<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Last week’s Sunday Styles section of the NYTimes was plastered with the well-defined cheek bones of Carla Bruni, described in the article as a “man trap, serial heart-wrecker, rocker arm candy, photogenic cipher, arrogant heiress, polling gimmick \u2013 the woman who appears likely to become the first lady of France.” \u00a0 She is also a former model, and the article went on to ask if a woman who had worked as a model and had been romantically linked to Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton could fill the shoes of first lady? <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I asked “Why not?”<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And the article answered. \u00a0 “Because model is so often used as a synonym for moron.” <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Later in the article, the editor of Flaunt Magazine announced, “A has-been or a junkie would have been much easier for people to accept. \u00a0 It’s not a matter of whether ex-model is a career parth for a first lady.\u00a0 It’s that nobody can stand a person who has it all.” <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This made my head spin. \u00a0 Was it seriously a matter of discussion whether or not someone could be “first lady” (um, hardly a career) just because they had the aforementioned well-defined cheek bones and other well-defined things, and had worked as a model? \u00a0 Was it enough of a discussion to be on the front page of a section of the NYTimes?\u00a0 Is it true junkies get more respect than models? <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This made me think back to my short\u00a0go at modeling in college. \u00a0 It started because someone stopped me on the street near Washington Square and asked me to be in an AT&T ad. \u00a0 On the shoot, my inner ham came out, and, despite\u00a0previous feminist rejections of anything model-related, \u00a0I got hooked on the idea of easy money for textbooks, the idea of another creative outlet, and the possibility of meeting characters and having adventures. \u00a0 It was a simpler time, before “America’s Next Top Model,” and my roommate took pictures of me and helped me send them out to a few agencies. <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n My first agent told me not to let on at castings that I was a student at NYU. \u00a0 “No clients want to think you’re smarter than them,” he said, promptly asking to see me with my hair down for polaroids. \u00a0 This was the first sign of the complex world I was entering. <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I met plenty of models, male and female, on castings and shoots and, surprise!, they were a varied group, just like most groups. \u00a0 There were plenty of educated and creative individuals. \u00a0 <\/span>I became friends with a published writer\/model and aspiring doctor\/model. \u00a0 Most I met were adventurous people who wanted to grab a shot at more adventure while pursuing other things. \u00a0 Most I met hustled for castings, but approached actual jobs with the same reluctance that one would a 9-5. \u00a0 These weren’t the select few, mind you, who were swept out of Brazil or Siberia at 14 to prowl catwalks. \u00a0 These were creative types who liked the job for the flexible schedule and big paychecks, and were willing to work it from audition to audition, like any struggling actor in New York. \u00a0 <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n While its true, the job “model” doesn’t call for the same type of brain power and hand-eye coordination as “surgeon,” that doesn’t mean models aren’t smart people. It doesn’t even mean they’re beautiful….maybe just photogenic, or symmetrical, or weird looking, or possessing some trait that will “sell.” \u00a0 Fashion, beauty, and marketing are all very different things.\u00a0 But I’m convinced any model who actually “makes it” without the fairy-tale, “a scout discovered me at the potato stand in the motherland” story IS smart: \u00a0 business-smart, people-smart.\u00a0 And…has Tyra taught us nothing?\u00a0 Its not easy to get out of your own way enough to portray what is being asked of you, in a print ad, TV spot or runway show. <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As for ol’ Carla Bruni, I don’t know her. \u00a0 But I bet she’s got as good of a shot at being qualified for the role of first lady as our own: \u00a0 ex-librarian Mrs Bush.\u00a0 Or ex-photographer Jackie O. \u00a0 Mrs Ford was a former model\/modern dancer.\u00a0 Mrs. Nixon once made money working as an extra in movies, before becoming a school teacher. \u00a0 <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Because you can’t judge a book by its cover. \u00a0 Even if Carla Bruni’s face is on it, or it was written by someone at the New York Times. <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Last week’s Sunday Styles section of the NYTimes was plastered with the well-defined cheek bones of Carla Bruni, described in the article as a “man trap, serial heart-wrecker, rocker arm candy, photogenic cipher, arrogant heiress, polling gimmick \u2013 the woman who appears likely to become the first lady of France.” \u00a0 She is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":336,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-70","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-arts-and-media"],"yoast_head":"\n