Diary of a model

Lily spends her days as a model, rushing from shoot to show and then to another casting. On Amayzine, she tells you all about what her life is really like. Under a different name, of course, but that means she can share all the juicy details. This week, what happens when you're sick and spend half the night over the toilet.

This week was supposed to be an intense week. Working on Monday and Tuesday, then that evening heading to the airport and shooting at a beautiful location outside Milan. After that, I would fly to London for a job and then enjoy the weekend back home. Monday and Tuesday went smoothly, and once on the plane, I closed my eyes for a power nap. The call time the next morning was five o'clock, and I wouldn't arrive at my hotel until half past twelve. Thank god for make-up artists who can work away those bags.

Unfortunately, my night went a bit differently than planned. I had been feeling shaky for a few days, and models are not superheroes. I understand that you think that, because we wear those cool outfits and improve the world. But even a model can get sick. I didn't sleep a wink all night and spent half the time with my hair in a bun (my brain was still working) over the toilet. I thought this was the most charming description I could come up with.

When my alarm went off, I took a shower, put on my skin-colored model set, and went to the make-up artist's room. I had sent the producer a message about my ‘situation’, so she came to check on me. I bluffed that I felt a bit relieved.

After that, the whole team drove for an hour to the location over bumpy winding roads. Everyone could tell that I wasn't doing so well, so they decided that once we arrived, I should lie down for a bit. The team was incredibly sweet and asked if I wanted to try or if I preferred to go back to the hotel. I decided to be brave and wanted to give it a shot. Once I put on my professional face, I usually manage. The team was still enthusiastic about the photos too. Unfortunately, this time I hadn't listened to my body well enough, and after three outfits, it was really better to stop (read: I had already gone over my model neck in the bushes). Luckily, we weren't too far from Milan, and the team could call in a new model to finish the shoot. I was brought back by a driver to the hotel, where I decided to go on a lovely rice-and-water diet.

At the moment I'm writing this, I'm lying in bed with a bowl of rice in a hotel somewhere in Italy. Luckily, my mom has already sung to me via Facetime, so I feel a bit at home.

Being sick is annoying, but being sick abroad, alone, and while you would have liked to work is downright awful. I'm not only upset about being sick, but also about the fact that I feel like I've disappointed a whole team. Or if I continue to London or decide to book a ticket home, I don't know yet. But those are worries for tomorrow, and I do love a last-minute decision. Living on the edge.

XX Kisses from Lily