Renowned supermodel Paulina Porizkova is pulling back the curtain on the fashion industry's dark underbelly, exposing the systemic exploitation and abuse that she and countless others faced, especially as young and vulnerable models. In a powerful interview, Porizkova recounts her harrowing experiences of being scouted at just 15 years old, only to be thrust into a predatory world that prioritized profits over the wellbeing of its workers.
The Harsh Realities of Modeling at a Teenage
Porizkova's story is a sobering reminder of the industry's ugly truths. At 15, she was told by her first agency that she looked "too mature," a coded way of saying she had already developed curves that didn't fit the industry's rigid, unattainable beauty standards. So she was forced to lose 20 pounds to land a contract with a larger agency, NEXT. Her rapid rise to success was marred by one red flag after another - from being booked on shoots with photographers accused of sexual coercion, to being pressured by her own agents to engage in dangerous and unhealthy weight-loss tactics.
What's more, Porizkova says she was paid a meager $130 for six weeks of grueling Fashion Week work, with no transparency around her earnings. "I have no idea because they don't give you receipts," she explains, highlighting the financial exploitation that runs rampant in the industry. And the horrors didn't stop there - Porizkova recounts a particularly harrowing shoot in Iceland where she and another model were forced to strip naked and perform dangerous stunts on a glacier in freezing conditions, all while the photographer and crew were bundled up in warm clothing.
A Call for Change
As Porizkova eloquently puts it, the modeling world has treated its young workers like "indentured servants" for far too long. CNN's investigation into the industry found widespread issues like stolen wages, sexual harassment, and a complete lack of regulation to protect vulnerable models. And Variety's reporting has uncovered even more disturbing tales of abuse, exploitation, and unsafe working conditions.
The bigger picture here is that the fashion industry has long prioritized profits and aesthetics over the basic human rights and wellbeing of its workforce. As Porizkova says, "You don't get to dismiss me because I have some wrinkles and sags and gray hair now, when I'm kind of fabulous, the most fabulous I've ever been." Her powerful words and experiences shine a much-needed light on the urgent need for sweeping reforms to protect models, both young and old, from the industry's dark realities. It's time for the fashion world to reckon with its toxic culture and put people before profits.