When you think of New York Fashion Week you think of high fashion, star studded shoes, beautiful models and incredible clothing, right?
It all seems like an effortless show. At least that’s what I thought before I modeled in it. I was super excited to be casted for my first New York Fashion Week because I was only 14 then. Casting was intense. I remember as soon as I walked in I was scolded for having my hair up in a bun- Oops! After walking a few times in front of the scouring eyes of the casting crew I was in, I was handed an itinerary and told to be in New York City the next week. I was walking New York Fashion Week instead of attending my first week of eighth grade like a normal kid, but I couldn’t be happier about it. I knew it would be tough, I’d walked runways before, but nothing had prepared me for this. As soon as I arrived it was go, go, go! My first call time was 6am for a 9am show. Immediately I was grabbed, pushed on a pedestal, and seamstresses ran around poking pins into my garments making final changes.
“SUCK IT IN, STAND TALLER!” Then, I was thrown in a hair and makeup chair where 6 hands poked and prodded and pulled on me, getting me ready in record time. All I was thinking was “Gosh, I could use some coffee!” like I said, not your average middle schooler. Then it was time for a walkthrough. One model steps out with her left foot instead of her right “WRONG, AGAIN!” And again, and again, we walked. As people started to pour in, the excitement hit. I loved the feeling of the walk! 10 minutes later it was over, and I was shooed to my next show, where I did it all again. 4 times a day, for the week. No one cares when you’re eating or sleeping, or if you even are. As long as you’re there, you suck it in and walk right, and pose for the pictures. We’re essentially human clothes hangers.
My friends and I were all horribly sick by the time Fashion week ended. We hadn’t been taking care of ourselves, just working all day everyday. Overworked and exhausted, my job wasn’t done. I went straight from Fashion Week to a show in Boston. One of my model friends ended up in the hospital from exhaustion. It’s not all glamour. It’s long, hard days, constantly on the go, getting shouted at. We are employees there to do a job. Now it’s not all bad, there is a lot of glamour and comradery to it. I met some amazing and empowering women through modeling and Fashion Week specifically. The most memorable moment for me wasn’t on the runway, it was in the train station bathroom on the way home. A little girl recognized me and asked to take a picture together. That made the whole week worth it for me. I would definitely walk Fashion Week again, but I feel it’s my duty to tell the truth. Every beautiful thing has a dark side. Some may say: every rose has its thorns.