Modelling is not Glamorous, says model Manon Leloup

A French model gives an insight on what modelling is or entails in contrast to what people generally believe that modelling is glamorous. This is for those who intend to go outside the country to pursue their modelling career. If you are such model, you have to brace yourself and be prepared because modelling is not an easy job.

 Model Manon Leloup worked in front of and behind the camera for her debut documentary Speaking Dolls. Like many of those before her, including model Sara Ziff, the French model attempts to shed light on the reality of what many assume is a highly-glamorous job. What you get is a 54-minute first-hand account of the seemingly exhausting marathon of Fashion Week—which actually lasts four weeks. From New York to Paris, these models trek around each city, spending endless hours in castings. Then, if they're lucky (which in their case, they are very lucky), they move on to fittings, hair and makeup, and rehearsals for the grand finale—the live runway show for top designers like Prabal Gurung, Dolce & Gabbana and Dior. Leloup and friends, who have been hot on the modelling scene for the last two years now, take us through their journey, speaking openly about their concerns regarding longevity, competing against the new girls, and how they deal with life on the go. Below, we rounded up some of the main takeaways from Leloup's insightful documentary.

1) Every season is a new start. Popular runway models have to go on castings each season, even if they walked in the same designer's show six months prior. Each season new girls arrive, and the veterans must compete against the fresh faces—which makes them feel that their in-demand status could change overnight.

2) Models rarely have a place of their own to call home. With demanding schedules and constant traveling, new models can go an entire year without having their own home, instead living out of hotels and model apartments. Without a parent by their side, the loneliness can be very challenging.

3) New York and Paris can be the most stressful. Models feel the most pressure to be cast in the best shows in these cities.

4) There are different standards of thin. An agent in New York may tell you to lose a few pounds, but in Paris they may think you look too skinny—and that can put your job in jeopardy.

5) Fashion Week feels like school. Each fashion show is a class and the designers are the teachers. After spending so much time together, models form long-lasting friendships with their fellow cat walkers, who also serve as a support system.

6) Ultimately, it's the model's choice. They choose this job for the opportunities it affords them, but they want to be viewed as more than just the girls who wear clothes on the runway: they want to be personalities. The job makes them feel like they are actors and dancers in a role, and modelling is a form of expression and escape for them.

Source: Harper's Bazaar