POSING LIKE A MODEL - HOW TO TAKE GREAT PICTURES FOR THE RED CARPET - PROM - WEDDINGS - INSTAGRAM or FACEBOOK

Shelley Goodstein & Dr Kevin Pounds

I've had my share of red carpet photo ops. Being a model certainly helps when it comes to knowing how to pose year after year. So I thought I'd share a few tricks I've learned for perfect red carpet moments.  Besides sucking it in and good posture, here's how to pull off a perfect pic!

The Classic.

This is your fail safe, go-to pose. Turn to an angle, one foot in front of the other - one leg bent and one hand on the hip! This might be the absolute, most photographed pose of ALL time. Definitely flattering for any "booty"!

Kim Kardashian - photo credit: Getty image

Cross your legs. 

Yes, imagine you are in need of a bathroom and VOILA you have the super slimming forward facing pose. 

Emily Ratajkowski - Photo credit : HuffingtonPost.com

Unladylike - Legs apart.
 JLow repeats this pose often and may be one of the few that can get away with it. Keep in mind this pose is only flattering from the right angle though HINT: Always know where the camera is. Your legs appear slimmer because of the space between. Point your front foot. 

Jennifer Lopez - Photo credit: Grammy.com

The BFF pose

Let's face it, life and photos are always better with your bestie by your side. Plus if you're the "smarter" friend, you'll cheat yourself a little behind to hide a little extra-whatever. This pose always works well as long as you both don't have the same "better" side!

Madison Reed and Victoria Justice - Photo credit : Wire Image 

Twice as nice. Double bent arms.
For this you need the perfect dress and the confidence of a warrior princess or Greek goddess! 

Taylor Swift from Grammys.com


Working the crowd - Air KISS pose

Adrianna Lim - photo credit: Wire image


Using a Prop - Polly Pocket Style

Katy Perry/Rosie Huntington Whitely - Photos: Hollywood Gossip




Avoid a seated pose - standing will always look more flattering ... unless of course you are half naked with this crew at a bonfire in Puerto Rico!

Photo credit: Victoria Secret 

Hello Beautiful! 4 million views at A Model's Secrets blog by Shelley Goodstein

Book Launch - February 2011

Milestones ... these are the moments in life we pause and breathe in, cherish and remember.

My little blog, A Model's Secrets, hit 4 million views today, and for this I am extremely grateful. It reminds me of how far this journey has brought me.

I began my blog to help promote my book and to empower women to look their best using the tricks that models use and have access to. I had no idea that such a simple way of sharing secrets, could bring so many wonderful women and sisterhood to my life. 

My purpose is to help everyday women look and feel more beautiful, more confident because they too know the tricks that celebrities and models use to look their best. It's no secret that if you feel good about yourself inside, it will emanate outside.

Thank you for logging in, visiting and leaving your comments. For sharing and caring. 

XOXO

Shelley

Ketchup for Green Hair and more DIY natural Beauty Recipes that really Work!

Most blondes will tell you that they are very careful about avoiding too much pool time in the summer for fear of the "martian" effect on their locks. You might be surprised to learn that the real culprit in this is COPPER. And if you have copper pipes you might end up with that green tint as well.

Chlorine does play a part however, in that the copper in the water will be oxidized by the chlorine and causes binding of proteins to the hair shaft, turning it green. 

An easy DIY at home fix? Ketchup! The tomatoes and the vinegar will neutralize this chemical reaction. Simply use ketchup on your hair, wrap with plastic or a shower cap. Leave on for 20 minutes and shampoo out.

Here are a few more inexpensive recipes to help with common hair problems that I shared yesterday with the viewers of ARIZONA Midday on Channel 12 in Phoenix using all natural ingredients you can find in the grocery store. Watch the video below.

Walk in Heels like a Supermodel - Tips from the Runway

Shelley Goodstein Dec 2014

I have to admit, I banned myself from runway modeling for a few years because I had a tremendous fear of falling from the sky high heels required to walk in these shows. The photo above is from a couple months ago  - I guess this goes to show that I've learned a few things over the years to help me get "back on the horse."

In the words of Right Said Fred,  "I'm a model if you know what I mean. And I do my little turn on the catwalk, Yeah on the catwalk!"

Some tips to walking in heels:

• Buy your sky high heels a half size too small. All my runway shoes are just a tad small. After all you're not buying stilettos for comfort anyway. This way your foot and shoe plant solidly together and there is no risk of one stepping out without the other. You know Cinderella would concur!

• Lean into your hips and push off your back foot for a long, graceful stride.

• Posture is key and this goes straight to confidence. Chin should be parallel to the ground. Shoulders back and arms should be ever so slightly bent at the elbows behind you.

• You should be walking in a straight line with one foot in front of the other  -landing on the ball of your foot. Don't let your feet cross over each other. 

• Practice makes perfect!!!

XOXO,

Shelley

Check out fellow model Karlie Kloss and her tips below:

Halo Couture vs Hidden Crown halo shaped hair extensions comparison. Which is better - the differences HERE!

I just attended the International Beauty Show (IBS) in New York City. This is where stylists and industry wholesalers go to learn about the hottest, newest and best selling products in the beauty biz! Trust me this is the place you see it all!

Attendees at the IBS show

I met a lot of women with questions about the halo designed hair extension and so I thought I would write about the differences of these ingenious products!

There are a couple companies in the US that sell this type of extension and were displaying their goods at the IBS Show - namely HaloCouture and Hidden Crown.

Both companies sell 100% human REMY hair, not synthetic. REMY HAIR is considered premium in quality because the hair cuticles are kept in tact unlike other type of extensions and created in such a way that they look completely natural!

Both HaloCouture and Hidden Crowns' halo shaped hair extensions are similar in width and both are lace backed layered wefts. One of the biggest differences outside of retail pricing (See below $$), is in the way each is fitted/attached and the amount of hair on each halo which is measured by weight (grams).

HaloCouture Closure

Here is a photo of the way HaloCouture halo's are fitted - they use a bra like strap attached to a wire. The issue with this is that it can be bulky and irritate the scalp and if you have a small head like I do it can bunch up. 

Hidden Crown fastener

The Hidden Crown's design is much simpler - a single micro clip and knot. 

RETAIL PRICING:

• HaloCouture 16 inch Original Halo, 100 grams - $350 (20 inch - $460)
• HaloCouture 16 inch Layered Halo 145 grams - $480 (20 inch - $580)
• Hidden Crown 16 inch Halo 140 grams - $249 (20 inch - $269)

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

The retail pricing for HaloCouture's original halo is over $100 more than Hidden Crown AND its' 40% LESS hair than Hidden Crown. The pricing for HaloCouture's layered halo which is just 5 grams more hair, is nearly double ($560)!

The HaloCouture layered Halo is hair that is layered within the halo design. For the $230 price difference, I would suggest taking your Hidden Crown Extension to your stylist to customize to fit your hairstyle perfectly if you want layered hair instead of thick ends. Rumor has it that Hidden Crown will be launching it's own Hidden Crown LAYERS later next month.

Hidden Crown has thick ends. This is called "double drawn" hair in the industry. 

*sponsored post

Winter SKINCARE - Jojoba / Hohoba oil works - even for acne prone skin

WATCH the VIDEO {HERE}

A big thank you to Arizona Midday for inviting me back this week to share some beauty fixes with viewers on Channel 12, nbc in Phoenix. 

Even in Arizona temperaturea drop, and heaters go on, and our skin dries our more quickly - looking dull and dreary. In fact, if you are experiencing tightness,  or flakiness, it could be a sign that you need to upgrade your moisturizer or apply more frequently.

Moisturizers and lotions are really just emulsions of oils and water. You might be skeptical of using a straight out oil on your face or body, but this is a trend quickly becoming adopted by many beauty fanatics, and for good reason - especially when your skin is in distress.

Jojoba oil - [pronounced hohoba] - is known as an oil, but technically it is a wax ester. This is important to know because wax esters are the closest compounds to natural skin oil or sebum. When you use jojoba [hohoba] oil, your  skin believes it is responsible for producing enough oil, thereby reducing it's own oil production. Good news! this is why jojoba oil is non-comedogenic even for acne prone skin! Jojoba/Hohoba oil is readily available for about $10 in health food stores and at Whole Foods.

When your skin is suffering and chapped, it can easily become inflamed which is the time you should reach for an OTC Hydrocortisone Cream before applying moisturizer. And for those deep cracks use Vaseline, oils or Aquaphor ointment.

TRICK for using: After bathing apply the petroleum jelly, oil or ointment BEFORE you dry off - they all spread super easy. Then, finish drying off with a towel. These products will create a barrier on your skin - trapping the water and forcing the hydration back into your skin and protecting it from losing moisture because of evaporation.

To  listen to more winter skin care tips you can  watch my entire segment here:

Hung over. Beauty Fixes for a late night.

Today you may be thinking that ringing in 2015 may have been better without that fourth glass of champagne. Here are some quick easy tips to looking your best today after a fun night of toasting to the New Year!

1. Hydrate. Duh...
We all know that drinking water first thing when you get up in the morning can kick start your internal organs and help your skin glow. However, there is new research that links drinking 8 glasses as soon as you rise (a traditional Ayurvedic treatment) and waiting an hour before eating anything, with positive results for weight loss, cancer, asthma and other diseases. This resolution is mine for the next 30 days - to see what a difference it can make. 

2. Aspirin. Not just your for your head but also to alleviate inflammation in your face. Dissolve the aspirin with a little water in your hand and use it as a mask. More on that {HERE}

3. Two coats of mascara 
This will help cancel out the redness in  your eyes and make them bigger. Just avoid the lower lashes which could weigh down your eye by drawing attention to any darkness underneath. Also use cold spoons that have sat in ice. underneath your eyes to reduce puffiness

4.  Pop on some blush and lip gloss - preferably in pink.  This will make your face look flush and healthy.

5. No shamPOO.
 You spent a lot of time getting the perfect NYE do, so juzz it up with some dry shampoo to keep volume all day long without having to shampoo again. How to make your own with corn starch {HERE}

Wishing you all a beautiful 2015!

XO Shelley

Victoria Secret Backstage Runway Model Tricks YOU Want to Know!

The Victoria Secret Fashion Show has now become a tradition for the holiday season, attracting over 10 million viewers in over 180 countries ... it is hands down the most famous runway production I know of. 

However, what you might not know is that the model's call time is 9 am ... for a 7pm show. That's 10 straight hours of hair and makeup. So if you feel badly when you're watching tonight because you don't look like they do, just keep in mind that neither did they 10 hours earlier! So when you walk into the room, you might want to incorporate a few of these model's backstage tricks to look your best!

A big thank you to Arizona Midday for having me on their show today to talk about these behind the scenes tricks. You can watch the video {HERE}:

• Hairspray to stop the Jiggles and Wiggles

A strong hold, aerosol hair spray can make the difference for jiggly thighs or underarms. Just spray generously on whatever area you want to stop wiggling and hold straight and still until dry. It should feel like you are shrink wrapping your skin.  Plus there's an added bonus if your using this trick for the back of your thighs - it will help hide cellulite because the reflection and shine of the spray will deflect the light and minimize the appearance of any "dimples".

• Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs

I see bottles of Sally Hansen airbrush legs spray behind the scenes at a lot at photo shoots because it really works to make your legs look flawless! Not only will this easy to use spray hide flaws, it will give you color. Best of all, it is water resistant so it will stay on your skin and NOT transfer to your clothes or sheets.

Available in 3 colors, choose a shade darker than your skin and after you've sprayed it, use your hands to rub it in to make sure you didn't miss anywhere. The added color will give you the optical illusion that your legs are leaner - remember anything darker will look smaller!

• Biosilk Shine On

One thing these leggy supermodels do not have is matte colored legs. A shine down the center of your leg will make then look longer. To get a perfect sheen without looking like a glitter bomb use a product that is really made for hair called Biosilk's Shine On. I like this because it won't transfer onto other things and it is more subtle than a shimmery lotion.

• Tea to Tan by Terry

A water color bronzer - this product will help create the high cheekbones that you weren't born with. Bronzers are the easiest way to Contour the face but they can be super intimidating to use. This liquid bronzer is an easy way to build color one step at a time. Beautifully sheer and a color that works on almost every skin tone.

• Facial Sauna

At some point we all feel like we have caked on the makeup. To help the makeup blend into your face, hover your face over a facial steamer for 15-30 seconds. This will help take away any powdery look, giving you a glow and letting your natural skin see through.

• STILA Highlighter

An all time fave and easy to use highlighter by Stila called Kitten. A perfect combination of shimmer. Dust both colors together and use on the high point of your cheeks, center of nose, under the brow, and on your clavicles for a little extra radiant glow.

photos via CBS

Best Products for Hair Growth: Biotin, Vitamins and Folic Acid for Longer Hair

Many myths exist surrounding hair growth. The truth is there we are born with as many hair follicles as we will ever have. Nothing can add more or reduce that number and you CANNOT generate new ones. When you were smaller, you may think you had more hair because your scalp had not fully grown so the density of that finite number of follicles made your hair appear thicker, but it was only perception.

Hair grows on average about half an inch each month. Each hair follicle will only produce about 20 hairs in a lifetime. The completion of a lifecyle of hair is 2- 8 years. So, even if you are cutting one of those hairs it is still growing from underneath the scalp. The cycle is such that at any one time about 90% of the hair on your scalp is in the growing phase. You might all notice that in pregnancy your hair appears thicker - it's not that you're actually growing more, but the hormones of pregnancy influence the hair follicle to extend it's growth cycle such that you are losing less. Then, after you give birth the body sheds the hair more quickly, losing what you really would have to make up for the hormonal influence.

What you eat will influence how your hair looks. Hair is also made up of 5% water so it is important that you keep hydrated with 8 glasses of water a day for beautiful locks. Below is a list of Vitamins and supplement that can also improve hair growth.

1. BIOTIN
Many experts recommend Biotin - it is probably the number one supplement that is mentioned and used for hair growth. I like it because it is water soluble which means that your body will get rid of whatever is not needed by excreting it. The other reason I like it is that you can find it in drugstores for not a lot of money.

Biotin is a B complex and the most significant food sources for it include peanuts, carrots, egg yolks, fish and cauliflower. You can also find it in pork, raspberries, and whole wheat bread.

Try: Biotin Dietary Supplement Tablets from Walgreens or Costco for about 15 cents a tab.

2. FOLIC ACID - WARNING 
You may be thinking to yourself that if your hair looked great pregnant why not just take a prenatal vitamin every day. This is tricky because remember it was the hormones that are most responsible for those thick locks.

A much more compelling reason not to take prenatal vitamins is new research linking breast cancer with supplemental folic acid. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition women who take supplemental folic acid increase their breast cancer risk by 20-30%.

Prenatal vitamins also contain more iron than most of us need if not pregnant. The danger is that even mild iron toxicity can increase your risk for a heart attack, diabetes and cirrhosis of the liver according to the Iron Disorders Institute.

This is why even with natural supplements and such we really need to research what we take and get the advice of our physicians before adding vitamins or supplements to our daily routine.

3. Vitamin D
It seems that the sunshine vitamin may also play a role in our hair health!  Besides helping to keep your bones and skin healthy, researchers at Harvard have shown that Vitamin D may play a role in waking up hair follicles that have been dormant. In fact, the research on this long time vitamin is exploding as it may be responsible for turning on the genes for hundreds of other diseases. 

I live in Arizona where the sun shines almost EVERY DAY and for that reason I wear sunscreen EVERY DAY. Statistics show that over 1 billion people in the world are Vit D deficient.  It is very hard to get enough vitamin D through natural sun exposure if you are wearing sunscreen so I take a low dose supplement just to be safe.

4. VIVISCAL
My girlfriend swears by this Scandinavian over the counter hair product. It has become highly hyped for the reason that it works for many people. It has a few ingredients you might be skeptical of like Shark Powder and Horsetail Extract along with Vitamin C and a fish protein. It does contains Biotin, but in such a small amount that many people will add a Biotin supplement along with Viviscal.

5. HAIR EXTENSIONS
Of course the fastest way to make your hair appear fuller and longer is to use hair extensions. My number one recommendation is Halo Crown Extensions - this is a new design that will not damage your natural hair like clip ins, tape ins or fused in salon extensions. The best part is that it will take less than a minute to put in your hair and is temporary - causing no permanent damage. 100% real human REMY hair - these look natural and healthy. It is the quickest solution for more hair and safest! Buy yours here: HaloCrown.com

Holiday Makeup Tutorial - The Makeup Artist Secret Products they use on Models

Tiffany: a beauty before - a BOMBshell after!

Here are the products to use to glam up your look for the holidays! 

I was at this shoot with professional Makeup  artist and PRO photographer Micheael Franco and he says that besides using his new favorite "HALO CROWN" hair extensions these are THEE products to create his signature looks that he depends on for picture perfection! 

• Tom Ford foundation stick for face
• Stila "kitten" highlighter for high points of cheek
• Kevyn Aucoin skin enhancer for concealer
• Mac's studio fix fluid NC50 to contour under cheek bones- Just a WARNING: the counter girl will tell you this is too dark, she will not want to sell it to you because she thinks you will return it. Trust me, this is the magic trick. Learn more on this here ●●►  Contouring is the new Photoshop!

Finally the hair secret everyone is obsessed with - the newest and hottest selling hair extension on the market that literally takes a minute to put on and take off ... the Halo Crown! They are not permanent, they won't damage your hair, and there are no clips to hide. 100% real human REMY hair on a wire.  Here is a video of Tiffany putting it on herself without even using a comb!

Buy yours at https://halocrown.com

But first - let me take a selfie! Real supermodel tips.

The holidays are fast approaching which means lots and lots of fun dress up opportunities! But first ... don't forget to take the selfie!

Here are some tips straight from the girls that get paid to look good having their pictures taken.

• Find the light and point your face towards it
• Check the background and get out of the dirty bathroom i.e. shower curtain backdrop. Hint: Try to find a solid colored wall or uncluttered area
• Use a flattering filter - this can hide even the worst blemish!
• Play to your best side - we all have one! For most of us it's the side that your nose slightly points to. The reason is that it will make your nose look straighter and smaller. 
• Chin up and make sure you are holding the camera above you
• Be silly and put your personality into the shot - pout or make the kissy face. 

You might also like to read about how to get rid of the turkey neck in your photos {HERE}

How to be More Attractive - for Free!

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to defy all odds, get promoted or influence others so easily? Let's face it, sometimes it's not the most talented or most beautiful model that gets the job or wins the beauty pageant. Is it chance; a lucky break? Nope ... it goes by the name of CONFIDENCE!

Forget the makeup tricks, the best angles - This is one attribute that can set you apart from the crowd. The best part about confidence is that you can increase the amount you possess at any time. Confidence is sexy, confidence is attractive and the best part about it is that you don't have to be born with it ... it's free and available to everyone.

A growing number of research studies indicate that everything I just told you is true. The Univ of California, Berkley showed that over-confident people are more admired, more influential and promoted over their more competent peers. Associate Professor Cameron Anderson who co-authored the report stated that "people are very easily swayed by others' confidence even when that confidence is unjustified."  

The fact is that confidence will take you places. Believe in yourself. Prepare yourself. Invest in yourself. Take the chance and walk into the room with confidence and other's will see it too. Time to get your mojo moving and go after your dreams.

A Models Recommends her best Holiday Beauty Gift Guide for 2014!

A big thank you to ULTA Beauty for collaborating with me for my favorite segment of the year - HOLIDAY gift sets. These are limited edition pairings that sell out quickly so be sure and take advantage of the savings and one stop shopping at Ulta.com 

Watch the video from the show {HERE}

I don't know about you but when it gets down to the 12 days before Christmas and I still have gifts to get and parties to go to I begin to panic. So this year I am going to end my day with a little beauty  from TARTE!

Petite Treat 12 days of Tart $37 ($122 value)

Exclusive to ULTA Order yours {HERE}

I also featured Tarte's amazonian clay blush - 12 hour, long lasting color infused with clay from the banks of the Amazon river.

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• VIVA la Juicy Noir gift set $76 ($97 value) {Here}
• Juicy Pen Spray Set $36 ($66 value)  {Here}

Fragrance is always a go to and for the holidays you always get something extra in the set. I want you to look for the new rollerballs and pen spray sets that many brands are now making ... they are perfect for you purse!

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Inevitably when I go shopping it is always tempting to buy one for you and one for me, which is why I love

 Lorac's Royal Eyeshadow Collection $38 ($305 value)

Literally I can keep one for myself and the cost of each of these GORG palettes is literally less than $10 each. Named for all your besties - Queen, Princess, Duchess & Countess!

               A total STEAL - don't wait - Buy Now {HERE}

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While at the show yesterday, a stylist who was performing a makeover told me she had the CHI pro hair dryer for 9 years and just this year replaced it with a new one. I don't know about you but I use my hair dryer nearly every day! CHI is known for their innovative and infrared technology and trusted heat tools. These cool limited edition Ulta Exclusive colors just give you another reason to run out to get yours today and over $50 off!

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Another Ulta Exclusive with EVERYTHING you need for that candlelight glow and DIRECTIONs on how and where to apply - an 8 piece set that includes a high quality shadow and blush brush!

Bare Minerals Vision of Light $49 ($145 value) 

Buy yours {HERE}

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Ulta's Glam and Glow Blockbuster $19.99 ($175 value)

I can't imagine needing 54 eyeshadows or 8 eyeliners but I sure like the option of having them! A 76 piece collection in it's own case to update your makeup collection. Available {Here}

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The most legendary Eye Primer in the beauty industry will make any shadow more vibrant, creaseless and last 24 hours. Now available in 4 different formulations:

URBAN DECAY Eye-Shadow Primer Potion $20

• Original - invisible {HERE}
• Sin - champagne colored primer  {HERE}
• Eden - nude colored primer {HERE}
• AntiAging   {HERE}

HAPPY HOLIDAYS - Happy BEAUTY!
XO
SHELLEY

Top 2014 Best Holiday makeup gift set ideas from ULTA Beauty!

As you know I am a girl who loves to play with makeup and every year I look forward to the new holiday gift sets from my favorite brands. Again this year I paired up with Ulta Beauty for Arizona Midday to bring you my list of the must have beauty sets - one for yourself and your A listers who were naughty but mostly nice. Host Destry Jetton was super excited to get her own Benefit Cosmetic advent calendar yesterday! (I think she's pretty much nice)

I have links to all the products below which are available at Ulta online and in stores - limited time only so don't wait!! Even Santa can't get his hands on them when they're sold out. You can watch the video of the show below and {here}

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The advent calendar for the beauty junkie - a little surprise behind ever door ... Order yours NOW online - they sell out every year!

 Benefit Candy-Coated Countdown Advent Calendar 

 {Get yours here}

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Ulta Exclusive! Collectible tin with all of Benefits best selling problem solvers for lashes, brows and a flawless looking face.

Benefit Cosmetics Pretty Parfait $39 ($81 value)

{Get yours here}

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IT Cosmetics

• Bye Rye Undereye Anti-Aging Concealer $24 {HERE}
• Exclusive Superheroes brush set $50 ($100 value) {HERE}
• Limited Edition Matte Eye Palette $42 {HERE}

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STILA and Bauble Bar $65 ($147 value)

What girl doesn't love jewelry and makeup? A magical collaboration for the holiday -  best sellers from Stila cosmetics encased in a beautiful festive clutch with a bracelet AND $10 gift card from Baublebar.com with Many sets to choose from 

Order {HERE}

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Ulta Beauty is your one stop shop even for the guys. And who doesn't like to envision their guy smelling sensual yet modern. Straight from Italy, why not envelope his scent with inspiration from Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Versace EROS, the God of love. Gift with purchase!

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