Why can’t someone who is 5’3”, caribbean descent, a lil shy sometimes and doesn’t have a big booty be a model?
That’s my question and the fire in my belly that’s driving me right now.
Becoming a successful model was my childhood ambition - I modelled my vision on Naomi Campbell (see what I did there). As in: a beautiful black woman from South London, totally slaying it on the catwalk. Ok so 5 out of 6 isn’t too bad (I'll give you a second to add them up)...
But as I hit adolescence, the so-called inevitable insecurities started to manifest. Feeling like I’m not pretty ‘enough’, not shapely enough, having a flat booty “for a Caribbean”, being told I’ll never be tall enough…
Don’t get me wrong - I’m proud of my 5’3” (and a half). And yes the 'half' does count.
Then the inevitable age thing happened - I got to a point where I totally suppressed the idea of becoming a supermodel because I felt that I entered the realm of 'too old'.
Now however, I’m EXTREMELY rapidly approaching 40, and I’m at a stage in my life where I love me more now than I have ever loved myself. I don’t need anyone to validate me - I do that well enough. So what if I’m not as pretty as [insert the prettiest person you know here]; I love my lil booty; and my lil belly ain’t so bad - it makes me look fed (I tell myself). My parents taught me to cook and it would be a shame to waste that skill right? A crying shame.
And the height...who said I have to confine modelling to the catwalk? I can’t walk in 10" heels that great anyway!
Forget all this ‘40 is the new 30’ - for me, 40 is gonna be the new 20 [snaps fingers with sass].
We’re now in a day and age where ‘real’ looking people are being advocated.
I can't imagine that the model scout's criteria list is as rigid as it may have once been in their new model search; not being afraid of a lil tum, or big thighs, or a bit of FUPA or backfat. No more picking up a magazine and being presented solely with manufactured-looking chicks. We’re in a day and age where we’re being presented with people who we can identify with - visually at least. Obvs with some size -2’s in there.
So why can’t someone who is 5’3” (and a half), caribbean descent, a lil shy sometimes and doesn’t have a big booty be a model? Where is it written that these attributes need to be on the model search list? (that's a real question by the way - I really want to know)!
Exactly! There’s no reason.
My friends and family have always said that I can do it but there was a particular conversation that I had with a lovely lady called Gigi - it stayed with me. It was the spur in the posterior that made me actually go for it. The last straw on the metaphorical camel's back so to speak - in a positive sense though.
Sidetrack alert: Gigi also had a pep talk with me about becoming a powerlifting coach (but that’s a topic for another post)...
Gigi should become a life coach, real talk.
That said, there’s not much more for me to say (without rambling). I just need to put my money where my mouth is.
I’ve setup my portfolio website, which was MUCH easier than I had expected. Don't get me wrong - nothing worth doing is going to always be easy; as I am now in the search and application process I have spotted modelling agencies with minimum height requirements and maximum age restrictions, but I won't let that stop me. I will match the criteria in someone's model search - mark my words.
I will work on getting people to come to my website - I guess that’s started as you’re currently on it (thanks for the visit by the way).
I just need to go forth and multiply - get your mind out the gutter, I mean multiply visitors to my website.
This is how I got here.
This is the beginning of my journey and I appreciate you being a part of it.
Watch. This. Space.
So who said that someone who is 5’3” (and a half), caribbean descent, a lil shy sometimes and doesn’t have a big booty can’t be a model?
They lied to ya.
Thank you for reading my post - I hope you enjoy following me through my journey as I work on breaking through mental barriers, writing about more “stuff” and working on ranking high in the model search arena as a new model.
Feel free to keep up with my selfie game on Insta
Speaking of putting my money where my mouth is (if you don't know what I'm on about, read this post again), did you know that in 2017 Vlada Haggerty collaborated with Smashbox to create lip art with 80 diamonds worth over $25,000 and made the Guinness Record? Check it out
See ya (for another fortnight) x
About the author [that would be me]:
I am a Senior Project Manager by day; by night (aka any other time), you can find me lifting heavy metal things (aka powerlifting), threatening to dust off my belt in the name of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (I will make myself re-worthy of my blue belt), or finding ways to get infront of a camera and labelling it as modelling in some way shape or form.
I put this blog together as an add-on to my modelling portfolio, and it reminded me of how much I love to write. I will continue to write as my model portfolio grows, just so that you can get to know the real me.
Althea James model x