salvatori. wrote:
She is a smart, insightful woman. She has experience to back up her statements. But...

- she cites that over 70% of young women are insecure about their bodies and explains how she is part of a 'construction' of an image. I agree with both these points.

But tomorrow morning she will continue to be a part of the industry that she admits is unhealthy. That part I don't get. If she feels that it is all so bad, surely, with her smarts, she could do something else?

Again, I have nothing against a person being a model. But to talk about how bad it is for yourself, for others, for society, etc., yet continue to do that thing... makes it more of a whine than anything else.

Kinda like when a rich person complains about how difficult it is being rich...

O_o

I felt like she was being fairly neutral, realistic and objective. She points out there are wonderful things - like travel. She also states there are bad things, like models always worrying about having slim thighs and shiny hair, even though they're the slimmest-thighed, shiniest-haired people on the planet.

She is just addressing the fact that modeling is a stressful job, like any other, that it's not nearly as glamorous as people make it out to be ---

I didn't feel like she was putting it down hardcore or anything, just being very REAL.

salvatori. wrote:
But tomorrow morning she will continue to be a part of the industry that she admits is unhealthy. That part I don't get. If she feels that it is all so bad, surely, with her smarts, she could do something else?

Again, I have nothing against a person being a model. But to talk about how bad it is for yourself, for others, for society, etc., yet continue to do that thing... makes it more of a whine than anything else.

I understand your points and think they're quite valid...

It seems she feels it's too late for her.  She questions young girls "Why do you want to be a model?" with the implication that "You could do so much more".

I think at one point she does mention that she's always going to be seen as an "underwear model" so any other ambition she may have is not going to be taken seriously (I may have misunderstood or misheard that part.)  This is an extremely important point for models here to consider.   Many models want that fame (that's relatively easier to get with the internet these days) but at the same time, must realize that modeling is a short career - looks fade, and then what are you going to do with your life?  Those images will still be around on the internet for a long time...

KonstantKarma wrote:
I thought you just had to take a cellphone pic in front of a mirror.

Nonsense; there's so much more to it than just that.  First, you need two or three friends to say "wow, you're SO pretty!  You should be a model! (Note: these are probably friends who don't have their own car and rely on you for transportation to and from school.)  Then, notice that the guy on the yearbook team has been taking more pictures of you in the stands than most people.  Either you or one of the fifty other cute girls sitting in your vicinity, but it must be you!  Then, and only then, do you go to the bathroom, strip down to t-shirt and panties, pull out the iPhone, and decide that your starting rates are $75 an hour, $100 on Friday (don't want to mess up social life, ya know).  And you won't do nudes...unless he's cute.

Note to all real models: yes, I'm kidding!  If you want to beat me up for it anyway, please PM me and I'll give you my address. I might enjoy it! 

salvatori. wrote:
But tomorrow morning she will continue to be a part of the industry that she admits is unhealthy. That part I don't get. If she feels that it is all so bad, surely, with her smarts, she could do something else?

Again, I have nothing against a person being a model. But to talk about how bad it is for yourself, for others, for society, etc., yet continue to do that thing... makes it more of a whine than anything else.

I didn't really take away that she thought it was all so bad being a model.  I think her point was more that she wishes society wouldn't judge people solely on looks.  It's not so much that she's sad that she has it so good, but she's sad that others have it so bad.  Her quitting modeling isn't going to change the number of minorities pulled over.  And really, it won't even change the self-image of girls, because when she retires, the modeling agency will find someone else to replace her, and the cycle will continue unabated.

Kyle T Edwards wrote:
I didn't really take away that she thought it was all so bad being a llama.  I think her point was more that she wishes society wouldn't judge people solely on looks.

But if society didn't judge people based solely on looks she wouldn't have been a successful llama. It's easy to say that AFTER you've had your success...and when you're a gorgeous, tall llama.

All the criticisms didn't bother her so much that she decided to break from the industry and really make a statement.

Michael Pandolfo wrote:
But doesn't this type of criticism and cautionary advice to aspiring models always come from a gorgeous model who has already had her success in the industry?

I could see models viewing this and saying, "Sure...easy for you to say...and as unhealthy as it is...you endured it all to be a model."

You can talk about how unhealthy it is, racial profiling, or that beauty isn't everything...but when you're an attractive, tall, successful caucasian model who has succeeded, the after-the-fact criticisms ring a little insincere in parts.

True, however if the criticism comes from anyone but "an attractive, tall, successful Caucasian model who has succeeded" it sounds like sour grapes.

Michael Pandolfo wrote:
But doesn't this type of criticism and cautionary advice to aspiring models always come from a gorgeous model who has already had her success in the industry?

If it came from someone who utterly failed, it would be dismissed as sour grapes. IMO, she made valid points in a very honest and direct way.

Edit: Beat me to it.

Orca Bay Images wrote:

If it came from someone who utterly failed, it would be dismissed as sour grapes. IMO, she made valid points in a very honest and direct way.

Edit: Beat me to it.

Good point as well. I guess the only way it really holds weight is if a successful model at the height of her career just quits because of the state of the industry...and writes this type of article and become an advocate for industry change.

Granted, that would probably be a rare occurrence.

e m i l y wrote:
Many models want that fame (that's relatively easier to get with the internet these days) but at the same time, must realize that modeling is a short career - looks fade, and then what are you going to do with your life?