Distractions come in many forms on ones life journey, some are detours that can either be a complete waste of time and energy, with nothing gained, while most can be taken as part of the intricate lessons life seems to weave into almost every situation. We all learn certain things about life and about ourselves at different points in our lives, some catch on to what they need to learn from quicker than most, some of us have to repeat a lesson several times before we finally get the point.
If ones life has never been riddled with mistakes or what society deems as bad choices, then one has probably not passed the age of puberty or is just beginning their journey as a young adult, but I assume you are neither if you're reading this. I was taught to be a strong woman in this day and age, I must not dwell on certain situations that have felt like a sucker punch from life, and to just take it within my stride. So far, I believe I have managed to be as strong as one human could possibly be, or at least I've pretended well enough to make it seem that way. In the industry I've been blessed to be part of for the last 14 years of my adult life, one learns very quickly about what it is our job entails, and it was far from what I could have imagined when I began.
Strictly speaking, models are salespeople. Most are tall, slim, unwittingly charming and most times disarmingly beautiful human beings, that are used to sell the perception of perfection. This logic dawned on me a few years into the game, and I had embraced the difference between who I am and what it is I do for a living, and it blew my mind how simple it seemed. For some reason though, I knew very few other models that were seemingly aware of this concept, because a lot of the time I met models that absolutely lived the stereotypical model life. So as I left my teen years behind, I had to figure out how to stand my ground on this idealism that seemed foreign, because a lot was expected of me as a model, when I never saw myself as one but have always just been a girl that happens to model.
I had no idea that this train of thought would make me stick out like a sore thumb when it came down to the nitty gritty of whether or not I really wanted to become a 'supermodel'. I chose to blend to the crowd instead, and do as I'm expected when on a job, and I'm glad my agent taught me that being professional doesn't mean doing things you aren't comfortable doing. At some point in a models career, your name either becomes one that passes on clients lips with a sweet taste as they consider working with you again, because you handled yourself well, and did what was required to sell their product, or you leave a bad taste on peoples lips from behaving like a diva.
Longevity in the model biz is achieved in a few ways that include separated your 'real' life from your work life, but most importantly, not believing your own hype can keep you around for a long time. However, if pursuit of 'supermodel-dom' is on the cards for you, there is a formula that includes believing the hype, and using it for career advancement, and some have been able to successfully balance the use of their hype, while most have just irritated the heck out of their local industry. If one gets too distracted, and forgets to remove the mask one needs to keep the 'real' world and the illusion of perfection separate, you become who you pretend you are, and start to lose a sense of self without even realizing it.
Most models I know, can tell you that our lives outside a fashion show, magazine shoot, commercial or big campaign work is just as regular, stress ridden and as normal as any other human beings. In light of knowing that a lot of people seem to believe otherwise, and there are many different variations as to how models live a perfect, problem free existence, with the occasional eating disorder or drug use as the stereotype goes, it's almost safe to say, that the product has been sold...the business of selling the perception of perfection continues.
Loved this.
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