10 things you should know before becoming a model.

My family thinks that modeling isn't a real job. My friends think that one day I'll be super rich and famous because of being a model. My agent thinks that I could lose extra kilograms and I think that soon I will be too old to be even a part-time model. Working in the fashion industry is a life goal for some people. All they see are pretty faces on front covers of magazines and glamorous campaigns. Modeling is fun - trust me, but it's also a hard, full-time job which sometimes just wears you off. It's a love-hate relationship, check out this site to see that we really all want to quit, but at the same time no other job can give us what modeling can.  Here are 10 things you should know before you get yourself into modeling!

1. Models don't earn as much as you think.
Paychecks look great, but you have to remember that 20% of your salary is for your mother agency and 50% is for the agency that represents you in the specific country. In the end, you also have extra expenses so there is a chance that you'll get maximum 15% of what you actually earned. Also - most of us work in Asia which, moneywise, isn't a dream destination, but neither is Europe.


2. Working hours are super-flexible.
Sometimes you get your dream job and you work only 4 hours and the next day you stay awake from 5 am till 3 am next day. There are no rules when it comes to working hours.


3. Glamorous is the last word which I would use to describe it. 
Changing in a back of a van or laying in the mud is not a definition of glamorous. And that's what we do sometimes. Standing on the edge of the swimming pool and hoping you won't fall down the hill behind it? Now even that doesn't sound extreme to me.


4. After a few years, you'll know how to survive everywhere.
China, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Spain, Kuala Lumpur, Korea? Thanks to modeling all of those countries and even more will become a home from home for you.

5. Most of us are healthy.
Not all of models snort cocaine and smoke crack. We like to party, but if one survived more than two years in this then it's a sign that this person is a responsible human being. There are a lot of temptations in modeling world but it's enough to know how to say "no" to some things. People who achieved something in modeling are healthy, they exercise and take care of their body.


6. Fashion weeks are sometimes our worst nightmares.
Too small shoes, uncomfortable dresses which are too long to walk in, short breaks, early call times and late shows. All of that to get your dream job for a top designer.

7. Relationships are hard. 
Being a model taught me that being in a relationship is sometimes impossible because you are on the move all the time. Also - during your first contracts you'll miss your family a lot.

8. Reputation is very important. 
Not only more people will want to work with you but you'll get paid better if your reputation is good. Models who choose to party before shootings, fashion shows or even castings don't get much out of it. Just treat people (and your body) with respect.

9. Makeup and high heels after work are your enemies, not friends. 
You don't want to have anything on your face after getting rid of 100 layers of makeup and surely your feet don't want to walk in high heels after those 10 hours you've spent jumping in too small shoes higher than your paycheck.

10. Quitting modeling will be the hardest thing you'll ever do. 
Your time to shine may be over when you'll be 25, 30 but it can come when you are 17 as well. Taking a year off was incredibly hard for me and it still is, but sometimes it's better for you to take a break or quit. It's not a thing you can do forever and although it's great and teaches you a lot about other cultures and you get to see amazing places and meet great people - there's the time when you should grow up and settle down.


Some useful sites for (not only) new faces:
- Models Agents Managers Association 
- KModels
- ModelManagement
- Models.com

What does the limelight blot out?

 

All of us know the pretty faces from the covers of the magazines. Their beautiful eyes, perfect skin, wide smile, skinny posture. Getting to the world of modelling seems to be one of the most desirable things among youth. But after one becomes acquainted to this specific “dream” occupation it turns out not to be a bed of roses. 

                 

Most of people starting a modelling career are just kids, waiting for years to pass faster, to grow taller, trying to be more and more skinny, not sleeping the nights trying to imagine how great feeling it is to look at yourself at the cover of the magazine. Been there, done that.  After all the sweet things seen in the television, read in the magazines or on some websites I was full of excitement going on my first modelling contract to Bangkok. And then, all of a sudden, my whole world perception collapsed. They said it was normal, ordinary, that it is me who came out of the blue with some fossil outlooks about my peers.

               

 

            Being used to thinking that drugs are bad and people drinking alcohol everyday are those under serious problem and should receive special treatment I was treated as if I was a freak. It was acceptable, moreover, entirely normal if someone was getting not drunk – wasted, every single day. Doing drugs also wasn’t seen as a bad thing. The most important things was to be as skinny as possible. They could do anything to keep the perfect size zero. Being on a diet, or even not eating at all just to please the bookers, to get more jobs and to finally hear that you did good job, and that you are worth something. After hours of working everyday going to the club to earn some extra money, because pocket money wasn’t enough for food, everything was being spend on public transport. Trying to smile when you have a bad day, jumping in too small shoes and behaving as if everything was just fine after hearing all those mean words thrown in your face by clients. Bearing the pressure and all of the mentioned above just to earn maybe not even 100 dollars for three months. 

                What is the saddest thing about people who decide to earn for a living being a model? They are inconceivably smart, but they had no chance to find full employment in their countries for various reasons. All of them needed money.  One of my model-friends is a lawyer, another one needed to earn money to pay the tuition fee in order to finish her psychology university. Being dragged in the modelling industry it is hard to get out of this rat race. Every single disadvantage seems to be repaid in the moment when you see yourself on the cover of the magazine. It can bring a smile to your face but it will never make you forget what you have been through. 

              

                   Models are the most independent, lonely, stranded, but still emotional and helpful people I have ever met. Although people decide to leave modelling behind  - it have a huge impact on who they become. From a kid living in a fool’s paradise they change into an independent, strong person who can put up with everything and deal with the biggest problems.

                What does the limelight blot out? Tears, pain and the desperate rat race to perfection.