I am a fashion model signed to one of major model agencies in London, D1 Model Management. It did not happen overnight of course. My journey was so long... I would like to tell about my story for everyone who is considering becoming a model but needs some encouragement.
Ordinarily, models start their career at the age of 14 or 15 as it does take a few years to build a good book. I knew the fact and reality but one day, I decided to follow my dream and soul. I was already in my early 20's. I had always made some excuses not to go for it: ‘ I think I'm too old' ‘ I don't know if I have the determination to go through all the toughness in the industry' ‘My family is just always against whatever I want to do' ‘My mother said if I had a potential, I would've taken off already' to name a few. There were countless reasons for me not to face my real dream. But one day, I just made a concrete decision that I would give it a go and make it happen. ‘ I don't care what other people might say because they can just say whatever they want not knowing my real feelings' I knew I would regret not trying for the rest of my life if I hadn't tried to become a model.
I had so much criticism about me trying to be a model. People thought it was just unrealistic. But I knew I could do it because my heart was telling me that. I started to ask some friends to take some pictures of me so I could practice posing and I read so many magazines to be inspired. I put my photos online to get to know some photographers and also sent them to some reputable agencies. I did anything that I could possibly think of to be a successful model. I went through free shoots (tests) and non-paid jobs for about 2 years just to gain experience. During those times, I could have a lot of chance to know some professionals and they gave me some advice and encouraged me not to give it up.
You just sometimes want to hear some acknowledgement from other peoples so you feel safe about what you're doing but ultimately you have to feel totally sure about what you're doing especially modeling (probably the same for actors, musicians, artists etc) because these jobs evolve around your emotions and yourself. If you are not sure or you don't believe in yourself, you'd be better off doing some other jobs. I do understand it is very hard not knowing when you're going take off or if you would make it or not. But let me tell you, it is totally up to you. You decide what you want to do in your life and you take full responsibility for it. It is that simple.
Before I got signed to my current agency, I was with some agencies that were not so reputable and I only had some castings or jobs from time to time. I was just one of bunch. Some photographers and make up artists saw a huge potential in me and they kept telling me I just should keep trying but it was really hard to believe it and kept going on.
Breaking the rule and being a total new concept are not easy. When people see something new like they don't understand, they tend to neglect it instead of acknowledging or appreciating, but you have to realize that because it's alien, that's the exact reason why this new product will be a huge hit. I started to see my modeling as a business after having gone through a lot of necessary and unnecessary jobs.
Modeling is a business after all. Being a model is part of a team of designers, photographers, make up artists, hair stylist, and advertisement companies. You have be aware of the fact that you have such clients therefore you can work as a model. You are a product and you always have to try developing the best you can. Namely, you have to stay healthy, look after your skin and have a strategy to cope with continuous rejections, criticism, loneliness and possibly financial difficulties. It is more competitive than ever before and you have to put yourself out there as something extraordinary and one of a kind, otherwise, you will just become one of numerous models.
You set your goals and stick to them. Of course you always have to remain flexible with your plans as well because fashion industry moves fast and it always seeks different trends. You have to be the inspiration. Once your mind is set to these standards, you are ready to make your dream come true.
