The Modeling Industry and it's Controversies Essay Example
This industry of modeling is used as a method of advertising goods in fashion, cosmetics, art, paintings, sculptures, food, cars, and much more, through media such as billboards, television, magazines, and music videos, while social media is the largest market for this. The model industry is a dog eat dog industry, where the competition is high and cutthroat. Modeling has a history dating back to ancient times when humans inspired art. Marie Vernet Worth, who was the wife of fashion designer Charles Worth (History of Modeling) and is often regarded as the first fashion model. It might be the time of fashion's highest-paid and most glamorous supermodels, but not all models are supermodels and they aren't all paid as much as they should, as building a portfolio and paying agents, as well as paying for their living expenses are expensive.
Those in the industry can pay a lot more than just the value of money for their appearance. We will explore some controversies of this highly sought-after industry.
Even though we portray the modeling industry as glamorous, glitzy, and full of high salaries and a prestigious lifestyle with fun travel opportunities, we also hear horror stories of those who have not made it, and those who have made it speak of the long hard road to the top.
There are many controversies in the modeling industry and the effects on the people trying to make it in the business, and it's not at all glamorous, it can be downright cruel. Many models have to deal with insecurity, they are never good enough, no matter how beautiful or thin you might be in the modeling industry, you may be told you are too fat, you need to lose weight, your skin is not right, your height is wrong, these are models who are considered perfect but no matter how perfect they may be, they are never perfect enough, and because of this, they're always trying to maintain a weight that is ultimately too thin for their body mass index, and they develop eating disorders that ultimately affect their overall health. During her recent interview with the New York Times, Los Angeles model Paloma Elsesser tells us, "it's hard not to be insecure as a model 2 (Roberta Seldon)." So the risk and the development of eating disorders is a very real problem in the modeling industry.
Models in the modeling industry also face a problem of abuse, often working long shifts, being on their feet for long periods, and working in extremely challenging conditions uncomfortable high heeled shoes, not being able to eat or drink for extended periods, being stabbed with pins and needles in clothing fittings, mental abuse, feelings of unworth, when told they are not good enough and sexual abuse, model, Renee Peters had her nipples grabbed by a guy who told her they needed to be hard for a photoshoot.3(Roberta Seldom pg3).
The sexual abuse can go much deeper than this as well, models may feel backed in a corner when they have bills to pay and they are told if they don't do what is wanted of them they will not get the job and accept the abuse.
The modeling industry faces discrimination. Not only the models who are told they are fat are discriminated against, but race, gender, and ethnicity are also at play. There are fewer male, transgender, and non-white models in the industry, which makes diversity a big issue. This can also play a part in a person's insecurities and also cause health-related issues and mental issues, so it all can have a fallback.
In saying all this, I am not saying that the industry is all bad, and of course, there are many success stories as well, and not all models may have faced these dilemmas, but I would guess that at some point in their career there was some obstacle, as in all careers, but seeing the modeling industry as a cut-throat industry where money plays a huge part, far fewer people make a viable career out of it than those that do, most models don't make a great living at being a model and there are far too many unrealistic physical and mental demands on a person to make it in the very elite money-making positions.
In conclusion, I believe as a society we can help combat some of the harsh realities of models by not buying into the perfect images which are not real and to start advocating for change. Images of realistic bodies should be presented to us, those who are all around us,
We may be able to help other real-life issues like eating disorders, sexual abuse, in that way, rather than having people aim for unrealistic body and life-damaging goals.
People trying to become something unrealistically impossible without causing any kind of harm, such as physical and mental abuse. One could argue that modeling is a lucrative career, with high rates of success those who enjoy a profile career, making great money and reaping all the benefits, especially when you think of models like Heidi Klum, for instance, who has a successful modeling, television, clothing career, has a family and is a high profile celebrity, but we have to remember that she is one of the exceptions to the rule, and for all the success stories, there are far too many stories of people who have suffered in some form or another in trying to make it in this industry. Even though some changes are being made, there are still many more that must be implemented for the benefit of both those in the industry and society as a whole.
