Exploding the Model Myth
October 13, 2001 | 12:00am
Stereotypes abound when one thinks of the word "model". On the lighter side, truckloads of cash are envisioned and glamour is construed. Darker inferences suggest that anorexics and druggies are the majority in the modeling sphere. But the archetypal label of a model is that of an "airhead".
We have all heard the stories about "dumb models". And we have all, at one time or another, assumed that a beautiful person is a bimbo without ever talking to him or her. Yes, even I am guilty of such thoughts, although I myself am a member of the modeling world. This makes me a traitor to my fellow models because I know that for the most part, it is a myth. To use a worn cliché, you should not judge a book by its cover. I’m not decreeing that all models have the brains to become neurosurgeons. A civil engineering degree is not a prerequisite for our job, true. But all I’m saying is that we deserve a chance to combat this negative connotation. It’s offensive to say that all models are dense twits. Of course, there will always be a few models who sully our reputation, but let us try to abandon this generalization that beauty equals brainlessness.
Speaking for myself, I am the first to admit that modeling does not inspire us to create Nobel Prize award-winning works. It is, after all, a job that focuses primarily on one’s aesthetic value. My point, however, is that just because modeling is our profession, it should not automatically insinuate that we lack the brainpower to do anything else. The profuse opportunities provided by modeling are golden. Travel, great pay packets, and meeting people are few of the grandiose perks. Nevertheless, one of the greatest things about modeling is that it proffers possibilities to branch out into other things.
Consequently, this is where my story begins.
I completed my Bachelor of Communications/Business in Australia, majoring in marketing, media studies, and Spanish. I received an offer to come to the Philippines to model. The money was fantastic. It would have been ridiculous to decline. Besides, to use another cliché, "you’re only young once," right? So, one thing led to another until one day I realized that I had become a "model" without actually intending to. The experiences were overwhelming. Traveling on my own, conquering a new country with a different language, meeting unique people, and surviving homesickness were just a few of the "struggles" I enjoyed facing.
On the other hand, even with all these experiences my brain began to get restless. I began feeling guilty. I felt that I was wasting my education. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love modeling. I’d be foolish not to. But I did feel a desperate need to use my degree. That’s how Tabu Swimwear was born. I, with a my business partner, import swimwear. And that is how Amanda the entrepreneur came to be. Now I have two careers: One afforded me travel options and money (modeling), and the other allowed me to use my knowledge. But don’t get me wrong, the money in business is good, too.
As if life could not get any more hectic, a third career fell into my lap…that of a Channel [V] VJ. VJ-ing has been a terrific experience. It has helped me overcome my shyness, has permitted me to meet music superstars, and hasallowed me to explore other facets of my personality.
I’m not a rare breed. There are many models who use their careers as a stepping-stone for other things. That’s good. There are those who combine modeling with another profession. That’s good, too. But modeling does not guarantee a place "upstairs", but it can open doors, and it’s actually the first step that’ll make all the difference.
We have all heard the stories about "dumb models". And we have all, at one time or another, assumed that a beautiful person is a bimbo without ever talking to him or her. Yes, even I am guilty of such thoughts, although I myself am a member of the modeling world. This makes me a traitor to my fellow models because I know that for the most part, it is a myth. To use a worn cliché, you should not judge a book by its cover. I’m not decreeing that all models have the brains to become neurosurgeons. A civil engineering degree is not a prerequisite for our job, true. But all I’m saying is that we deserve a chance to combat this negative connotation. It’s offensive to say that all models are dense twits. Of course, there will always be a few models who sully our reputation, but let us try to abandon this generalization that beauty equals brainlessness.
Speaking for myself, I am the first to admit that modeling does not inspire us to create Nobel Prize award-winning works. It is, after all, a job that focuses primarily on one’s aesthetic value. My point, however, is that just because modeling is our profession, it should not automatically insinuate that we lack the brainpower to do anything else. The profuse opportunities provided by modeling are golden. Travel, great pay packets, and meeting people are few of the grandiose perks. Nevertheless, one of the greatest things about modeling is that it proffers possibilities to branch out into other things.
Consequently, this is where my story begins.
I completed my Bachelor of Communications/Business in Australia, majoring in marketing, media studies, and Spanish. I received an offer to come to the Philippines to model. The money was fantastic. It would have been ridiculous to decline. Besides, to use another cliché, "you’re only young once," right? So, one thing led to another until one day I realized that I had become a "model" without actually intending to. The experiences were overwhelming. Traveling on my own, conquering a new country with a different language, meeting unique people, and surviving homesickness were just a few of the "struggles" I enjoyed facing.
On the other hand, even with all these experiences my brain began to get restless. I began feeling guilty. I felt that I was wasting my education. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love modeling. I’d be foolish not to. But I did feel a desperate need to use my degree. That’s how Tabu Swimwear was born. I, with a my business partner, import swimwear. And that is how Amanda the entrepreneur came to be. Now I have two careers: One afforded me travel options and money (modeling), and the other allowed me to use my knowledge. But don’t get me wrong, the money in business is good, too.
As if life could not get any more hectic, a third career fell into my lap…that of a Channel [V] VJ. VJ-ing has been a terrific experience. It has helped me overcome my shyness, has permitted me to meet music superstars, and hasallowed me to explore other facets of my personality.
I’m not a rare breed. There are many models who use their careers as a stepping-stone for other things. That’s good. There are those who combine modeling with another profession. That’s good, too. But modeling does not guarantee a place "upstairs", but it can open doors, and it’s actually the first step that’ll make all the difference.
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