Breaking the Stereotypes: Models

9:57 AM | Labels: barbie, Breaking, dumb, easy, model, modeling, models, skinny, stereotype, the

Hey lovelies,
Yes I changed your nickname...again! But I'm sure this will be the last time. So today I had been thinking about what a girl from one of my previous schools had said to me. We were talking about careers and she said I could be a model. Thinking nothing of it, I said thanks and I told her she could be a model too. That's when she said "Thanks, but I want to do something that isn't so...easy." This was a little offensive because I felt like the compliment she gave me was back handed, but I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt and I'm thinking what she said just came out wrong. That day I didn't say anything to her, but I kept thinking in my head "how much do people really know about modeling?" So here is a list of the most notorious stereotypes about models, and an explanation on how real that actually are.
So let's start with the stereotype that inspired me to make this post.

The Modeling Business is Easy

So all you have to do is be tall, skinny, and pretty and you become a famous model walking down the runway in Milan? Well, when your able to do so, that's when you can try to prove my point wrong. Modeling is not just about the way you look, you have to have a personality. You can't just be very pretty bump on a log. You always have to be confident, but not arrogant. Bubbly and smiley, but not an airhead. On top of that, the designers that are interviewing you at your go-sees want models that have a certain look, a certain body shape, and a certain walk, and if your a model/spokesperson, a certain voice, and a certain personality. And even if you meet all of those expectations, that doesn't guarantee you the job because your competing with hundreds of other girls to be with the few models that get to walk the runway. And in other modeling situations like commercial, your competing with other girls for just one part. And If your a woman or girl of color, its even harder to be a model, at least it's much harder to be a runway model. Only 1% of the runway models are Latina, 6% are Black, 6% are Asian, and 87% are white. It also costs a lot of money to get your pictures professionally taken to build your portfolio, and you never stop spending money on pictures because you have to keep your portfolio up to date with all the latest trends and fashions. Does modeling seem so easy now?

Now here's a stereotype that everyone has heard of.

All Models are Dumb

Now this goes hand in hand with "The Modeling business is easy" Because you don't need an education to be a model. So if a person is in the modeling buissness they're stupid? Well ask yourself this. Can a stupid person create a successful talk show that lasted for years, host a reality show that's also lasted for years and still running, write her own book, start her own filming production company, and create her own online magazine? Hmmm well, Tyra Banks

is a retired model, and she has been able to accomplish all this in her life.

And what about Kimora Lee Simmons?

She used to own Baby Phat, and now makes clothes for her new label, KLS and there is NOTHING easy about running a fashion label.

Heidi Klum,

after modeling, is most well known for being the host of project runway, but she has also designed shoes, men's clothing, jewelery, swimsuits, and lingerie. Honestly I could go on and on about models if you wanted me to. (But I know you don't ;}). This without a doubt proves that not all models are dumb. Now are there models out there who don't know their there's from their they're's? Of course. Are there some models who are complete fools? For sure! But aren't those type of people everywhere? Think about where you work or where you go to school. You could probably think of a few people who... you would rather not talk about... and let's leave it at that. So yes, most models don't have their doctorate, but most are very smart.

Are you a model wannabe? Then these two stereotypes are probably topics you've thought of before.

You have to look like a barbie to be a model

Okay, so Heidi Montag is no Heidi Klum, but she definitely looks like she could be Ken's

spouse (and by Ken I don't mean Pratt). The barbie look was popular at times in modeling history, but looking different from everyone else has always been an advantage in the modeling world. New runway models like Chanel Iman,

Daphne Groeneveld

Kirsi Pyrhonen,

and Josephine Skriver.

All very beautiful, none the stereotypical "barbie". These lovely ladies prove that you don't need cheek implants, lip injections, a nose job, a brow lift, your ears pinned back, and your chin sawed down to be smaller, to be beautiful. ( Yes Heidi montag did all that to her face. In my opinion she was beautiful to begin with!)

Last but not least here is probably the most well known stereotype about models.

Models are Scary Skinny

Out of all the stereotypes in this post this one is probably the most true. To be a runway model you must be a size two or smaller, anything bigger and your considered a plus sized model. There is no in between. Even though you have to be skinny to be a top model. You can still be a model that travels the world at a plus size. Crystal Renn

is one of the most successful plus size models. on the right you can see what she used to look like. She once explained that her body was never naturally "pin thin" and that she couldn't be healthier and happier at her current weight. She has posed for magazines like my favorite magazine ever which is Glamour. Other very well known plus sized models like Chloe Marshall

, Whitney Thompson

, Barbara Brickner

are all prime examples of amazing plus sized models.

Conclusion

Well there you have it! All the stereotypes about models explained. If you learned anything in this post I hoped you learned that modeling is a difficult buisness and only the smartest and most determined make it. But what do you think? Am I missing a stereotype? Do you think I'm right, but want to add something? Or do you think I'm flat out wrong? Be sure to leave your comments below!

Bye for now :}.

I do not own the rights to any of the pictures that were used in this blog post. There is no copyright intended.