Death of the M.O.D.E.L: Adapt and Overcome by Dawn Montgomery
June 24, 2009 by tierra
Filed under Blog, Cover Model, Tierra's Corner
By: Dawn Montgomery
Let the story be told: My peers suggest that it is easier to do what everyone else around you may be doing to get ahead. My peers state that being a nice & humble woman will only get you a mountain of heartache in this industry. The modeling industry is not something that can be conquered overnight. Whether it is high fashion or urban modeling, you have to find your niche and really work hard to make a name for yourself. It really takes determination and perseverance to really endure the hardships that this industry brings.
The urban modeling industry is stereotyped as the home of countless TFPs, curvaceous women that are exploited, and the lowest paying unstable job in America. It is an industry that some women think it is easier to take the back door, when really you must do everything properly and in order. As a model you should set a standard and work hard to keep it. You have to keep a certain focus and use your personal industry positioning plan to direct your path. If you do not understand how this industry works then this is not the place for you.
Some model’s careers have died slowly due to these causes:
Materialistic desires
Overexposed body parts
Diva mentalities
Egotistical actions
Laziness towards their education of the industry
Deaths of the M.O.D.E.L are being executed now as we speak. Some are dying slowly. Some are dying quickly. There are a few that will be saved by their willingness to adapt and overcome the adversities that are faced in this industry. The many hurdles that I have personally jumped over come with an award-winning transforming piece of art that has cried, sweated, and yelled over countless opportunities missed. I am a simple woman that has grown to understand that her beauty is beyond what is seen on the outside, but what has been educated and nurtured on the inside.
What is inside of me is a heart that beats passion for what I have used to be visible and try to reach the masses of the uneducated. It is hard to master the art of modeling, but if you come into the industry with some knowledge of how things work then you have a higher chance of succeeding. Nothing is given to you. You have to have the necessary tools that are needed to succeed in this industry. Forget what everyone else is doing and focus on what you need to do individually and not fall victim to the dying breed. This may offend my industry connects, but there is a continuous need to stress the reality of this leeching industry.
Do not become another modeling statistic.
Focus on what you can bring new to the industry besides another young woman who thought they could model because of club photos, home portraits, and your lost desire to be wanted. Be a face and voice within your community. Use your career as a way to help bring light to a situation within your life or community. The Death of an M.O.D.E.L does not have to affect you directly, but the cause of death can help guide you to a better career path. If you are a model then prove it. We will see who will outlive the dying breed that walks among us now… Death of an M.O.D.E.L… Moment of SILENCE!
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Love it!
i love this it’s so awesome!It’s true, I am a video model but I am also a woman who holds a college degree. I will use my platform as a model to Empower women who are self conscious about their apperarence like Dark skin women. Every day on my myspace page I get young girls who say I make them proud to be dark skin and that when they see me in a video they feel beautiful. I also tell young girls to go to school get your education because this business is full of sharks and if u do not have a team of people around you that can be honest with you and look out for you then you will succumb like the rest that are M.O.D.E.L.s! I really appreciate this blog. Cynietra
Very well written Dawn. Completely agree with your view of the industry.
All I have to say is WOW.
This is awesome I’m going to make sure all my models read this to day!!!
Good one Dawn!!!
u said it way better and way more articulate then I wud have ever thought of.. u shud teach a class at a college on that alone..seriously…ur type of model is rare as a 3 legged buffalo coin…. u r very grounded..stay that way.. and continue to do ur thing and share that knowledge amongst newcomers and u will be blessed in way more ways than u can imagine ..becuz u aren’t only gaining success in the modeling career but in help otha young women keep a self of respect and sanity to live with themselves and doing something not only them but their peers and family can be proud of….wwwhheeewww…sorry so long winded..it was jus very inspiring…
1 word to describe you “Spectacular yesss” LOL….THANKYOU mama for putting that out there, we can’t say & preach those words enough! We’re some of the few that actually practice what we preach & that is exactly why I love & respect you! From the moment we met! There’s gona be plenty of chicks agreeing to this not realizing this is them. Some don’t find any of this wrong seeing that they don’t have any morals or dignity to begin with so to them this is what they’ve always known! You as well as I being a single mother, model, student, etc can show these young girls out here that you don’t have to give up your self worth & identity to try to be known or seen..for what? At what cost?? Keep doing what your doing luv, I will always be in the background routeing you on!
nice share, good
article, very usefull for me…thank you