The Modelling world...what happens in there?

Modelling is one of the most sought after jobs, not just in the fashion industry but also among young girls. It’s hard for us to see past the ‘glamorous’ fashion and see what the modelling world is when so much of it is covered up through a mask of beauty. We don’t think about the deeper parts of the modelling world, as we are only interested in what’s on the outside: the clothes and the beautiful people. It would be a revelation if we could actually look at plus size models on catwalks and feel we wanted to be like them. Just to be able to look at other models and be comfortable in our own skins and not feel pressure to be perfect. But as you can already guess we (society) seem to have accepted this ‘perfect’ ideal of the size 0, the beautiful face, a perfect body as our only inspiration of beauty and are not likely to be looking at anything else for beauty tips anytime soon.

On the other hand, we often see people in the media (generally those outside of the fashion industry) trying to change people’s perceptions of beauty and trying to look at how the industry has such an effect on people today. TV programmes such as ‘Beauty and the Beast’, which has recently just aired on Channel 4. In this documentary we catch a glimpse of people who are trying to change the face of beauty into a more natural and realistic image as disabilities and plus sizes are praised. However, to put a spin on this another documentary recently aired on Channel 4 called ‘The Model agency’: a strange, ironic twist that both seem to be showing at the same time, no? One is looking at the prejudice side of beauty whilst the other ‘The Model agency’ is supporting the ‘perfect’ image of beauty, as it is what their industry is all about. It’s almost as if we are seeing the battle for beauty from each side come face to face, and it’s pragmatically asking you. Which do you stand for?

The world of fashion and modelling is too big a world to protest against, as skinny models with 9inch heels will just tread on top of you. It is said that the fashion world is a vain industry (of course, the billion pound industry isn’t going to be set on inner beauty now is it) but people who decided to become a part of this industry should know what they are facing and what they are in for. The only thing that I can say is that as the general population we should not look to these models and feel intimidated and uncomfortable in our own skin. Really, whom are these girls trying to impress…is it really us? That’s just it. We think that these women are trying to impress men/women in society but actually it’s neither. These models are called models for a reason they model the clothes of prestigious designers and try their best to make their clothes look better with their petite frames. They are size 0 for a reason, that area of the industry prefers the women to make the clothes look better as opposed to using the clothes to make us look better.

All I am suggesting is that whether you are a size 6 or a size 20 you should not feel pressured by these models unless you are hoping to become one yourself. You should therefore be content with your own unique self. Modelling can be a passion with some people and others it can be an obsession. All you need to know is that both men and women models are generally just as insecure as you about their bodies (if not more so). The grass isn’t always greener on the other side where everything seems so glamorous and wonderful.

The tales of the modelling world are not left in the dark anymore and even in ‘The Model agency’ documentary we see models that live a chaotic lifestyle put their health at risk with some claiming they ‘don’t get chance to eat’ all day long and become restless from lack of sleep. Would you want that sort of lifestyle? Nevertheless, excluding the down sides to modelling we can soar to the real key in this multi-millionaire business, which is the designers and moreover the clothing. I will be the first to admit that such clothing we see on catwalks really is pieces of art. Don’t let the pressure of fitting in with dress sizes be a dark cloud over fashion or expressing your taste in clothes. See that this industry is far more profound than those pin thin models that strut down a runway. It is full of imagination and expression of the greatness of individuality that can be worn by us all (well at least the high-street versions).

By Kim Stanworth