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 everything 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 you can't do as a model.

In the previous diary entry, you could read that I was lying at the edge of a pool with my skinny butt. In the meantime, I'm back in the frog country and everyone is jealous of my vacation tan. You would think so, right? But no, you can't tell from my face that I've just returned from a tropical place with unlimited sun, sea, and beach. Do models have a special kind of model pigment that prevents them from getting tanned? No, definitely not. But arriving at the shoot with tan lines is a no-go. This week I will tell you what I can't do as a model. Grab the tissues, because it's very sad.

Tan lines

I spent most of my vacation in the shade. But why? First of all, tan lines can cause annoying post-production issues. Imagine you wore a bandeau bikini and the week after you shoot dresses with a deep neckline, you will definitely see that in the photo. All those lines have to be ‘erased’ in post-production, and that takes time (and money). I've heard that money had to come from the earnings of the model salary. Maybe it was the earned salary (haha), but still a bummer.

Additionally, winter fashion is often shot in the summer and summer fashion in the winter. Sun-kissed faces with sun-bleached locks just don't go well with thick winter coats (the same goes for summer dresses and milk bottles).

The break-up haircut

Do you know that feeling that after a break-up you want to change something drastically and just grab the scissors? Suddenly cutting bangs or opting for bright pink hair is not an option for models. If you make such a drastic change in appearance, it means you no longer look like the photos in your portfolio. If you really want a brand new hairstyle, that's of course allowed. It's ultimately your own hair and life (even if it sometimes doesn't seem that way), but that often has to be discussed with the agency. Moreover, new shoots need to be scheduled to update your portfolio and show clients ‘the new you’, and that takes time (and money).

Tats and piercings

Actually, everything you change about your appearance should be discussed with your agency. They won't stop you, but if you suddenly decide to tattoo a tiger on your forehead, it could cost you clients. The more extreme your appearance, the less easily you can be used as a blank canvas for photoshoots. Fewer clients mean fewer shoots, which means less money. And nobody wants that. It’s a money-driven world, babes.

Party till the sun comes up

Everyone shows up at work a bit hungover from time to time. If you're still semi-productive, that doesn't have to be a problem, unless you have to pose for the camera with your hungover face. I once had a situation where they were actually very happy with my extreme dark circles because it gave an extra grungy look, but being hungover and performing generally don't go together for me. That's why I go to bed early the night before a shoot, sober and (almost completely) alcohol-free for my beauty sleep.

Get that booty

Another drastic change in appearance can of course happen to your body. If your clothes no longer fit (or you look ‘fat’), you won't book the jobs. Therefore, it's important to stay within the size limits. How you do that is a concern for many. If you can devour a chocolate cake every day and still remain a size XS, you've won the model lottery. But if it doesn't come that easily, it's still important to eat healthily and/or exercise a lot. That's always a good idea, as long as it's done in a sensible and not obsessive way.

We have it tough as little models, as you can read. Fortunately, there are also plenty of positive aspects to the job, so I eat my brownie and run a lap around Vondelpark, so I can keep living the awesome model dream for a while longer.

XX kisses from Lily