Written By: Jessica Singh

My name is Jessica Singh and I have been a part of the Indian modeling industry for about three years now. I mainly work in Mumbai, a bustling city that perfectly compliments this buzzing field. When I was asked to write this article, my first thought was “How am I going to write this? Modeling has in fact contributed positively to my mental health”.

I think that’s the first and biggest indicator that I picked the right career path for myself. I love my job. And by that I mean I am deeply, passionately, crazily in love with it. It has loved me back and given me a great sense of purpose. Making new sets my home for the day, wondering which new avatar I’ll don, contributing to businesses big and small, and watching a whole team’s planning and efforts pay off through me gives me a thrill I can’t put into words.

I think the first step to making oneself comfortable in this field is to recognise why they are in it in the first place. Is it because you like fashion and express yourself best through it? Or that you can’t work a 9-5 job and you think this is something that you’ll be good at? There are no wrong answers, it just has to be meaningful and concrete enough for you.

I’ve realized with time that what keeps one surviving in this field is not the face card, as most of the world believes, but one’s ability to keep striving to do their best, always being up to learning and growing, keeping one’s head and heart clean and clear by consciously reminding themselves of their purpose, and most importantly, persevering through all the rejections this line of work constantly throws at you. So if you’re starting out with modeling and think your face is going to take you to all the places you dreamed of, I’m sorry to break your bubble but that’s not getting you too far.

For a model to place their career on their looks means to place their entire self-worth on that one factor, and that’s going to crumble very soon once you realize what a harsh field it is. I’ve received many backhanded comments on my looks and body, made to feel like there are problems with my skin, hair, body- places/things which I didn’t even imagine could be a reason to get rejected for. I know of a model who was made to whiten her gums for a pageant. If I were to take every comment seriously, I’d never get out of my house. People are unpredictable, and some characteristics that someone might reject you for, will be the same ones making you unique in the eyes of another. If someone at set points out my tiny zit that I have no control over and can easily be covered up, I just go with ‘Yes, and?’ and that mostly shuts them up.

It’s not easy being unbothered by demeaning people, but it’s imperative for your performance and mental health. Let your work and demeanor do the talking, that’s what’s going to keep you evergreen. People also need to realize the importance of positive reinforcement. Criticism is only going to make your model feel more conscious and reduce the chances of getting good results, and there is always a kinder way of making your models come to the same wavelength you require them to be.

Speaking of demeanor, another really important thing I learned along the way was to stand up for myself. Models generally have the reputation of having an attitude problem, and I’ve noticed that most of us get slapped with that condescending connotation for just speaking up against being treated wrong. I’ve been at shoots where I signed up for ‘X’ number of outfits and hours, and the client sneakily tries to push in more outfit changes or the shoot hours go from 8 to 12 hours because of poor management. And when I resent, I get termed as the bad guy who is lazy and uncooperative.

When I was just starting out, I let many people take advantage of me this way because I was afraid of not getting work, but being exploited also didn’t sit right with me. I’m the first one to reach a set, often the last one to leave or even get a meal on set. I actively participate with everyone and my goal is to get the perfect shots for the brands I work with and not good pictures for myself. I respect my team and their time and efforts, and I expect the same. Fortunately, I’ve worked with some of the most considerate clients which made me understand that an ideal, mutually respectful shoot is not a big expectation, and could be the norm too.

The biggest thing that has been unfavorable to my mental health is the unsteady nature of the Arts industry. As someone who loves to work and keep busy, finding a productive routine is a struggle I am still trying to overcome. Even after being signed with a reputed agency, most models find themselves in cycles of being extremely busy and free. There are times when I find myself being booked and busy for a certain period, having no routine or time to myself. While at other times I’m free without a shoot to look forward to, and since work keeps me happy (and pays my bills) I’m left with feelings of uncertainty and unproductivity. Most of my co-models experience this too and it is important to remember in such times that this break is required to let your body rest and replenish. On the other hand, finding hobbies and maintaining a routine that you enjoy nourishes your mind and eases the negative thoughts that creep up.

Another addition to the instability that this industry creates is the lack of an organized structure for the protection and wellbeing of the model community. At least in India, there are no organizations that maintain and protect the working standards for models. All modeling agencies work under free will and are unchecked. Models have to face being part of scammy agencies and work without getting paid. Even some of the biggest brands in India who have attained global recognition continue to make models the faces of their campaigns but refuse to pay them, offering ‘exposure’ in return- a fickle reward in the superficial world of social media. It is crucial for all models to understand the value of their work and not accept exploitation, we have to stand up for ourselves in order to stand up for us as a whole.

An ideal shoot for me is one where my opinions are respected and considered. As a model who has worked on different kinds of shoots- editorial, commercial, conceptual, etc. I’d like to think I have a fairly good idea of what works and would look good in front of the camera in any kind of shoot. I love getting involved in the creative process of photography and giving my input, but I’ve noticed them being disregarded just because my main job is to pose.

Most people do not think of models as creative artists who have the experience and valuable input to make the quality of the output greater. Understandably, there are shoots where the client has very specific branding principles, and in those cases I take a step back on my creative quests. However, in cases where the photographer, hair and makeup artists, and the rest of the team get to follow their creative pursuits, it would take a client by surprise to see better results when models are given the same degree of freedom.

Conclusively, as models, we cannot always determine what kind of team we will be working with or how they will treat us, but we can always be sure of our principles and values.

Make sure you are working for the right reasons. Be an efficient, kind and persevering worker so no one can shake your being and you are never doubtful of standing up for yourself. Accept that this field requires time and tenacity, and give it that.

There is no reason then why our dreams won’t come true. I have faith in myself and all of us.