Welcome to a New Series on Modeltypeface: What We Did Next

Hello everyone! I’ve kept Modeltypeface ticking along through a very difficult and busy period, but I don’t think I’ve really had enough input from my wide range of amazing pals. I’ve always enjoyed doing and writing up interviews the most, and that’s really been lacking in 2017.

I suppose this series came from quite a personal place. Where, over the last three years, modelling has taken a backseat to pursuing writing work, the opposite happened this year. I just didn’t have time to truly concetrate and put my back into finding new clients, pitching and research work because modelling exploded and emotional events happened that took away my focus.

It means I’ve got to Christmas happy that I’ve survived, with a less disconcerting bank balance but with that inching fear & anxiety that my future is uncertain and scary.

This makes me look around at all the brave, hardworking model pals who are excelling in their chosen fields and makes me….Hm. Impressed, inspired, but also baffled at how they made that jump and a tad envious that they did.

My experience with feelings of anxiety and inferiority have taught me to deal with them twofold. Firstly: ask questions! Research! Find out how they did it! There isn’t a great secret, it’s often a case of getting stuck in, and the more you learn the less mystifying it becomes. Like cooking! Then it’s a matter of looking at yourself and your own strengths. It’s so easy to belittle ourselves and sometimes I find pretending to observe my own achievements through someone else’s (complimentary) eyes really helps.

To start with, I’m actually going to mock interview myself, then it’s gleaning info from pals across the globe.

I would LOVE to hear from you if you’re a model who’s getting into – or established in – a different job. Comment below, contact me on Facebook or Instagram or Twitter or email [email protected]. Thank you! xx

How I Got Into Writing

How – and why – did I get into writing?

I always loved writing at school, then at University. And I’m never without a book on the go. But before I started pursuing it, my attentions were focused on writing pithy Facebook statuses, getting invoved in disputes on Twitter and spellchecking my writer friends’ drafts. Whenever the agency I was with at the time were asked for quotes or interviews from press, it was me they asked to formulate replies. But I didn’t have the confidence or knowhow to pursue it.

I was then at First, and Gareth, the owner, was approached by The Sabotage Times, who were looking after Topman Magazine. They wanted a model columnist on ‘How To Date a Model’ and I was sent on a meeting to get the job.

Cheekily I went, knowing that I would be leaving the agency that day over pay disputes (i.e. not getting paid on time. Ever). The person I met at The Sabotage Times wanted to use me but, for some reason, it all went totally silent. I emailed and emailed and got no reply. Eventually, I contacted the guy I’d met at the office on Facebook and he replied, informing me that Gareth had told him that we were no longer working together and did they want someone else, plus this chap had left Sabotage Times anyway.

I was totally disheartened as I’d been really excited about it. However Theo’s (ex-bf) Mum told me I should contact The Sabotage Times myself, I did, and they hadn’t found anyone, so I pitched again. I sent my copy and it wasn’t right for the column. So I wrote another one that day and he loved it! And this is when it all started for me. Even though I was paid £25 – yep, £25 – I was thrilled to see my words published for such an enormous brand and it certainly got me started with a bit of gravitas. That column ran for well over a year, later being unceremoniously dropped with a new editor came in. It was certainly a fantastic step-up.

Why did Modeltypeface Come About?

My booker, Igor, had told me that I should start a blog and then get paid loads to advertise brands on it. Bookers are always coming out with this sort of stuff like ‘grow your Instagram‘ and ‘learn English‘, as if it’s super easy, but he did strike a chord. I had wanted to start a blog for a while, but felt that so many were doing beauty blogs I should try something a bit different. Whilst jogging I happened upon the concept of Modeltypeface, as so many new faces asked me for advice I thought I’d put it all in one place.

I thought I would instantly have lots of followers and get lots of money doing sponsored posts, which hasn’t been the case. That said, I truly love it, I put my heart into it and I think that not only does this show, but it has led to opportunities with integrity.

What have been career highs?

Though I haven’t bought a house off the back of this blog, it has led to great experiences such as appearing on the BBC and on Sky News, and placed me as a spokesperson for models who tell me I speak about it in a real way.

And what about lows and regrets?

I regret not starting a blog earlier. True fact: I was going to start a blog giving skincare advice for models, but then Ruth Crilly started one and I didn’t want to step on any toes. I wish I’d done it earlier and this is a big tip (that I need to follow myself): if you think it and want it, do it. Don’t wait! Ruth Crilly is one of the most successful bloggers in the world (with good reason: she’s a great writer and I always buy products after reading her reviews), and when she started, the market was far less saturated.

I’d say lows is just when I’m unispired and reluctant to create content for MTF. I don’t have a boss or a salary and it’s hard to self-motivate, but I’ve learned to stop forcing it.

What advice to those who want to get into writing?

It’s not well-paid, though for me it’s freelance and fits in well with modelling. If modelling stopped then I wouldn’t be able to be a full-time writer. A lot of work is for free, sadly.

But the best advice from my experience is to try and have a tidy work area, and set yourself goals: time and content, or else it will fizzle. I think, for me, it has fizzled a tiny bit this year because (as I explained before) I lost focus and drive and, without structure, my output reduced.

Luckily, I have worked so hard and persistently over the last five years that my contacts are pretty established and I still get articles come my way. I can’t rest on my laurels any more, though.

In order to get into well-respected titles, you have some great contacts from modelling if you nurture them! Otherwise have a look at their Twitter profiles: there are addresses at the top to email in order to pitch.

Do writing and modelling work together?

Yes. It’s great that clients google me and I have an online presence that stands for something, which is a factor brands take into consideration these days.

However there are clashes. Sometimes I have to be up til 1am editing a piece of work but dealing with a 5am call time for a shoot the next day looming over me. It’s sometimes hard to push modelling or writing when the other is taking over and I can feel really stressed trying to balance them.

There are also choices you have to make. I turned down a 2k eyewear campaign in Paris in order to go to New York for an ES fitness review, which was unpaid. I thought it was unprofessional to drop out of the press trip last minute, and honestly there are no regrets. This example does illustrate the proven fact that modelling operates on a strict ‘sod’s law’ basis. Book a trip/holiday/work event, and you will get an incredible casting/job/opportunity. It’s tough, but overall it’s pretty rewarding at moments like when a review in ES or Wallpaper* comes out at the same time as my Fat Face pictures.

What are the aims for next year…

I need to be organised. I need to be fearless and write down my aims, then go for them. And definitely more interviews!

Rebecca x

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