How to be a (pseudo) Supermodel
| Posted Oct 9th 2007 10:09PM by Sarah J. Gim
Filed under: Style in the media
This week, I was cruising the Internet as I usually do and found myself reading an article on Forbes. For two reasons, the article fascinated me. One, the article is titled "How to be a Supermodel." Apparently, there is a formula for being a Supermodel. Two, and even more curious is that not only did this article about modeling appear on Forbes, but I had to wonder, "Really? Will someone read this, print it out, and use this as a manual?"
Obviously, we know the answer to that last question. Forbes didn't publish the article because they honestly believe some young girl will come across it and get straight to work on becoming a Supermodel. It's really just a subtly snarky statement about Supermodels, and I have to admit, I love it.
The article and the ten "steps" got me to thinking, and so instead of just giving you the lowdown on how to be a supermodel, your very own Styledash Sarah J. Gim has decided to take Forbes' little nuggets of advice intended for 14-year-old girls who might be "discovered" grinding into a Big Mac at a McDonald's in eastern Europe and turn them into some real advice for real people.
1. Forbes says: "Stop eating. Grow." Sarah says: Being 5'9" and weighing 110 lbs is unnatural. Instead, "dress to stretch." Wear all black in shapes that flatter your figure, and don't ever forget the magic of a 4" stiletto heel in the same color as your hemline, which should be, of course, black.
2. Forbes says: "Be photogenic." Sarah says: Digital cameras are your friend because you can take a bazillion pictures and not waste anything but your time. Take a bazillion pictures of yourself from every angle in a multitude of poses. Determine what makes you look best, etch that pose in your memory, and strike it every time someone aims a camera at you. Some things that work universally are: 1) sticking one leg in front of the other to lengthen your legs, 2) turning about a quarter so that you're not head on, 3) dipping your head down a tiny bit also creates angles on your face with shadows, and makes your eyes look bigger because you're looking slightly upward.
3. Forbes says: "Get signed. Move to a big city like New York ... " Sarah says: If you already live in a big city like New York, then you're all set. If you don't, make a tradition of going on an annual shopping trip to New York. Even if you spend $10,000 on clothes and shoes, it's still much cheaper than living there.
4. Forbes says: "Be quiet. Models don't say much of anything ... " Sarah says: Always speak your mind, but be a lady about it. Even the harshest of sentiments can be delivered in a nice way.
5. Forbes says: "Don't party. Don't be a diva." Sarah says: When you party, party like a diva.
6. Forbes says: "Befriend powerful people." Sarah says: Befriend people who make you laugh and smile. Laughing burns calories, which will help you with #1, and smiling makes everyone look good.
7. Forbes says: "Date celebrities." Sarah says: This is dumb advice. I have no other comment.
8. Forbes says: "Expand your brand." Sarah says: Forget about "brands" in every aspect of your life. The generic store brand of laundry detergent is just as good as Tide, and you can look fabulous in anything from the International GO collection at Target if you put yourself together well.
9. Forbes says: "Now you can talk." Sarah says: Watch talk shows with supermodels. Listening to all those miserable stories of other people will make you realize how great your own life is.
10. Forbes says: "Don't gain weight. Ever." Sarah says: Forbes' spell checker must have made a mistake. This should read: "Don't wait. Gain everything you want in life by working hard, spending time with your friends and loving your family."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-14-2007 @ 2:14PM
brandi said...
LOL i like the stuff this sarah girl is saying, not the forbes guy
Reply
10-14-2007 @ 3:38PM
annab said...
great! maybe some young impressionable teen will read this and die from anorexia some day. forbes should fire whoever wrote that article.
Reply
10-14-2007 @ 3:52PM
sarah junior said...
SARAH YOUR RIGHT ON THE MONEY HONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply
10-14-2007 @ 3:55PM
what? said...
WHO THE HECK BUYS FORBES MAGAZINE ANYWAY??????????? I AM IN MY 50'S NEVER HAVE, NEVER WILL AND I DON'T KNOW ANYONE WHO DOES. IS THIS FOR THE HOLLYWOOD ELITE? NO ONE TALKS OF THIS MAGAZINE IN THE TEEAGE SET THAT I KNOW AND I HAVE TEEANGERS!
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10-14-2007 @ 3:59PM
jay said...
oh wow. kelly ripa, the wannabe supermodel, certainly fits most of the guidelines for the supermodel.
she certainly has the straight boyish figure with bony legs. but that look is now obsolete.
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10-14-2007 @ 4:00PM
BBB said...
Good going Sarah, you obviously have a good self image, and that is the main key to beauty.
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10-14-2007 @ 4:16PM
Terri said...
Modeling isn't even about looking good anymore...it's about being skinny....there are plenty of models that aren't even attractive...they
just perhaps *fit* the garment....I have seen far prettier women with
more shapely figures that I wish people would use for role *models*
Reply
10-14-2007 @ 4:33PM
Jamie said...
To the people taking it seriously: the writer of this article even acknowledges "Forbes didn't publish the article because they honestly believe some young girl will come across it and get straight to work on becoming a Supermodel. It's really just a subtly snarky statement about Supermodels, and I have to admit, I love it. "
Forbes was not seriously telling young girls to not eat. That's ridiculous.
And modeling is not always just about being skinny. Look at Tyra herself, she's not stick thin by any means but still beautiful and a great model.
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10-14-2007 @ 5:04PM
Michelle Berry said...
I m a retired model and now teach programs in personal development, image and yes...the dreaded modeling.
However, Forbes is WAYYYYYY off. It's ridiculous! Reading this trash I was both amused and appalled. Our society needs to change its idea of what is "beautiful". Everything in print (and film) is airbrushed and thinnified to death. No one has a sense of what's real anymore. I am trying to do my part and change this. I'm teaching my students to be healthy...that always comes first...always. Sarah is correct in every sense.
Modeling can be taught. It's that simple. What we Perceive to be modeling is simply a combination of grace, walk (visual poise), fashion and grooming basics, posture and etiquette. If you photograph well and are tall (5'8 or taller)...you are usually marketable for runway and print.
What’s this? To be a model you must not SAY anything? Excuse me while I get up off the floor from laughing. Again, Sarah is right on the money! Intelligence IS a beautiful thing and looks good on anyone! Let's just keep perpetuating the "dumb bimbo" idea, shall we?
Actually I'm thankful for idiotic garbage like this...because it give us all a chance to debunk the old outdated views and start a much needed dialogue. We need to bring this topic out in the open (for the sake of our daughters) and bring ourselves into the 21st century. The vision of beauty is ever changing (as it should be), and comes in many sizes and colors.
SHAME ON YOU FORBES. This is Irresponsible journalism. Tisk Tisk.
M. Berry - Instructor
West Coast Division for Image Developement and Modeling
Reply
10-14-2007 @ 6:19PM
Lisa said...
Sarah, you are fabulous! You took an article from forbes that was negative and depressing, and explained contrary to the article in positive ways. They should retract that article for the public in their magazine and do it all over again. Who publishes that mag anyway? He better watch it, some little girl is going to get hurt over reading that mag and there starts lawsuits.
Reply
10-14-2007 @ 9:50PM
Jamie said...
To the people taking it seriously: the writer of this
article even
acknowledges "Forbes didn't publish the article because they honestly
believe some young girl will come across it and get straight to work
on becoming a Supermodel. It's really just a subtly snarky statement
about Supermodels, and I have to admit, I love it. "Forbes was not
seriously telling young girls to not eat. That's ridiculous. And
modeling is not always just about being skinny. Look at Tyra herself,
she's not stick thin by any means but still beautiful and a great
model.
Reply
10-15-2007 @ 12:55PM
emily said...
honestly omg.. the author of the forbes says part is terrible. some people do take things too literally. what forbes is trying to say.. if your a model you are just that.. A MODEL. they dont want you to breathe, eat or act any differently .. its disgusting
Reply
10-15-2007 @ 2:04PM
Gina said...
Looking for the young 13 yr. old that contacted me. You know, anorexia once it gets you; it will just be there in your head for the rest of your life. I didn't mean that I was cured. And didn't mean to sound holier than thou. It just means you must have will power and struggle along. It may not be fun. But hey! I would like to live longer than they predicted. and you too. feisty7780@aim.com
Gina
Reply
10-15-2007 @ 2:07PM
Gina said...
This is kind of media that makes me cringe. Been anorexic since the age of 15. I don't want to tell the young girls my age. They may think they can be invincible. No, I didn't die from a heart attack. but had plenty of heart scans that were irregular. and I have osteo, bones are very brittle. and Arthritis too. Currently wearing my foot boot again. AVG. broken bone once a yr. I would not say this if it weren't true. Been asked to speak at HS's. Don't like the 15 lbs, I have gained. But as gruesome as it seems; I had rather be alive. Anyone that wants to talk to me. Write feisty7780@aim.com.
Reply