MODELING: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly 

Makes me think of the recent interview with lily rose depp where she dramatically downplayed the impact of nepotism on her career. Like being 5’2 and walking for Chanel at 16 is something anyone can achieve 😒

Mina: "I don't know why the '64 show isn't on youtube!" Also Mina: "They paraded with a shotgun and threw pheasant blood on the journalists."

As a cis-man, I don't think I'm your intended audience, but I'm here because I love your in-depth analysis of modern culture.

I was asked to model for a well known boutique in New York some years ago. For context, I’m a Black Latina woman who ranges from sizes 12-14 but I am 5’8” with a more proportional hourglass figure that is deemed as more “palatable” to these sorts of photographers and fashion people. When I got to the shoot, they wanted me to model a range of different items that did not fit well or were outright a size xs and asked me to take off my bra which made everything look unflattering imo. To make matters worse, they paid me in free clothes from their store instead of in real money (which isn’t rare in the fashion world but it’s sad). When I returned to the store to redeem my free items for the shoot I did, they didn’t even carry any clothing items in my size. I say all this to say that a lot of brands like these recognize that using curve models of color for their advertising gives them the appearance of being inclusive and diverse, but they do not know how to style these body types, how to photograph us in a flattering way, and oftentimes they don’t even make/carry clothes that fit the sorts of women who they’re pandering to by using our likeness. It’s almost like they’re using the aesthetic of the plus/curve model to market to thinner women and excluding the very demographic who they’re exploiting to promote their brand. I can’t wait to start my own brand and put all these companies to shame 💁🏾‍♀️✨

I 100% developed my ed because of the impact of the topmodel shows. The whole concept of your life being amazing when you're thin enough was just wild in the late 2000s/early 2010s

i respect the og 90s supermodels (and also a few working today)so much for their work and discipline, i just find it sad that today a lot of the “highest paid models” are just nepotism babies who don’t necessarily have the talent and work ethic of other models who woupd deserve the fame more

Hey Mina! Henry Ford was a US industrialist and founder of Ford Motor Company. Gerald Ford was a president of the US in the 1970s. But Henry Ford was never president. Just figured that was worthy of clearing up.

the modelling industry is so multi faceted and no one is better to discuss it than Mina!

I feel like the reason people respect older models is because a lot of them back then actually had unique walks and seemed to look so gorgeous in a natural and effortless way whereas supermodels now are mostly nepotism babies (think kendall jenner) who live off being mediocre models and don't really have that much of a passion for fashion although there are still some models who are actually distinctive to make things interesting (think bella hadid)

My mom was a "departement store model" and this is actually how she met my dad. My dad was hired to take pictures of the fashion show and he had a suspicious amount of pictures of my mom. Their bosses then hooked them up and they got together

I used to model part-time to make some extra cash for college. The industry brought about self-image issues I didn't even know existed. I hated not looking white, was ashamed of my arms, etc. I eventually stopped modeling and my self-esteem has slowly improved since. Such a cruel world we live in. I feel for all the impressionable young girls out there.

The term “Supermodel” is used too loosely in my opinion. Only after Bella Hadid’s Coperni spray dress did I consider her a supermodel. There has to be a “Wow” moment while the model is modelling for me to consider them super

I’ve said it before but modeling died because the only people who can afford to go into the career nowadays are untalented nepo babies and spoiled rich kids. I see TONS of super talented, gorgeous people who would make amazing models but unless they are plucked from obscurity Cinderella style, there is no way the majority of people can afford to be a part of the industry. (I honestly think the same about acting and most entertainment/news/govt industries etc but I don’t think they are as bad -yet- as modeling has become)

I was obsessed with model Fei Fei Sun for a while. Girl is stunning and a supermodel in my book. I don’t remember ever seeing a Chinese model represented with that kind of caliber. She was the 1st solo Chinese model to grace the cover of Vogue Italia. But I think she’s now semi-retired, and also gave birth in recent years. She’s still very young and can make a comeback. The Asian powerhouse models in the earlier days include Devon Aoki, Kimora Lee Simmons & Yasmeen Ghauri. You are for sure an it-girl Mina!!! No cap!!!

I have to clear up any confusion about the usually correct Mina's statement: Ford did not "introduce" the 8 hour workday. The labor movement fought for years, even paying with their lives, to fight for the 8 hour workday. Ford was just the first industrialist to *implement* it.

As a photographer, I see the most promising side of the industry being influencer marketing. People deride influencers, but the truth is, influencers come in all shapes and sizes, and most of the influencers I've worked with are more or less normally-shaped people who really know their angles. They show off what clothes look like on a variety of bodies, and there's no talent agent breathing down their necks when they gain or lose a few pounds. I don't see editorial/ runway modelling going anywhere positive any time soon, but at least we have an alternative for people who love fashion and love creating fashion content, but don't want to dedicate their whole lives to gyms and dieting.

mina le is one of the most educated youtubers right now. i love her so much

Dude, I was a model in the 90s. That was the weirdest portion of my life. Some of the highlights were acting as a body double for more famous models in ads, and rubbing lotion on my 17 year old thighs for a cellulite cream commercial. Life is.

Tbh I was feeling physically ill when you were quoting what people say is the "it factor". It's capitalism and the patriarchy coming together to form such a toxic environment. I love fashion and fashion history, but the modeling industry is definitely one of the worst parts about it.

The modeling industry is literally hell according to my mom she modeled for five years but quit because after a bit her job became being a pro sttitute for rich celebrity men. its crazy how often it happens in hollywood and politics. If you’re an actress and you aren’t born in a rich family you have to work your way up by selling your body. I wanted to be an actor for so long but, unfortunately had to change my mind.

The model industry is definitely not for the faint of heart. People tell me all the time I should model but there’s a lot of risks and instability that’s revolves around it. Also what I’ve noticed also since Im from NYC It’s really important to have develop an image of yourself on social media you basically have to become an influencer/celeb just to continue having a consistent model career unless (you have a trustworthy agent in your corner ofc) I believe that’s what the tiktok in the beginning was referring to as well.

In French models are still called mannequins (same word also for the object). And it's not seen as dehumanizing at all, it's just the same word applied to two different things if that makes sense.

I think there's a talk to be had about designers' unrealistic expectations of bodies. I have a model friend. She was hired for a fitting. I just want to point out: she's plus size and she has a pretty much perfect body. Like the kind of body that looks like a doll or a mannequin. The garment she was supposed to wear fit her perfectly. The designer walked on her, looked at her like she was a piece of meat, and flat out fired her because he decided her body was not right for his brand. I don't care what y'all think, this will never be fair. and I say this as a designer myself: giving us the power to design our models, instead of just our garments, is a slippery ass slope.

Watching this as a full time model is very interesting, I work with both high end fashion brands and do ecomm/commercial work. You give a good perspective into how an outsider sees the industry and I really enjoyed learning about the history. However, there are some things mentioned that are a bit exaggerated (in reporting or whatnot) or aren’t really true to the job. Models can go into one of those two categories of commercial or high fashion/editorial, but this is not the ideal for an agency to do- the ideal for most models is to do a combination of both kinds of work. The modeling industry has become overpopulated and I guess that does drive down incomes, but there are so many agencies now that cater to more amateur models that don’t make much money/those agencies exist solely to exploit models financially, so it brings those stats down on income. Most models I know are making a pretty good income, those that aren’t are being worked by their agency in pretty exploitative ways (driven into debt, pigeonholed into low paying work, agents just aren’t pushing enough to get their models work) Frankly, nepotism isn’t as big of a threat as its perceived to be from the outside, rather the biggest threat is a newer fresher face that’s more fitting with the times. The industry is always in search of a new fresh face, absolutely unknown, literally every season. Also young girls do not work anymore in western markets.. Every girl is over 18 at least, which is great. I was kind of hoping to hear about 2000s era modeling that really exploited young girls, sometimes coming from poverty and leaving home at very young ages to become providers for their families. This shift to stricter regulations around age is huge. Also, most models are not told to change their appearance drastically, it’s very rare actually, since agents know these girls won’t make much money because they lack range. Instead, most girls are worked to have a range that can be editorial and commercial; a girl that can do both is going to be a money maker. Personality and interests are also massive factor as you mentioned, agencies typically want multi faceted girls with interests/hobbies outside of fashion. Also I was hoping to hear about the current state of modeling and how the idea of exclusivity to brands is still very much a thing and key to a certain kind of career but I realize this is not really public knowledge.. There is truly so much about the industry that is not shared at all so I’m not upset at how it’s portrayed, but it’s way more nuanced than the standards mentioned in this video. I can’t speak to plus size modeling as I don’t know much about it. In terms of bodies agencies can be so scrutinizing from city to city, for example London agents can be really harsh with measurements while Paris agents aren’t as much, and NY agents barely even take measurements. The job has made me aware of so many things I never wanted to know, I’ve become insecure about things I never even realized before, like my height, my proportions, areas of my body I dislike, measurements, muscle tone or lack of, etc.. And I had issues with body image/eating years before I ever began working. I had no idea it could get worse lol:) it’s too much self awareness for a person to experience. Still, I’m grateful for all the creative people I get to work with regularly, I’m meeting new inspiring people all the time, other models are typically great, and I get to travel and see things I otherwise wouldn’t. There are a lot of different kinds of modeling so of course I’m not saying I know everything, just felt like responding, love your videos Mina x

Yasmeen ghuri was an amazing model of the 90's but many say she quit at the height of her career. Tyra Banks even said she had the walk of life. Totally one of my favourite 90's model

Can I just add how plus size models are rarely styled properly as well. The straight size model will be posed with a French tuck and a blouse a size larger to make it baggy but the plus size will be given their actual size and no tucks so they look different (I think worse) than the intended style. Plus sized clothing is often shapeless and then even with it isn’t, they don’t size up for the model to make the blouse look like it should.

I know this is off topic but can we just talk about mina's channel growth ✨. I didn't even realized she reached 1mil subscribers. I remember being one of her first viewers, absolutely captivated by her editing, research, and her fashion looks. Love you sm

If we're considering supermodels for the current generation I would like to mention Adult Akech She is grace and glamour on the runway

I think we need a part two because there's so much else problematic to talk about with modeling! Exploitation of young girls, drug use, low pay and ageism to name a few. I don't know if it's better now but I remember reading about some really wild stuff in the early 2000s-2010s.

as someone who's a teenage girl that's really into high fashion and dreams of being a model, it's so heartbreaking that as much work and effort i may put in, and do put in even now, the chances of me succeeding in the industry are so tiny and even then are dictated by whether a perverted middle aged american man finds me attractive or if an elitist old fashion personality does

I dieted so hard in anticipation of NYFW that I permanently damaged my gut and developed acid reflux (amongst also developing a really unhealthy relationship with food, exercise, and nicotine). I also haven't gotten paid for any of the shows I did for nyfw ... its been 3 months

totally agree with your "it girl" stance. they still very much exist, it's just more difficult to pick them out among the growing number of celebrities and influencers that are popular now

Thank you for bringing up the power of Nepotism and the unfair advantages of accessing the best surgeons and best PR possible to attain a high paying modeling job. There is a reason why Naomi Campbell refuses to call Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner “supermodels”, while also supporting up and coming excellent runway models with the look and presence of Sora Choi and Adut Akech

When you said “so what makes a successful model?” My instant response was “NEPOTISM”

off topic rant: In my country next top model and other model shows are like a family show, everybody is watching and talking about it. The judges are insanely rude to the girls, extremely agist and every season in the first round of auditions they flat out MOCK any girl that doesn't fit outdated American 90s beauty standards even though the show has only Balkan and Mediterranean audiences. Plus if they do pick a girl with like three stretch marks, 2 zits or a visible surgery scar they act like they are true altruists giving chances to the less fortunate. I'm pushing 30 but this can't be healthy for young girls to see.

This video is so informative, thank you ! I don't know if you know Gia Carangi, who is often considered as "the first supermodel", before the 90's era. She should have reach the same level of fame than Cindy Crawford (who came after her and was nicknamed "Baby Gia") but she died of AIDS in 1986. Her story is fascinating on every level. Your video remained me that she is often erased/forgotten in model history, even through her looks continue to inspire models to this day, like Kendall or Kaia Gerber. Btw, you have to know that your content reach every part of the world, I'm french and you're indeniably, my fave youtube creator ! You're truly brillant, keep going shining star 🕊️💫

I never had body image issues until I started modelling at 16, everyone in the industry was so toxic about weight and what to do to lose more weight. I had to stop after 2 years for my mental health

i had no idea that the terrorist attacks happened on the same day of NYFW. i just looked up an article that talked all about it and everyone’s testimonies from that day. it sounds horrible. it’d be interesting if you could make a full video on that topic and how the events that happened that day changed the course of the fashion industry. i know you briefly touched on it in this video but i’d love to hear you talk about some of the stories and just how deep this really went. great video as always!

3:56 A bit of historical context for “mannequin”: King Louis XIV, arguably one of the most fashionable men & monarchs in Western history, was the driving force behind making fashion one of the primary, if not the premier industries of France because he realized that fashion can be a form of propaganda. Kinda wild to think of fashion that way for us nowadays but it makes sense. Louis XIV knew that courtiers across Europe looked to other courts on the continent yo help dictate what their own kingdom’s/empire’s court dress should be so they could be seen as their own independent governing power. So to compete with Spain & ESPECIALLY England given their long contentious history, Louis effectively tied a good chunk of the national economy to raw material cultivation, textile fabrication, garment making (hello, beginnings of today’s haute couture!!), etc., so they could readily export all these products he would make be seen as valuable and drive up demand for by establishing a very highly aesthetic, super detailed (if not stringent) court dress to set France apart so when courtiers of other nations came to French court, they would have to get French clothing and then they’d take those clothes back home with them. So with the fashion industry developing as quickly as it did in France, they needed to have people wear the clothes for fittings when the courtiers were out of country and to have illustrations, which were paper/art propaganda pushing the sartorial propaganda, made that could be kept in historical records and sent off to the rest of Europe. And those people were called “les mannequins,” from which also comes the name we know as the inanimate objects we see in stores today, as well as the French word for “model(s)!” So shout out to politics & King Louis XIV wanting to be a gilded peacock🥳

I've always wanted to be a model since my mom was a fashion designer and used to model her creations with her friends (they weren't shows huge we literally live in the countryside lol)+ she also wanted me to become one, so it became what I usually daydream of or fantasize about. Watching this felt like Mina was speaking about something very fond for me, even though I don't really have any experience in the industry.

I just want to take a minute to appreciate that you actually type out the closed captioning for the entire video so that it's accurate. So few creators take the time to do that but it makes a huge difference to those who need it

This video serendipitously came out a couple hours after a modeling agency asked to interview me. I’m excited but now warned lol

34:21 this made me think of that blonde model who went on tv and compared having blonde hair to racism in the industry 🤦🏾‍♀️

I did some very low-level/local modeling as a pre-teen, which included classes from my local agency. I was given "advice" like "don't make too many facial expressions, they'll be wrinkles some day" and "don't do activities that could result in getting a bruise bc then you won't get hired." As a child, it's very hard to hear (essentially) "don't have fun or be a kid!" The industry is also super predatory for children - telling them they're "in" but then requiring parents to pay thousands for comp cards, suggesting you go on "casting cruises" put on by large bookers, etc. They know you're not going to be a professional model, but you're a source of revenue as much as you generate it.

It is so interesting because whenever I watch the 1939 Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, and Joan Fontaine movie, "The Women," I kinda get a glimpse of what modeling was like back then long before the 60s and even way before the supermodel era. The industry is definitely very complex

My grandmother was a fur model for a department store in the Midwest (I assume in the 30s or early 40s prior to her marriage but I’m not sure). She also did window dressing for them, so that certainly suggests the pay for modeling alone was not great. I do have a newspaper ad for the store, featuring her. I wish I’d been able to ask her more about it. Also once early in my acting career I was working for an “acting and modeling” agency and they sent me on a runway call for a small designer. I am 5’3”😅 When I got to the building I rode the elevator with a bunch of Amazons who were like, “what brings you here, Earthling?” And I was like, “A mistake, clearly.” Fortunately the designer was very very nice and even had me try on a dress and walk. At least it fit me! Obviously did not get the job though.

I love that video by julia fox saying that there are no short brown models in the industry and i was like yes queen say it!! I have this fantasy of being a runway model but I''m sooooo short lol I walk down the streets pretending I'm a model idc 😭

Do a video about the latest nepo baby pretending it's ONLY hardwork and denying privilege : Lily rose depp. Top Model Vittoria Ceretti called out the unawareness and deniability around privilege that so many of the nepo babies have and now an insane amount of models are backing her up and telling their stories!!! Diet Prada made a post about this and even industry big names like Naomi Campbell were agreeing with the sentiments of frustration Vittoria expressed. Love your videos btw!

This video has brought to my mind yet another vlog topic I don’t have time to try and tackle but the weird intersection of amateur online Modeling, sex work(no shade) and Cosplay that lowkey made the cosplay community so much more toxic and competitive than before you could ever dream of making money doing it. Really was not something the community needed but the format and all the expectations were straight up pulled from the modeling industry. The way it feels pressure to be a certain type of unrealistic anime girl body type if you’re gonna bother posting Cosplay pics online. I’m hoping to start my vlogging arc next year so maybe I’ll be able to get to this one!

Hey Mina, just wanted to make a couple of corrections. While Worth is credited with creating the first fashion show, it was actually the designer Lucille Duff-Gordon who began original "fashion parades" inside her home. Worth was just the first one to publicize the idea, so he ended up getting the credit for it. Also, Henry Ford was never president. You're thinking of Gerald Ford. :)

I would like to thank Heidi Klum because I remember watching ‘Project Runway’ with my mom. She was and is such a lovely host.

I always found it interesting the perceived higher value of editorial modeling vs commercial modeling. I signed to a model agency last year and was SHOCKED at how much more money there is in commercial modeling vs editorial modeling. I was asked if I wanted to take part in an editorial for Vogue Germany and it would have been completely unpaid for 2 days worth of shooting. I hear from friends that walking runway shows pay almost nothing or they pay you in clothes.

2 of the most iconic Period Piece Fashion Show moments were in ‘Downton Abbey’ and ‘Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries’.

I am a tall ginger guy who gets “scouted” for modeling quite a bit but never once thought to do it because I know how much it will fuck me up. Toxic world

just as i was getting into content about the supermodel era this comes out. amazing as always

Mina Le & Mila Tequila are our generation's most important historians.

I love how you always go into the history! That was very interesting to listen to how the modeling industry began - and even in the 1800's a model needed to be tall & thin. Since I was 13, people told me I should model so I took a stab at it in my late 20's after losing some weight (Which was inspired by Fashion TV and ANTM). I was hungry to learn posing, the walk, and make new connections, but the agency I signed up for made us do a 6 month class. We did start to get work and I realized that I wasn't well-suited for fashion as most models get started in their teens. It's actually a compliment, because as you mentioned, runway models are meant to look more edgy, almost alien whereas commercial models are more like the hot girls. Even for some local fashion jobs my hips were considered to be "too big" at 36", which still looked small on my 5"9" frame. My agent said I should do commercial work since I had the look and measurements. The issue was I couldn't book days off from work to do these commercial fashion gigs - my partner at the time tolerated my modeling, but he didn't want me quitting my job to do it. I switched to another agency and the agents there were far more serious and realistic - they said I had the most potential in the catalogue industry and she gave me a tangible plan to get me to Montreal and possibly even to NY fashion week! By that point I had lost my enthusiasm for the industry and realized I didn't really have the personality for modeling as much of it is being personable to network with people in the industry. As a final attempt, I tried hair modeling and realized that many of the stylists want you to sleep with them and party with them to get more jobs. I met a stylist who wanted to work with me independently and said he could get me a lot of work. By that point I was 29 - very different from the girl I was at 27 - and I realized I didn't really want to do it. That said, I'm so glad I tried modeling, and it was a great experience for my life's story. :)

absolutely captivated by her editing, research, and her fashion looks. Love you sm

I feel like we had another supermodel bloom at the height of the Victoria's Secret days. I'm really curious to know your insights as someone signed with IMG, being a shorter model and how that affects the way you're perceived. Great video as always.

I'm surprised you didn't talk about "America's Next Top Model". It's interesting how popular that show was, but nowadays Tyra Banks gets cancelled repeatedly when people talk about how harmful the show was to the models. The crossover episode they did with 'Rupaul's Drag Race' made me feel like they needed to use the show to help them stay afloat since RDR was and still is a hit. Andre Leon Talley and others were on the show too and it was interesting having that, and then also having celebrities like Nikki Minaj. (Miss J is still the best 💛)

Oh my freakin gosh. You go SOOOOO DEEP. I got so excited clicking this video because I knew there was so much I did not know at all

the way that you speak and script your videos makes it so easy to remember all this amazing information.i learn more from you than i do from my teachers.you are so incredible,my favourite youtuber forever and always.thank you a million mina

i was discussing this with a friend the other day and thought about how much i wanted you to make a video on it.... dreams do come true

Mina I love the way you break this down with so much insight and confidence. It’s people like you who will bring in the new era of defining fashion and the industry ❤

Sitting down to edit a ton of photos and Mina has dropped a new video? My day is made

Great video! As someone who’s trying to break into the entertainment industry I find it extremely over whelming how superficial most people are. It’s extremely hard to break in but I guess it just requires hard work, dedication and perseverance

I love ur content! honestly it would 100% fit in a podcast format

I'm a part-time model from extremely humble background and, to be quite honest, I am happy that nepotism is more prevalent than ever. People in the media industries are mistreated to such an alarming degree that having that safety net of money and connections does a world of good for the well-being of these individuals. I understand how from the outside looking in it can look like the decline of an industry but if humble talent comes at such a devastating price, is it really worth it? Designers used to prefer their models as impressionable as possible, taking hopefuls who didn't speak enough of the language to know they were being taken advantage of, overworking them and malnourishing them to the point of fainting on runways and resorting to hard drugs to stop their body responding to this torture in a natural way. The guy who was recommending a Nutritionist, Dietician, Personal Trainer, etc- the vast majority cannot afford that . These problems are still prevalent but to a much lesser degree and I don't think this is a terrible thing. As a rule of thumb, before entering any industry (media especially), you have to be certain that they need you more than you need them or you will absolutely be taken advantage of in one way or another.

learning the history of modeling and why the standards are the way they are is interesting because i grew up watching ANTM and that show literally teaches and perpetuates the standards of the industry

i always learned a lot when i watch mina's videos !

omggg new mina lee post made my dayy thank you!!

I think you gained a lot of traction for your history research aspect in your videos and I loved seeing it so prominently in this new vid now :)))

I’ve been a “mid-sized” model for three years now and it’s not easy for anyone in any body in this industry. Having your worth and pay be determined by whether or not clothes fit you and how good you look in photos is extremely damaging. Even when I was modeling for mid sized pieces they were also always way too big or way too small and every shoot I’d have someone tell me I either should lose or gain weight it’s so exhausting.

As always, very well researched and presented. I am so glad you create videos that are entertaining and informative instead of showing endless days of making lemon water/green juice/avocado toast and doing your workout routine.

genuinely get so excited to see a new vid essay

You make even the presentation of the sponsor exciting to watch, so imagine that!! Brilliant Mina!!

I feel like something in modeling that really needs to change is the height requirements. 5ft9 is much taller than the average woman. Also, the same weight/proportions looks very different on different heights, so having only super tall models just makes the thin proportions look even more extreme, creating impossible standards for shorter women to conform too. If the clothing is good, then it should look good regardless so the body type of the model. Quality brands should have models of all sizes and heights.

I love how much research you do. Not only was this v entertaining, but I don't know that I would ever learn about the history attached to fashion were it not for your vids.

Yessss she’s back with another iconic video

I really like your editing in this video, it's been evolving really well over the course of your recent videos!!!

I'd say the pressure to be a certain size is the worst this is why a lot of models develop eating disorders back in the day models could get away with being a size 6 even a 8 now the standard is a size 2 or smaller

my friends and I were talking about what we like to watch on RU-vid and I said video essays then had to explain what it was. My best friend chimed in with “oh yeah- you like to watch that girl with the tiny eyebrows” She’s definitely seen me watch you a handful of times XD Love your content so much thank you for sharing it with us

my favorite youtuber once again strikingggg ❤

Just a sidenote, could we stop spreading the popular myth that Henry Ford introduced the 8h work week. He didn’t. Unions did so and fought hard for it in 1884. Ford adapted and made it more accepted decades later - but we have to thank unions for it, not Ford.

The reality of plus size being size 10-14 is a slap in the face of the plus size customer.

Brilliant essay as always. Bravo!

it's crazy to see how much you have grown! I subscribed at like 30k and now you're past 1 mil. That's crazy

I spent my entire work day on my feet steaming clothes for a photoshoot the brand I work for is having tomorrow and after an hour and a half of traffic hell I was thrilled to see a new Mina video waiting for me. As someone who has been involved in the garment industry since I was a little kid (my mom is a clothing designer so I spent a lot of my childhood running around trade shows and helping out at photoshoots) it's always been so strange to see this glamorized image of what people think models do, vs the reality of it. It's insanely competitive, can be very toxic depending on the environment, and of course there's a ton of racism present as well. That's not to say there aren't any good parts because a lot of models do genuinely enjoy their work, but I really liked how Mina summed it up in this video. It's getting really difficult to make enough to support yourself even if you're just getting into low level catalog type stuff vs high fashion. It's not what it once was, and with the rise of influencers and so many nepotism babies around, it's only going to get worse. But anyway that's just me rambling. Ty for the video Mina!! Super interesting, loved it as always

I always wonder about how wild the specific model/fashion competition reality show there were in the 00's-10's like ANTM and all the international versions, Make me a supermodel, America's Most Smartest model, She's got the look, the agency, the shot, project runway. I'm not going to lie I loved this genre

This was so well done So many aspects of the industry nicely interwoven The intersections of economics of control supply The luxery that houses don't need to deal with human bodies This is something that feels familiar to people working in other markets This was fascinating! Thanks

You are amazing girl! I just watch your videos no matter the subject lol. 💞

Correct me if I’m wrong, but Henry Ford was the founder of Ford Motor Company. His great-grandson would later become president of the US.

Ashley Mears is actually a former model herself, so it's interesting that she went into researching the modeling field. I've read some of her research about this particular 'look' in the editorial fashion modeling field, where she explains why models look a certain way. It all boils down to industry conventions, based on the ideal look of aristocratic sexual unavailability - which is a mold only extremely thin and white, young women fit into. And nobody in the field has an incentive to change this, so things just stay the way they are.

This is fascinating and really well made, incredible journalistic work 💥

AAAHHHHH Ashley Mears was my sociology professor!!! she was one of the best professors I ever had and ignited my love for sociology. I love that you mentioned her!!

I keep coming back to your videos even though I am not a fashion fan but indeed a thrifter and love hand-me-downs. . The reason I come back is your thoughtfulness, delivery, and your cool factor. . Thanks for being here. xoxoxox from South Carolina, USA . . . . . . .

If people want an interesting movie about the dark reality of the modelling industry, check out the Bollywood movie 'Fashion' starring Priyanka Chopra. It follows the journey and trials and tribulations of a model from when she is an ingenue to being a veteran.

Hi Mina, thank you for sharing the whole background of modeling history with such clarity. I have been modeling for five years now (I am 25), for freelancing gigs. I am not very tall (165 cm) and I mostly work for independent projects and exhibitions. I truly believe that social media is getting modeling much easier to reach, therefore it's a saturated path: as you said, high fashion brands prefer to work with celebrities, while the rest of the gigs are superficial and short term. Unfortunately, if a girl is seriously interested in getting a modeling career in the runaway shows, there are a few well-known agencies which work for prestigious clients (such as Elite models). The rest of the agencies might work or not, depending on its popularity, location, the agents, etc... although they may offer just a few gigs once in a while. My best advice is taking it as an experience, and understanding what path works best for you (commercial, runway, editorials, Playboy...). However, don't expect to become rich by modeling only, especially if you are trying to break out in the fashion industry: the payments are low related to the cost of living that a model should follow (eating quality food, beauty regimes etc...). Additionally, it could be physically and emotionally hard sometimes due to the strict body and beauty standards. Besides that, modeling can be a beautiful life experience if you get into your inner circle!

I enjoy so much your videos, it helps me to know many things about many different topics by a fun and light video.

I was just googling a few weeks back what happened to the supermodel- and just like that, you bless us all.