A Very Special Modeltypeface Bookclub: The Model Manifesto by Leanne Maskell
I’m always sharing books that inspire me in different ways, whether they load me up with information I’d never encountered before, or take me on journeys I didn’t know I needed to go on. This week, I’m proud to introduce to you friend of MTF Leanne Maskell’s debut book, The Model Manifesto.
I saw Leanne go through the process of writing this book first hand. She created the first draft in Australia, and showed me a fairly thin manuscript taking the reader through the A-Z of need-to-know modelling tips. When she settled back here in the UK, Leanne had a lot of energy (like…A LOT), most of which she channeled into elaborating on the manuscript, night and day. She became teeny tiny, wasn’t eating properly and often referred, wild-eyed, to ‘The Book’. It was very clear that writing this was a form of therapy for Leanne; a difficult but ultimately cathartic experience for her.
Blood, sweat, tears. She plugged away at it, got Rankin to shoot the cover, sorted out the publishing and proof read over and over again until the 11th hour. And here we have it! The Model Manifesto.
What’s in the Model Manifesto?
This book is such a comprehensive guide to modelling. It’s brilliant for newbies, of course, but also those who are established as many of us are still pretty woolly in our knowledge around finance, law and rights.
In comparison to most modelling guides you can buy, which come from a ‘you’d be lucky to join this club, and here are the rules of how to be acceptable’ sort of place, this book definitely comes from an angrier standpoint. I’ve seen Leanne fall out of love with the modelling industry as a whole (unless she’s on the beach in Australia, with barely any make up, shooting for friends) and she doesn’t pull any punches, talking about unsafe working conditions and lack of transparency with accounting. But frankly, I think that’s a great well of knowledge to have access to as a New Face. I definitely remember starting and thinking, ‘Wow! Look at all these fun people who think I’m great!’ and gradually realising that I was scared to ask about accounting in case they didn’t think I was ‘great’ any more, and kept being messed around with weekday shoots while I was at school. This book would have equipped me better to deal with those situations at that time.
So this isn’t so much a ‘how to pose to make your waist look small’, as it is a ‘how to say no on a shoot’, and ‘how to chase your money’, which are absolutely one of the most important things to know for a model!
The book goes in so deep, in such a factual way, so information on taxes and visas nestles among social media, posing, catwalk and beauty tips. All brilliant for anyone who wants to really feel armed and ready to feel strong and businesslike as a model, rather than coolly floating around and being lucky as we like to pretend we are!
Well done Leanne, this was a huge experience for you and you should be mega, mega proud of yourself for creating this book!
You can pre-order on Amazon now, by clicking here!
Rebecca x
If you enjoyed this, you may also like…
