How did SuicideGirls get started?

SuicideGirls was started in the summer of 2001 in Portland Oregon as a project of passion to celebrate the diverse and beautiful real world women. SuicideGirls is an alternative to the mainstream media's obsession with the silicone enhanced Barbie dolls and the incredible shrinking starlets. Another firmly held belief behind SuicideGirls is that beauty and intelligence are not mutually exclusive. With that thinking in mind all of the models and members were given journals to share their thoughts and feelings with the world.

Why use the term SuicideGirls?

No one fits in the neat little archetypes established by the John Hughes movies of the 80's. People no longer define their identity by the sub-genre of music they listen to. SuicideGirls seemed like a good way to describe the girls who projected confidence and individualism, whose staunch refusal to conform equated to social suicide. Girls who dye (their hair) by their own hand, and whose ipod's are as diverse as they are.

Who are the SuicideGirls?

They are the pin-up models who share their lives on the site. They are the cute girl who works in the independent coffee shop or the law student with pink hair. They are real girls from around the world who are not afraid to show how they feel sexiest in pin-up photos. SuicideGirls share their thoughts and feelings through their journals and community interaction. We get over 1000 applications a week from women who want to join our ranks. We are taking over the world one girl at a time.

How large is the SuicideGirls community?

There are now over 1,300 SuicideGirls from every continent including Antarctica and over 1 million unique visitors to the site a week from around the globe. Members and models participate in discussions on various topics ranging from Manga to fundamentalism and everything in between. It is like myspace for grown ups. Most people meet based on shared interest rather than friends of friends of friends making the connections stronger or at least the initial discussions more interesting. Members also meet up in their regional groups bringing on-line relationships face to face. Several hundred couples have met on the site and been married. Connections have been made and lives have been changed by meetings and discussions that took place in the SuicideGirls community.

What does SuicideGirls offer?

There are pin-up photos of the most beautiful pierced and tattooed girls on the planet. In addition the site offers message boards, groups, journals and image hosting for members to interact with others who share their interests. We have a newswire that is updated several times an hour that features first hand accounts from war zones, like Lebanon and Iraq; street fashion from Japan to Brazil; tech and culture news our readers will not find anywhere else. The site features a daily interview with pop culture icons like Woody Allen, Danny Elfman, Frank Miller and Karen O. Video podcasts that share a glimpse into the lives of the women featured on the site as well as podcasts of our weekly radio show that airs on Indie 103.1 FM in Los Angeles. The girls have a live burlesque show that tours both nationally and internationally. There is a book, DVDs and plenty of high fashion items available in our store as well.

What have some of the highlights of the past 5 years been?

Having SuicideGirls around the world who now make their living as photographers and designers has been the most rewarding accomplishment. 2006 was an especially extraordinary year for SuicideGirls. This past year saw the addition of the 1000th SuicideGirl to the site. SG 4.0 launched, and the attention to and growth of this version of SuicideGirls has been phenomenal. The SuicideGirls just wrapped up an opening slot for Guns N Roses, in which they played for crowds of up to 15,000 people. The girls starred in an episode of "CSI: New York" airing on CBS to over 18 million people.

Both "SuicideGirls: The First Tour" and "SuicideGirls: The Italian Villa" can be viewed on Showtime currently. The site celebrated its 5th anniversary with a star-studded party attended by none other than Paris Hilton herself. The SuicideGirls blog coverage was expanded, and weekly columns by Rob Corddry, Wil Wheaton, Marisa DiMattia, Jonathan Kesselman, Chris Gore and Brad Warner were introduced. Everyone from David Lynch to Travis Barker to Mister Cartoon has opened up and shared surprisingly honest and intelligent interviews with Daniel Robert Epstein and Marisa DiMattia. The SuicideGirls radio and video podcasts continue to be some of the most subscribed to on the web. Talented new photographers and models from over 60 countries around the world regularly submit sets and join the community. Every day, interesting and intelligent members from around the world introduce new ideas and perspectives to the community.