I’m obsessed with the documentary “The Super Model” on AppleTV+. It has been incredibly cathartic to compare the journeys of Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, and Linda Evangelista to my own experience.
When I started modeling I was 15. I was runner up for Elite Model Management’s Look of The Year. Cindy Crawford won and I was second. She was the hot, sexy 18 year old, and I was the 15 year old sporty spice. I met Azzedine Alaia that year, and modeled for Italian Vogue. But, it wasnt until Cindy was on the cover of Playboy, that I ever thought that could be a possibility for me. Brunettes weren’t sexy at the time. Blonde was in. Cindy paved the way for all of us.
Modeling really was more than just a photoshoot. I was the first blogger for ELLE Magazine — because of modelling, I started my writing career. There was a consistent need for my knowledge in grammer — I was not only modeling for the images needed, I was also writing the text. That’s what gave me a competitive advantage in the publishing world. I knew all of the designers, photographers, and editors — my database was the best of the best.
Listen, modeling wasn’t all jelly beans and rainbows — for me, it also had a dark side. Inappropriate men, eating one apple a day (verging on an eating disorder), transient friendships, and feeling insecure by constant rejection.
It wasn’t easy as a young female. I was in high school/college, while working modeling gigs — in a way, I had to choose work over a normal childhood, socially. It wasn’t easy working with adults my whole life.
All I can say in this short blog is: Thank you universe for believing in me. One of the many takeaways I’ve learned along the modeling journey is that I’m ever evolving. We are all constantly evolving — that’s what I learned to do at a young age. It’s never too late to be who you want to be.
