Recently, Models.com caught up with model Louise Pederson to discuss her career, family, and return to back to the runway (she scored an exclusive with Givenchy for F/W '09). In looking back at a series of high points in Louise's editorial portfolio, the new mother was asked to lament on the infamous Gucci ad campaign she posed for, the one where a 'G' was carved out of her pubic hair:

"The Gucci campaign was my first big job. One of my favorite photographers, Mario Testino shot it. It was Mario that got me started, I remember the first time I went to see him he asked me to walk. Obviously I wasn’t very good at it and he smirked. Tom Ford had the great idea to shave a G in my pubic hair, I knew both Tom Pecheux and Orlando Pita from the shows, and they definitely knew me a little better at the end of the day…
The ad was banned in a few countries, and some people argued that it was degrading to women. I think, if anything, it was quite the opposite."

Honestly, no matter how much I adore Mario Testino and Tom Ford I don't think I could have ever went through with the designer's perverse vision. Ever. Still, this occurred in the early 00s when Ford's edginess still appeared sincere and refreshing, making the above image fairly iconic regardless of its message.