If you’ve been following us online, or have seen our ads while flipping through your favorite magazines, you’ve most likely seen Cathy, the beautiful yet down-to-earth swimwear & fashion model who appears in our 2011 & 2012 collection campaigns.

As the face and body of the Skye Swimwear brand, we thought it fitting to introduce you to the Montreal-based model and booker who makes looking good seem oh-so-effortless. 

We caught up with Cathy this weekend to get her thoughts on modeling, dating, and how to keep looking and feeling great. 

Skye: When you were a young girl, before you started modeling, what was your perception of models and the fashion industry as a whole? 

Cathy: I thought it looked very glamorous. Models wore beautiful creations by top designers and traveled the globe in private jets with Johnny Depp. It looked like an easy way to make a living. 

Above: Skye 2011 campaign shoot and behind-the-scenes pic

Skye: How has your attitude changed about modeling after years in the business? 

Cathy: I've learned that it's a lot of hard work! It's not all glitz and glamor. It's early call times and a ton of traveling to places where you don't understand the language. And because the product you are selling is yourself, you need to be at your best at all times. You cant be grumpy, or a diva. It's a job just like any else and you have to stay professional at all times. 

Skye: That sounds pretty stressful…What do you do to relax? 

Cathy: Yoga! Nothing clears your mind faster and relaxes the body better. It really helps to get you in tune with yourself. 

Skye: Nature obviously blessed you with a fantastic body, but you're lifestyle must contribute to how great you look. What advice would you give to women who want to stay fit but don't have hours to spend in the gym every week? 

Cathy: Small things like taking the stairs at work instead of the elevator or biking to the office instead of driving are just some of the ways to get more physical. Try eating more protein and ditching the carbs. Skipping the bread basket at dinner might sound small, but every bit counts! 

Skye: Most women, especially beautiful women, have trouble with the idea of aging because society has placed such a strong emphasis on things like youth and beauty. How do you feel about this and the generally accepted belief that men age better than women? 

Cathy: I cant say I'm a huge fan of the concept of aging myself, but I do see models like Christy Turlington and Claudia Shiffer making huge comebacks in the industry and looking flawless, so I'm hoping to follow in those footsteps as gracefully as possible by keeping wrinkles at bay with the right skin regimes and healthy eating. I'd rather age tastefully than end up as a plastic Benjamin Button! 

Skye: Is swimsuit shopping as terrifying for you as it is for 99% of the female population? 

Cathy: Swimsuit shopping is daunting for everyone! But there are so many styles available now that you can find a look to mask just about any flaw. Remember to highlight your best feature and no one will notice the rest! 

Skye: Are there any stereotypes about models that you would like to set straight? 

Cathy: Actually, many of the stereotypes are true! [laughs] But I've met a lot of amazing people in my career and I wouldn't trade them for anything. 

Skye: If you could go on a date with any celebrity, who would it be and where would you go? 

Cathy: I'd go surfing with Kelly Slater!

Skye: Well if anyone has a chance, you probably do! [laugh] Thanks for the chat! 

To view the Skye Swimwear 2011-12 collection campaign featuring Cathy, click here. 

Although most of us would'nt consider cozying up with the slithery creatures in real life, snakeskin-inspired prints have been the all the rage in fashion this year. From the runway shows of top designers such as Alexander McQueen, Chloe, Gucci and more, to celebrities sporting the style on the red carpet, reptilian motifs look like they are here to stay and were the inspiration for the Skye "Skinz" swimwear collection.

Here is a review of real snakeskin fashion items and reptile-inspired prints in fashion this season.

Chloe's Fall 2011 ready-to-wear collection seen here above features a delicate snakeskin motifs over shiffon and silk, creating organic patterns that are subtle and feminine.

Although handbag designers have been using python and other snakeskin materials for decades in the construction of their luxury purses, this Alexander McQueen multi-colored reptile clutch stands out of the crowd and is an eye-popping alternative to the classic snakeskin bag.

Gucci's Autumn/Winter 2011-2012 collection runway show was rife with brightly colored python pieces such as jackets and bags. Although not accessible to those of the faint-of-wallet, these items provide inspiration for more casual, wearable clothing items from resortwear to snakeskin-printed swimwear.

From left to right: Emmanuelle Chriqui poses in a gorgeous cowl-neck snakeskin print silk gown, Emily Mortimer wears a floor-length YSL resort dress, and Sofia Vergara looks stunning as usual in a sheer grey knee-length tank dress.

Above: Skye Swimwear Skinz swimwear collection for 2011/12

Sign-up for our newsletter and be entered in a contest to win two Skye swimsuits and one cover-up!

Two winners will be chosen and will enjoy a weekend's worth of Skye Swimwear. You must sign up before May 2st, 2012, must be a resident of Canada or the United States, and be over 18 years of age to be eligible to win.

Click here and subscribe to enter.

Contest Details:

A drawing will take place on May 7th, 2012 and winners will be notified by May 9th. Two winners will be chosen at random from all of the contestants that signed up, and will be notified via email. They will have 2 weeks from the time they receive the email from us to confirm their mailing address, style choices* and size. If they do not respond to our email within 2 weeks, another winner will be chosen in their place.

Winners will be responsible for providing Skye Swimwear with the size they would like their chosen items in, and cannot return or exchange the items once they are shipped out.

*(Winners may choose among styles that are in stock at the time. Skye Swimwear does not guarantee the availability of all items in our collection at that time. A Skye Swimwear representative will provide winners with a list of available styles to chose from and do their best to guide them through the style selection process.)

Winter is right around the corner whether we like it or not, so we thought we'd share a few tips for staying healthy and happy this year.

1. Sleep more
Most people require between 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night, however it is argued that most North Americans get a measly 6 and a half on average. Work, familial obligations, stress and other things contribute to the buildup of sleep debt, and compounded with the shorter and darker days during the winter, it’s easy to feel chronically tired as a result. It’s okay to require a little extra sleep in the winter like our cousins in the animal kingdom, so get in a few more hours a week guilt-free. You’ll feel a lot better.

2. Get some sun!
We aren’t telling you to sizzle like a turkey under dangerous tanning bed lights, but do make sure you take in enough sunlight to keep your mood and energy levels up. SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) debilitates many northerners and is a huge cause of low energy and depression during winter months. If you can spend some time outside in the sunshine, that’ll help a lot. Light therapy is also a great way to counteract the winter blues.

3. Hit the Spa
Most big cities have at least a couple of wonderful Scandinavian style spas where you can sit back and relax for the day. Whether or not you are into heating up in a sauna and jumping straight into ice-cold water, you’ll still have the chance to lounge around in your favorite swimsuit and a cozy robe for a whole day. After a few hours of doing nothing, we suggest you garnish the experience with a guilt-free dinner by the fireplace at a home-style restaurant nearby.

4.Get outside
Dress for the weather and play outdoors! Skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, snow man building and tobogganing are all wonderful activities that can only be taken advantage of in the wintertime. If you dress right and really bundle up (and this is probably the only time we will suggest you don’t dress in your favorite Skye swimsuit), you will actually be able to enjoy the winter for all of its hidden charms. Plus the extra activity will keep you fit through the months that most people tend to hibernate in.

5. Keep your vitamin D levels up
Humans get 90% of the vitamin D they need naturally through the skin’s exposure to the sun. Unfortunately, most people who live in northern climates are vitamin D deficient at some point in the year. Studies show that vitamin D deficiency is linked to significantly higher rates of many forms of cancer‚ as well as heart disease‚ osteoporosis‚ multiple sclerosis and many other conditions. So it’s important to either get 15 minutes of sunshine a day or consume vitamin D through food or supplements.