Keep It Cleaner – @keepitcleaner
@stephanieclairesmith + @laura.henshaw
I’ll finish off by mentioning all the things I absolutely love about my job.
The people: particularly in Melbourne, the industry isn’t really that big once you’re in it for long enough. You build relationships with other models and with photographers, stylists and hair & Makeup artists.
Some of these people are now my closest friends. Laura for example, I met through modelling. I love that you do have your regulars, but you’re also meeting new people all the time too. It’s refreshing working with different people everyday, which brings me to my next point.
Locations: everyday is different. It’s not like a desk job where you’re going to the same place and sitting next to the same people at the same time everyday… Some people may be into that, but I certainly couldn’t have an office job for that reason.
Some of the locations I have got to travel to have been places on my bucket list, but also places I wouldn’t have thought to go! Which has been incredible because I’ve got to experience places that I wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for modelling.
Growing up: this industry basically forces one to be more mature. You’re constantly working with adults and working with big brands and you have to be professional with it all. I have absolutely loved what modelling has done for my confidence and maturity.
I get told a lot that I seem older than I am, which I personally love hearing. Modelling has made me more confident with meeting new people and confidently being able to express my own opinions or feelings in conversation.
Pathways: you meet so many people and learn so much about yourself along the way, that if you didn’t know what you wanted to do before modelling, then you’ll figure out other interests while you’re doing it. I’ve gone through stages of being interested in makeup, and directing shoots, and designing clothes etc… This is all because of the people I’ve met and worked with through the industry.
Modelling is also what initially got me eating better, and sparked my interest in healthy cooking and exercise. I know a lot of models who end up studying things like nutrition on the side, or starting blogs or businesses like I have. So it’s not a dead end job, because some people will tell you that… They told me that!
To finish I will say, I love the industry and what it has done for me, and I hope to be a working model (obviously not as regular) for a very long time to come! And as much as I want to say ‘if you can dream it, you can do it’ – modelling isn’t for everyone. But if you’re rejected, don’t take that as someone telling you you’re ugly…because you’re not. You’re beautiful, you just may not be the look they’re after, or the look that works for the industry at the time.
To all you aspiring models, I wish you the best of luck, maybe I’ll see you on set sometime soon 😉
