I would like to talk about this issue a little openly because I feel this topic can be a little sensative for those who are nieve and new to this ugly career. Sometimes people may not come to terms with the seriousness of what they are getting involved in so I want to touch up on this topic by going directly to the source. So if I say something inappropriate, please forgive me.
The professional female models are some of the most corrupt of people. Not to mention that a models career is hard and sometimes depressing. Try to imagine an aspiring model, who has a good look and she has been invited to participate in 3 big castings the same day. In every casting agents are ready to see from 150 to 200 female models and they need to choose one or two – the best ones. It’s not hard to imagine that after few such days when you do your best, but no one want to hire you as a model – you will start to feel depressed of course.
During modeling travels sometimes young models beginners go to work abroad for the first time in their life. And they spend several months in foreign country – they have to learn to live alone and independently from their parents, family and friends. It happens that for some models it is hard to stay away from relatives and close friends for some longer time – they miss them and start to know the feeling of home-sick.
Despite this there is one more very important for personality aspect. That is giving up your own principles. Models work requires doing a lot of things that they are being told to do. Imagine anyone who always listens to someone higher, more powerful and do every little thing he/she says. It is very hard for people, who have strong character and inspiring personality. Moreover sometimes models have to pose or look as they hate to look – that is also affecting a person negatively, because models start to feel as a dolls being used for something that “owner” (I mean person who is giving commands) wants.
Everyone knows that one of the most important things in the modeling work is good physical shape and body measurements. That means models have to take good care of their body and sometimes to be on a diet. There are some girls who don’t face this problem, but there are some who can easily gain some more weight than they need. When that happens models who want to get on stage– have to change their eating habits and loose those kilograms. Sometimes that is very hard to do and cause a lot of grief for models.
Now getting a little deeper into this subject and onto the ugly side of this career which is actually the reality of this career, there are many, many, many shady agencies. They are run by scam artists who are only interested in taking every last penny you have. They prey on the dreams of young people in order to make themselves rich and the victims are left with nothing. Worse still are the pornography agencies who present themselves as legitimate modelling businesses. They sign girls up and then slowly brainwash them into thinking they have to 'do certain things' to make it. Over time they use peer pressure to convince the girls that nudity is a part of the business and that this is the easy way to make lots of money. Of course there is nothing 'easy' about a life involved with such a business. Not to mention, pornography is not modelling.
As a model you are considered a 'product' not a person. (Especially in the beginning when you are still an unknown.) As such people tend to talk AT you not TO you. Sometimes agents and photographers will talk about you as if you are not standing in the same room. For anyone lacking confidence in themselves this can be very disconcerting and upsetting. Usually there will be comments about your physical appearance. These can be quite harsh and demeaning which is why the industry has been plagued with issues related to eating disorders. Given the recent deaths of some prominent models views on weight and beauty are slowly starting to change and the introduction of BMI testing will help in this area. However, this is still an industry where unrealistic expectations of "beauty" abound. You have to be very grounded within yourself to allow these comments to pass by you and not to affect you.
Another dark side to the modelling business is the rampant drug use. Models are given and have free access to all manner of illicit substances. Sometimes these are used to keep weight off. Sometimes they are used to stay awake and alert for shoots or shows that occur at all times of the day and night. Sometimes it is the social pressure to party and fit in that causes young models to try these damaging narcotics. The official party line from the industry is that this kind of behavior is not tolerated. However, models who are currently working within this business consistently tell a different story.
So in conclusion; Ask her if this is the lowly life she wants to live.
I hope and pray that she does not become involved in this filthy and discusting career.
w/salam
Sometimes women do like men lusting after them, it makes them feel wanted. :><:
