Modeling as a Social Platform
April 10, 2016I’ve spent the last four months interviewing models of all ages and experience levels. What really stood out to me was that when I asked the newer models what their goals are, they all lit up. They’d talk excitedly about the fact that modeling is not only an artistic outlet, but that it lets them show people who look like them that they’re beautiful too, or that it lets them defy gender norms more than they otherwise could. Almost all of them had a reason for pursuing a career as a model that went beyond creating art or making money.
What I have loved so much about my own modeling career is that it’s given me reach, visibility, a voice, and a platform. People love to follow models on social media. They see us, and as they start to know us they start to listen to us as well. They might not always agree with us, but our voices get heard. That gives us such an incredible capacity to actually make a difference, to spread the word about whatever we’re passionate about. We’ve seen this so many times when agency models have committed themselves to causes or created their own. Modeling is a career that gives us an incredible opportunity to make a difference, should we want to.
When I think about freelance models who have really taken advantage of that capacity, the most obvious example is London Andrews. This stunning powerhouse has not only taken a stand for #beautyatallsizes, but she uses her Patreon account to fund volunteer trips all over the world. Her work is a perfect example of the kind of good we can create with the visibility that comes hand in hand with marketing our modeling careers. Unfortunately, within the realm of freelance models she’s one of only a few models I can think of who have really tapped into that.
Now not all models want to do this, and that’s fine. If your goal is to pay off student loans, or just have fun, that’s fantastic. The creation of art is certainly also, by itself, a worthy reason to be a model. No other end goal is necessary.
But I am obsessed with making sure that the models who do want to use their modeling career as a platform for something bigger are able to. Because right now, I see so many getting so caught up in the struggle to make ends meet that they’re too stressed to even think about creating something bigger. I can’t even stress how much of a shame that is.
That’s why I’ve spent the last year learning about every facet of successful business and marketing techniques I’ve been able to get my hands on. That’s why I’ve attended events, hired business coaches, and studied everything from branding to successfully designing and launching webcourses. That’s why I was so excited when I learned that conscious and heart based entrepreneurship communities exist. It’s at the heart of why I founded Empowered Muses.
I am passionate about making sure that freelance models are able to build a sustainable income quickly so that they can focus on making the dream at the heart of their modeling career come true.
So that you can focus on making the dream at the heart of your modeling career come true.
What is your vision? Tell me in the comments!
About the Author
Eleanor is an accomplished traveling nude model and has been pursuing her art since 2010. Her work has been published in a variety of magazines, books, and galleries, including a special event at the Louvre. To see more of Eleanor’s work you can visit her website.