Apple’s iBod can’t afford iPod

Carla M. Collado writes in today’s Boston Herald:

“The woman behind the striped bikini silhouette that launched millions of iPod sales says she sees herself everywhere but still can’t afford one of the digital tune toys. Mandy Coulton, 26, a dancer and nanny from Los Angeles, was paid $1,500 to have her iBod photographed for Apple’s highly successful ad campaign. However, that still wasn’t enough for her to get one of the popular, white ear-budded gizmos.
I would like one – but $400 for an iPod is too much for me at the moment. I can’t justify spending that much money when I have day-to-day stuff to pay for like the car and rent,” she told The New York Post.

Meanwhile, in addition to dancing, Coulton, who lives with her husband, Chris, in Sherman Oaks, Calif., has to work as a part-time nanny to pay the bills.
“Nannying puts the money in my pocket. My dance jobs are very sporadic,” Coulton told the Post, “But I’m not bitter or anything.”

Coulton auditioned alongside hundreds of other people in Los Angeles last March, and was one of just 10 chosen by Apple executives for the campaign. Apple has sold more than 20 million of the music players since its introduction in 2001.”