The speaker shares her personal story of becoming a model. As a child, she was self-conscious about her appearance, being called "gangly" and "buck-toothed." However, at 18, she was approached by a photographer to model, and despite initial hesitation, she decided to pursue it.
She started working in Toronto, and soon after, she moved to New York City, where she faced rejection and struggled to make a name for herself. Despite these challenges, she persevered and eventually landed a contract with Lancôme, which marked a turning point in her career.
Throughout her journey, she worked with top designers and photographers, including Avedon, Prada, and Alexander McQueen. She shares her experiences of feeling intimidated, facing competition, and dealing with rejection.
The speaker also talks about the sacrifices she had to make, including being away from her family and friends for extended periods. She eventually became a successful model, appearing on the cover of American Vogue and working with top brands.
The speaker reflects on her career, sharing advice for young models, emphasizing the importance of being true to oneself, not comparing oneself to others, and staying strong in the face of adversity. She concludes by stating that she came from a difficult background but was able to achieve success through hard work and determination.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The speaker was a model who grew up in a homogenous society with few black people.
2. She was considered "gangly and buck-toothed" as a child.
3. She had frizzy, curly hair and wore glasses.
4. She was more interested in climbing trees, drawing, writing, and escaping into nature and fantasy worlds.
5. She started modeling in Toronto at 18 years old.
6. She was offered a modeling contract in Tokyo at 21 years old.
7. She didn't speak a word of English when she moved to Tokyo.
8. She had a contract with Lancome worldwide at the beginning of her career.
9. She made $100,000 from the Lancome contract.
10. Her first shoot was with Avedon.
11. She appeared on the cover of American Vogue.
12. She worked with designers like Alexander McQueen and Steven Meisel.
13. She walked the runway for Prada.
14. She had to deal with rejection and competition in the modeling industry.
15. She lost friends who died due to the pressures of the modeling industry.
16. She grew up in Uganda and moved to New York at 21 years old.
17. She worked as a housekeeper at St. Cloud Hospital before becoming a full-time model.
18. She had to remove her braces to start modeling.
19. Her father was initially skeptical of her modeling career but eventually became supportive.