, 2007 at 11:35 AM
Everything is Winston!
Good grief, man! Are you just figuring that out?
Everything except Rudy, that is. Schmopsticks indeed.
Posted by: Talix18 | May 23, 2007 at 11:37 AM
Ah! the paws! I love his "who me?" expression!
Posted by: Christine | May 23, 2007 at 11:54 AM
In the second picture he looks like he's doing that "black people drive like this; white people drive like this" joke.
Oh Winston and his racially-based humor!
Posted by: Amy | May 23, 2007 at 11:59 AM
That is now my wallpaper! the camera loves him hehe
Posted by: finster | May 23, 2007 at 12:31 PM
I TOO AM WINSTON! He is not showing enough neck in the photos but he is still on his way to becoming America's Next Top Cat Model.
Posted by: Hateraid | May 23, 2007 at 01:05 PM