Second Life Review

Shopping

Minnu Model Skins

Name: Minnu Model Skins

slurl:  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Glam%20World/128/128/0

Category: Shopping - Skins

Reviewed by:  Sara Lukas

Review:  Minnu skins is one of the biggest names in Second Life, These skins were made for models originally, but there is no reason you can’t wear them if you’re not a model.

I was introduced to Minnu skins about a year ago when I was a model, and they were just starting out. At the time I didn’t like them very much, they looked too realistic for me, but I went back a few times and eventually gave in and bought one. It cost me 900L. I put the skin on and it made me look SO different. At first I didn’t think I would want to wear it. Then I looked around the store a bit more with my sister and we met Minnu Palen (the creator/owner). This is when I saw another skin and fell in love with it, but I didn’t have enough lindens to buy another one. Minnu asked which one it was and she gave me it as a gift.

This was the start of my obsession with Minnu skins…

Now Minnu has 3 Sims and is one of the most well known people in Second Life. Her skins have loads of makeup varieties and a range of skin tones. She also does hair and the sexiest prim lashes I have ever seen. The content is the best but the staff are a bit rude sometimes.

All of her skins have a demo pack ($1 for about 7 skins) that I suggest you buy before purchasing a skin. Her skins are sold in singles or fat packs. If you purchase a fat pack you get roughly one skin free. Last time I checked her skins they were $1600 each, which I personally think is a bit steep.

While I do love these skins and have quite a few myself, I am a bit skeptical of them at the moment. Minnu Palen has been accused of copying someone else’s work and is possibly being taken to court over this. It is not my place to say if she is guilty or innocent. If this is all resolved in favor of Minnu, then I am sure she will continue to sell great skins. I personally love her skins and would love to see her continue making more. 

Editors note: As the editor of SLReview I need to be cautious about what is printed sometimes so as not to cause any undue harm. When I saw this review come in with a controversy behind it I felt I needed to do some more investigating before publishing it. I spoke to Minnu herself and although her lawyers have advised her not to speak about the case she talked freely with me and answered my questions. The skins in question are the Gen4 skins specifically and not any other skins. There are many rumors about what is going on and much is being said that is speculation and not based on fact. This is a matter that the legal system will determine. As consumers all we can decide is whether we want to patronize a business with this kind of controversy going on or wait until their names have been cleared. There is no harm to you as a consumer in either action. Below is a statement that Minnu released at the recommendation of her lawyer:

"After consulting with my counsel today, he has decided that it is time for me to post a statement in response to certain allegations of copyright infringement and theft, regarding my most recently released line of skins (Gen4.) It is to my knowledge, even after counsel, that all I did was legal and within my rights. It remains now to be seen what will be determined if this is taken to court.

I apologize as well for those whose feelings were hurt by these accusations and what misinformation has been propagated about me, my business practices and my skins; and it is my wish not only to correct this, but to prove that I have not ignored or belittled the loyalty of my customers.

I’d like to note that it is definitely untrue that all I do is to translate other people’s skins from Renderosity or any other 3d site into skins useable in Second Life. A lot of work goes into making skins, hours and hours of work in various applications to make a skin look just right.

I don’t think this is over, not by a long shot. But I am not guilty of what I am being accused of and I will continue to state my innocence until proven otherwise. I am not a thief, I do not buy pirated textures to make my skins, I don’t use just one source, I use many, the same way many skin creators do.

I’d like to thank all my customers at this time, without whom Minnu Model Skins would not have succeeded. I hope that your thoughts of me and my work have not been tarnished by the rumors you have heard and I promise to have more answers for you very soon.

Again, thank you.

Minnu Palen"

Conclusion: Fabulous products and the owner is nice even though the staff are sometimes not very polite.

Rating: (3 stars out of 5)