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6 Comments
Hi, Sophie. I think you’re wonderful, intuitive, and a great role model for other young girls. You are for me, anyway. It’s just so refreshing to see someone who’s been in the modeling industry, notorious for being “fake” and “materialistic” to be so grounded and reject a superficial outlook on life. It’s obvious you haven’t lost yourself in the craziness of it all, and that’s very inspiring
Thank you!! So much……. It means a lot to me to see some of my choices really making a difference. They were at times tough choices to make, so I appreciate your support incredibly much.
Hey Sophie. I just wanted to tell you what an inspiration you are to me. I was offered a contract with a modeling agency in NYC called VNY last spring and I turned it down because I was enrolled in a university for the following fall and I didn’t think it was possible to model and study simultaneously. But after reading your blog it seems that it can be done! Do you have any regrets, or do you think it is definitely worth a go?
Wow, thank you. That’s an honour to hear. In my own experience, yes, the old cliche is in fact true – that anything is possible if you put your mind, your actions, and your most direct intentions to them. If you really want to model, and you also really want to study, you can find a way. I sacrificed a lot of things when I did it: time with my boyfriend (I saw him only one day out of every week); time with my family in the evenings (I would shut myself in my room and study); my social life, and a lot of contact hours with the university. I was lucky though, in the sense that my campus was two blocks from my house, which cut out a lot of travel time, and the fact that my lectures were all recorded and put online. I listened to my lectures from other states while I was modeling, I wrote a LOT of my essays on airplanes, in airports, and in hotel rooms while I was modeling.
I did my reading whilst having a hairdryer in my ear, and when all the other models had their coffee/ cigarette/ food breaks, I sat under my clothes rack during shows and read my designated reading for that week. I was also VERY proactive with my tutors at uni. I told them what I was committed to, that I didn’t want to defer uni, that I was committed to finishing my degree and excelling at it, and that at the same time, I was going to be traveling with modeling. This was during shows actually, so it was very structured and my weeks were pre-planned both by the clients and by myself. I changed my uni timetable to fit around the traveling schedule. I set up an email correspondence with my tutors and they agreed to compensate my “attendance” marks, which were around 20% I think, by grading my email conversations back and forth with them (!) That covered the tutorial aspect of university, and so I wasn’t marked down for not “being there” or being in communication.
I DEFINITELY don’t have any regrets about doing what I did!! Sometimes I think, perhaps if I didn’t study, I may have gone overseas and pursued modeling on a higher level – but then again, if I did that, who knows where I’d be now? I definitely wouldn’t have this infinite well of wisdom beneath me, to dip into, and I would never have found out that I wanted to be a writer, and pursue knowledge, and share inspiration, and incite a sense of awe and wonder in others. I am very proud of my choices, and of my accomplishments because of them. At the end of the day, it really is only what you believe you are capable of doing, which you can comfortably do. Don’t do anything that doesn’t feel good to you, or “right” to you. Sure, it will at times feel freaking difficult and hard and you will have moments of doubt, but if you really want to do something, nothing can stop you and you will achieve whatever you want.
Let me know if you have any other questions!! Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a great time at your university, and with modeling if you choose to take it on! What are you studying, by the way? Enjoy it
Thank you so much for the long and lovely advice! I really appreciate that you took the time to answer. I think its so important to get an education because it totally expands one’s interests and that just makes life so much more exciting! I am majoring in international studies and English and minoring in French. I want to work in the human right field, possibly as a lawyer/activist. A reason why I see modeling as being something appealing is because I have a very artsy side to me, and I somehow thought modeling could be some form of artistic outlet for me. But I don’t know if it is capable of that. Maybe yes and no? A concern that I had about modeling was that it might become boring. I’m the type of person who always needs to be doing and thinking and so I thought that possibly modeling would become dull quite fast. I hope not because I would like to give it a go. Also, if you don’t mind me asking, does it often happen that modeling results in one losing money rather than making. The whole idea of paying for pictures to be sent, and the contract in general is something that sends me into a state of paranoia. Ah sorry for these annoying questions, and thanks again for the correspondence!
Hey Christina, in a nutshell – it’s a gamble and a risk one has to be willing to take, and bear the consequences. It all comes down to belief in yourself, and enrolling others in that belief too. If other people can support and encourage you as a model, and you remain open to suggestions, coaching, transformation and the learning curve, it could definitely be an experience of a lifetime!
I certainly enjoyed the ride, but the horizon keeps on going, it doesn’t stop. If you have an interest, do it! If you’re genuinely worried and concerned, pay attention to that. You’ll find the path best for you.