For as long as I can remember, I have always been interested in models and the art form of it all. Whether it was applying to modeling agencies in high school and getting totally rejected, making youtube videos of my favourite models or finally getting signed myself, this unique group of people have always intrigued me. Life, with its love of surprises, has made friends out of some of the names mentioned in that video. It’s insane and I still can’t believe it.
Starting out with an interest in fashion- runway shows, ideas in clothing, the clothing itself, glamour and the city of Paris - and watching those shows repeatedly, one develops an interest for the faces they see reappear. These faces repeat, but each time they do, they appear different. After seeing someone play approximately 30 characters in the span of a month, across different continents, day after day, and sometimes even twice in a day, you become curious about who they are and how they are able to do this. I certainly was. This curiosity drew me to start looking deeper into the models and thats how it began. After the shows, they’d reappear in campaigns, giving me more stories to live for and more characters to dissect. This only heightened my interest and the overall experience. They made you dream for a second, to aspire for and admire beauty. I loved it, but needed more.
Now I had to find names-who were they? Anok, Kaia, Maty, Alton, Fish Money, Lulu, Grace, Ottawa. To me, they represented fashion but they weren’t on the fashion side. They were more on my side - closer to me. These were kids who got discovered. They symbolized the idea that anyone could randomly be discovered and brought into that world. That idea fascinated me, so I had to know everything.
Social Media. Their agencies must have made a video or two about their journey. How did they get into modeling? Where and how did they get scouted? Did they take digitals and apply themselves? And if they did, why?. There must be interviews or something. There were so many questions and not enough answers, just a few videos that finished too quickly. Okay, if their agencies didn’t, then Vogue certainly did. Diary of a Model. Oh Yes! God were those episodes entertaining. They were so good, but they were released at a very slow pace and if we got lucky, we only got one every season. Okay that didn’t work. Next stop, Instagram. I had to see what they are posting, watch all of their stories, and keep up with them and what they got up to. It was also a great opportunity to see what was happening behind the scenes. I gathered a lot from this. This was my piece of fashion beyond the runway. Past the whole fashion mirage, you start to see their personalities and lifestyles- oh some of them are into memes, how relatable. Still keenly observing, you start seeing crossovers like Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana. The girl who closed the Dior show is hanging out with the girl from the Celine campaign, but this isn’t on a set—they're vacationing together in Montego Bay. I love that they are friends. Outside their jobs, this elite group knows each other. To me, fashion was still happening. This was an extension of the runway. It was like a real-life magazine spread. The life they bring to the images they create doesn’t just die after fashion week is over. It is who they are, and you can’t turn off who you are. You find that the ones who have longer careers or transcend the typical expectations of modelling, have personalities that shine through (while working very hard, of course), and this essence is what they bring to the clothes. So with that said, you can understand the dissonance I felt standing in front of the Duomo talking to Xu Meen and letting him know I admire his work, when Grace Valentine walks by. I intercept her too, only to find out that this was their first meeting. “But they are on top right now, they work everything-how could they possibly have never met?”. But indeed they hadn’t. If this is the case for the top models, best believe that when that trickles down this is definitely no different for the little guy.
“Of course models don’t like each other; they are in competition.” “Why would they be friends if they are competing for the same job?”. This is a sentiment I have heard time and time again, and it’s one that I don’t necessarily agree with. The job and who gets it is a matter of taste and preference, which is subjective. So, if someone with a similar look to mine gets picked instead of me, (except it's intentional, which those cases are rare), it’s not something to beat myself up over. I would know, seeing as my twin brother and I, who both model, get booked individually for jobs, and we look exactly the same—or so I’ve heard.
After spending some time pondering all of this, I came to realize that these events were fragmented, and I was the one piecing them together in my mind. That wasn’t the reality. Most of my thoughts and views were actually assumptions. Working in the space, I realized that no one cared. The models weren’t offered the opportunity or space to connect with each other. Every time they met, it was in these high-stress environments like castings or backstage, which naturally created barriers for genuine connection. How willing are they to connect? If we created that space and fostered those connections, who knows how many more loops could be unlocked from there? So we decided to experiment, and as we progress, we intend to share our findings. I present to you the case for à la mode.
Another thought -
In the eyes of the general public, a model embodies a certain allure. They are loved and admired, and people always want to talk a little longer when you reveal you've worked for a brand like say, Gucci. However, only a select few enjoy the perks associated with modeling, even though it's the same job. So why is that? Why is it that if you don't come from a known family or aren't popular with designers and casting directors, your work is seen as less than those who do, despite having the same talent and skills?
What are they being recognized for? Is it their job or their social standing? Whatever that social standing is, it seems the validation stems from the profession itself. People recognize them as models and not just as a rich person’s kid. If respect and recognition are truly rooted in the craft of modelling, then these privileges shouldn't be exclusive to a fortunate few. Every individual who dedicates themselves to the profession should have equal access to its perks and opportunities if they want them.
Ultimately, the idea is to create a more level playing field where talent and professionalism are the primary factors driving success, rather than social standing or connections. Knowing that these challenges won’t go away entirely, what happens when the rewards of the profession are accessible to all who pursue it?