Today exactly one year ago I
came back from my first and (quite sure) last international model trip. Ever
since I went abroad for modelling, people ask me the same questions. For that
reason, but also to reflect on that time internationally modelling, I am
writing this blog. I hope you get a little insight in a models life (read: my
model life) and the things I learned from that kind of life. Be aware that
there are different types of models, commercial and high fashion. Every agency
also focusses on either one or both. This means every model has a different
story depending on market, country, agent and model ‘level’.
How is it to live
in a tiny model apartment with many models?
So actually three questions
are asked. How is living in a small apartment. And how are models in their home
moods? Anddd how do those two things combine. Well I lived in a small house
with a maximum of ten models, two rooms, one office/living room, one shower,
two toilets and one kitchen. I am used to living in small rooms, say 10 squared
metres, but living in that same space with three other girls on bunk beds was
something I needed to get used to. You need to get along with each other since
you know you will be there for two months, so you try to be your best self of
course. But after a while you can feel your general (less positive) home moods
coming up as well, which is normal. The bond with your roommates is growing,
and I had this in particular with two girls. I cannot imagine my stay without
them. It is something special we shared. They were there when you needed them
and the other way around. Remembering the moment I created a figure under my
blanket with pillows, so I could sleep for one night with my boyfriend in the
hotel on the other side of the street. It was crazy that this was necessary,
but my roommates got my back. I could not sleep that night, because I was
afraid the agent would find out.
Did you make
money?
No. This was also not my aim
for the two month trip. I did it for the experience and this was way more worth
it than money would ever do. Nevertheless, I did not lose money as well.
Everything is payed for you if you have an on-stay contract: flights, weekly
pocket money, apartment, diners, gym, spa, parties etc. Butttt, this also means
you come there again for your boss and not for yourself… You can not go out
after 11pm (cameras were there to make sure we did not), you cannot buy all sweets,
fats and not (modelling) worthy food. You need to stay in the same shape and
size as how they booked you. It depends per agency for sure how strict they are
with rules. To come back to the question, I did not make money. And many people
ask me then why I did not… Well, in my opinion my appearance was just not right
for the clients my agency had. They always wanted someone with a more cute
face, bigger boobs, bigger size than mine 34/36 (which I see as a good thing),
more beautiful hair and full lips etc. My appearance was just seen as more high
fashion I guess, while at the same time my height is not for that market. I
have always been in between those two markets, too small for high fashion, but
too different faced for commercial market. And that is fine, I have been
conscious about this fact, and I chose realistic goals based on that.
Did you have many
shootings?
To start off and give you a
quick image: I had 105 castings and I had only 2 jobs, an Instagram promo video
and a fitting job in which I just was a living doll: dress, twist and turn,
undress and dress again. I had many test shootings in the first couple of weeks.
Normally that is good and shows that the agency is putting effort in you. These
photos were supposed to fill up my portfolio with images the clients of our
agency would like. Nevertheless, the photos were not printed… Test shootings
were always in the weekend or in the evening after a long day of castings. This
was tough, because you could not live the life you wanted to. It was more than
a full time job.
Did you like it?
First things first. I knew I
would come to Istanbul for work. It is not the same as going on a holiday or
quick city trip. I liked it the first week and it was all exciting, but after
some time I felt trapped inside a house. We needed to stay inside most of the
time and could not do much. And for people who know me, I love being outside,
explore, do my own thing for sure. This was something I struggled with. Also
the communication was amazingly bad. I have a grudge against those situations.
I learned a lot about myself and coping with these situations, because
sometimes you can not do anything. I had no choice. The director has the right
to somehow form and plan your days. If they want you to put extra make-up on,
you do, because they say and they pay for you being there. This was my case. If
you know me you probably also know that I dislike wearing a lot of make-up
daily. I love to give my skin some air. Whenever I normally put makeup on it is
just only concealer, mascara and sometimes an eyeliner or a darker eyeshadow
color in the outer corner of the eye. Right in Istanbul, totally different to
Milan for example, they wanted full make-up since they taught that a model was
good in front of the camera if she could do her own make-up and styling…
Living in Istanbul taught me
great lessons, let me meet wonderful human beings and a different culture. The
food has been amazing, the free gym, swimming pool and sauna in a five star
hotel as well. I would never forget this trip and the people I met. I
am really grateful for that.
