Sweet, Scary Success

November 29, 2008

As the Spring 09 fashion week blitz was beginning I posted a few videos from Vogue's Model.Live series. The 'documentary' followed three aspiring models as they hoped to launch their careers by booking shows and making a name for themselves in New York, London, Milan and finally, Paris. This episode is a wrap-up of how the three distinctly different girls fared.

After watching the Model.Live series, reading Fashion Babylon, hearing tales from friends in the industry and what other tawdry bits I've picked up here and there, I'd be hardpressed to support my daughter should she one day decide to pursue modelling, or be scouted by a legit agency (a big 'what if' - she's only three). Aside from all the drugs, creeps, and modelling-crossing-over-into-prostitution scenarios, it's an emotionally taxing gig, even at the best of times. We see Austria, who at 16 (or 15 or 14 as some say is her actual age) doesn't seem quite 'ready' and after booking just a few shows across all four fashion weeks can't bear the idea of going back home to Dominican Republic and doing 'nothing'. Then there's Madeleine, who had marginal success with the shows and picked up a few editorial jobs, but with her short hair doesn't tickle the fancy of the major designers who already have the cropped-cut girl in Agyness Deyn. And she's bitter - "Everyone wants Cato!" That's Dutch Cato van Ee, the success story. And not just the winner out of the three. In a few short weeks she went from complete unknown to the top of the new wave of girls. Her look mimics that which is ruling the runways and editorial right now - sublimely homogeneous. She booked dozens of shows including one of the most coveted spots a model can dream about - the Prada show. And now she's EVERYWHERE. Just today I saw her in a Dolce & Gabbana commercial. And where does that leave her? Stressing about maintaining her new-found stardom.