Answering a Reader Question #548

Lisa Wrote:

 I have a question. Can modeling affect your relationships with your friends, especially freelance modeling? When I was doing freelance modeling for a while, my dad and even my brother accused me of lying and cheating my friends, especially since I was doing it in Atlanta, GA, where I live, and said that the people I was working with had influenced me to betray them and disrespect them. And the next thing, when they saw some of my modeling photos, including the decent ones, they called me nasty names. Do they have a reason to be like this? 

Hi there, Lisa!

The modeling industry is one that many people don't understand or believe they understand based on what they see on television and/or read online. Unfortunately, this leads a lot of people--including friends and family of the models themselves--to be judgmental, unsupportive, jealous and even resentful.

It's sad that your own dad and brother felt that way about your time as a freelance model. You obviously know that you were telling the truth and that is what matters most. They have no legitimate reason to be that way. Of course I don't know them personally but in general, some people don't like to see others do well or pursue industries that they themselves would never have a shot at. Jealousy and misperception can cause people to do and say terrible things that they normally wouldn't do.

When it comes to parents being harsh or critical about things like modeling, it's usually just a response that they feel is being done out of love and because they are worried about your safety and reputation. They could be concerned that you'll be taken advantage of by somebody or get yourself into a bad situation. But as we know, that type of reaction doesn't help anybody and it's not fair to you that they made you feel bad for pursuing something you enjoyed. Maybe they were worried that you would become successful and end up leaving them or becoming some snob that wouldn't remember where she came from...who knows why people do what they do?

At the end of the day, you don't have to prove yourself to those that are critical or judgmental about what you do, regardless of where you're located and what type of modeling you do. They can choose to be a positive part of your life and experience your successes with you or they can continue to be negative and push you further away. Never let anybody--especially family--stop your journey to the goals you've set for yourself. That applies to both modeling and life in general.

Comments

  1. LisaJanuary 28, 2013 at 1:03 PM

    Well, it was my friends who called me nasty names when they saw my decent modeling photos actually. And also, my dad and brother said when I get married, I would be disrespecting my husband and my children if I went into modeling too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dania DeniseJanuary 28, 2013 at 2:13 PM

    Your friends are probably just jealous. As far as your father and brother, they couldn't be any more wrong. There are tons of working models that are married with kids, including supermodels. They manage their careers and their families just fine. If what your family thought really was true, there wouldn't be models out there doing just fine with happy families and spouses.

    Let those criticisms go in one ear and out the other.

    ReplyDelete

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