Advertising Make up Artist

Prada spring/summer 2011

They said they did not condone the practices of models who were significantly underweight, and believed they had acted responsibly and that the ad complied with advertising guidelines.

Struss, one of the world's top fashion models, stands and just over 5ft 10 ins and is, Prada's spokesperson continued, "naturally tall and slim".

"Ms Struss' hair was slicked back and the advertising makeup artist gave her nude make up with bright red lips ... the lighting used for the photograph bounced straight off Ms Struss' body so as to highlight her features and pale skin."

They said the split image, showing the model from the side and behind 'showed that she was not significantly underweight' and that 'the campaign was dramatic and high fashion and featured statuesque models.'

The advertising campaign, shot by fashion photography duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, also stars models Querelle Jansen and Sasha Pivovarova in the same hall of mirrors set-up, and features another shot of Struss wearing a red dress and oversized leather jacket.

Miu Miu, the sister brand to Prada, has often used celebrities to front the brand in the past with previous 'faces' including Lindsay Lohan, Kirsten Dunst and Katie Holmes.

Nat van Zee, Advertising make up artist's clients include Kurt Geiger, KTZ, Hackett, Selfridges, Saatchi & Saatchi, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Gstar, Urban Outfitters, Topshop, Asos, French Connection, Fanny & Jesse, L'Oreal, P&G, Wella, Virgin, Sony, Harrods, Mastercard, Marks & Spencer, Next, Coco de Mer, Ede & Ravencroft.