Men's Week - August 11, 2011
Models Nick Snider, Christian Plauche, Russell Giardini, and Helge Gjerstad
Ph Eli Schmidt

VNY stakes claim on this editorial from Men's Week, shot by Eli Schmidt. The shoot shows Nick, Christian, Russell and Helge in soft, tropical and safari themed clothes seen at the latest men's trade shows in Las Vegas.

2) Former Prada campaign headliner gets arrested


In February 2010, The Smoking Gun broke the story that Nick Snider was arrested in Alabama for public drunkenness. That in itself is not so salacious. What really makes this story the #2 most interesting story of 2010 (in our opinion, of course) is that Nick tries to convince the officer arresting him to let him go because, as he is supposedly quoted as saying, "I am a very famous model".

When this doesn't work, the openly gay model then tries to coax the officer to let him go in exchange for fellatio. This also does not work and Nick is then arrested and his mugshot was soon the top story on many gossip and fashion sites. His mother agency, VNY, headed by the fabulous Lana Winters, later issued a statement in support of Nick.

A few months later, Nick took his Facebook to address the situation, denying much of what the police report states. He denies ever saying "I am a very famous model" and also vehemently denies that he offered anyone any sexual favors in exchange for not being arrested. Whether you choose to believe the police report's account of that night or Nick's is up to you, but generally, we tend to believe what the authorities say, but that's just us.

Since then, Nick has said that he walked his last runway ever, for Daniele Alessandri's Spring/Summer 2011 show.

FEBRUARY 4--Just in time for Fashion Week, a top male model is facing criminal charges after allegedly offering sexual favors to Arkansas cops in return for his release following an arrest for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct.

Nick Snider, 21, was busted early Monday morning after causing a disturbance at a female friend's home in Batesville, a city 90 miles north of Little Rock. According to an Independence County Sheriff's Department report, when deputies approached the intoxicated Snider, he stated, "I am a very famous model." As Snider was being transported in a patrol car to the county jail, he "kept trying to get me to stop the car and let him go," reported Deputy Brian Luetschwager. "Mr. Snider stated to me, 'If you stop I'll suck your dick and balls if you let me go.'"

Snider, pictured in the below mug shot, allegedly repeated the oral sex offer after arriving at the local lockup, where the model "also harassed the booking Jailer with similar sexual comments." After declining the barter deal, deputies lodged an additional charge against Snider, this one for illegally attempting to influence a public servant. He pleaded not guilty yesterday to the three misdemeanor counts during an appearance in Independence County District Court. Snider is free on $780 bond and is scheduled for a February 17 trial. Snider has appeared as the face of Prada and was named by Forbes in 2008 as the world's fifth most successful male model. Last month, he was in Paris for the Yves Saint Laurent fashion show and will appear on various runways when New York City's Fashion Week begins February 11. Snider, a Manhattan resident, did not respond to TSG messages sent to his Facebook and MySpace accounts. (5 pages)