HSG

Gorgeous plus-size model Kelsey Olson, size 16, recently shot a test with photographer (and fellow plus-size model) Lily Cummings, the results of which are quite captivating, and richly reward a look.

In this series, which mostly comprises headshots of lyrical beauty, Kelsey returns to the looks of innocence which made her famous. In this portrait, for example--the most attractive photograph in the entire test--she appears docile and fawn-like, her baby-blue eyes harmonizing with her fair complexion, golden hair, and raspberry lips.

One of the charms of this series is that Kelsey appears to be wearing little or no makeup, thereby allowing viewers to admire the freshness of her natural pastel-hued complexion.

In this, one of the few figure studies in the test, Kelsey's white blouse plunges low, allowing viewers to enjoy a generous eyeful of her décolletage.

An uncommon amount of the pictures from this test appear in black and white, and while one generally prefers colour photographs, the gentleness and youthful vulnerability that Kelsey transmits in the following image touches the heart. She channels a young Chloë Agnew, to great effect.

The next picture increases the emotional intensity, with Miss Olson adopting a wounded look. This tenderness and delicacy cannot help but engage the viewer on a profound level, stirring feelings of protectiveness. The stray tress across the model's lips is captivating.

A shift in demeanour finds Kelsey exuding joy and a breezy, carefree playfulness, creating sensations of pure delight.

Observe how completely the model transforms herself for the next photograph. By altering her pose and demeanour, she effortlessly shifts into full-blown seductiveness, baring her décolletage, parting her lips, and throwing back her head in ecstasy.

A series of colour photographs of the model in the same attire reveal the pale-blue hue of her chambray shirt, an attractive shade which effectively sets off her peaches-and-cream complexion.

The following headshot is something of a departure for Kelsey, a portrait that seems uniquely unguarded and relaxed. One adores how the wistful smile tugs at the model's lips, and how the natural light illuminates her golden hair and facial features, as she gazes off into infinity.

This look also turns up in two of the figure shots from the test. The woodgrain background complements the colours of the model's attire and enhances the rustic, natural feeling of the shoot.

Even here, however, it is a closer look at Kelsey's expression that has the greatest impact. Her lips are perfectly formed, her cheeks richly flushed, and her demeanour especially soft and needy. Bewitching.

One can never say it often enough: tests in outdoor locations are always infinitely more appealing than studio shoots. Observe how greatly something as simple as the emerald-green leaves in the frame enhance the overall effectiveness of the photograph, injecting a much-needed trace of vibrant, natural life.

Still, one cannot resist coming in for a closer view, to marvel at the model's tresses tumbling wildly over her shoulders and to adore the sweet sensuality of her almost childlike beauty, mixed with the voluptuous attractions of a young woman.

Kelsey's final look for this shoot, a fitted black dress, yields the most overtly alluring photographs in the series. Observe how the outfit embraces her womanly figure, while the dark glasses lend her a touch of mystery.

The most seductive, well-nigh carnal picture from the test is the following, in which Kelsey throws back her head, as if she were in the grip of voluptuous passion. Yet the fairness of her features and the inherent gentleness of her look soften the effect, rendering it supremely yet tastefully sensual. Observe how the model's hair cascades over her bare neck.

The final image in the test bookends the first, which it rivals in being regarded as the finest in the series. In this photograph, Kelsey combines light-hearted playfulness with breezy allure. The thick mass of blonde tresses flowing over her eye is a beguiling visual, while the crease of soft fullness in her arm is overwhelmingly sensual.

Bravo to Miss Olson for another outstanding test series, in the emotional style that most effectively brings out her timeless beauty.

(Click images to view larger.)