New York Rangers bad boy, Sean Avery, 28, has started his summer internship with Vogue. According to his publicist, Nicole Chabot, "He is ridiculously obsessed with fashion. He loves it more than anything in the world. It's something he has always wanted to do." And in response to any skepticism regarding to his abilities to perform the duties requested of him, Patrick O'Connell, director of communications at the magazine, listed as, "answering phones, working photo shoots, getting samples, contacting people, working the gamut," Chabot asserts that Avery is, "surprisingly articulate, creative, and savvy." I enjoyed the necessary addition of the word "surprisingly" since hockey players, especially such an aggressive hockey player as Avery, are thought of as brainless and anserine, and even Chabot, his own publicist, is shocked when he is able to do more than glide on ice or shove other men against sideboards.

While the Ranger earns a cool two million per season, he is reported to be earning minimum wage at the magazine, around $5,000 for the summer. Avery is even slated to attend the couture shows in Europe next month with Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna WIntour, and her disciples. O'Connell contends that Avery is perfect for the position, explaining, "He is serious about learning the fashion industry and to that end, we are happy to give him a chance. He certainly has a demonstrated history. It makes sense." It certainly does for Ms. Wintour, who has shown her affinity towards young, attractive athletes (ie. Roger Federer, etc.).

It seems especially surprising that Avery is placed in such a position, as most college interns do not get paid, but rather, they receive college credit, which of course is not applicable to the hockey player, as he did not attend college, choosing to go professional instead. The Conde Nast internship program is extremely competitive, and more likely than not, Avery was chosen due to his prominence in the media and his reputation as a masculine ideal, inviting some testosterone into the Vogue offices (well, that is heterosexual testosterone, which fashion magazines notoriously lack). I'm sure that he was not chosen due to his mastery of the English language nor his prowess at recognizing new trends in couture. And while internships remain necessary for the average college student in the hopes of pursuing a career in media (or business, etc.) the chance of obtaining one due to fame is far off. But I am sure that many college students are jealous. Very jealous. I know I am.

source:WWD
(http://www.wwd.com/notavailable/archive?target=/memopad/article/124369&articleId=124369&articleType=A&industryKw=memopad&industryKw2=memopadarticle)