Alongside some cheeky topless photos for Love's 10th Anniversary Issue, reality star model Kendall Jenner made controversial remarks about the world of modeling. Many models are outraged – and with good reason.
Last week, the magazine shared one of the shots on Instagram along with a quote from Jenner: “From the beginning, we were very selective about the shows I would do… I was never one of those girls who did 30 shows per season. More power to them. But I had countless jobs, not just runways, but everything else. The whole combination was very overwhelming, and I had to take a step back.”
Many models, including Julia Ratner, Teddy Quinlivan, Peyton Knight, Irina Djuranovic, and Jac Jagaciak, responded to Jenner’s statement, questioning the reality star’s attitude toward the hard work of models. Teddy Quinlivan wrote on Instagram: “Models don’t just come from Calabasas… they come from Somalia, the Siberian tundra, a rural village in China, a trailer park in Tennessee.” She emphasized that the reality for many models in agencies is often challenging.
The fashion industry is undoubtedly influenced by models from privileged backgrounds, yet many aspiring models work hard to earn their place in the industry. Gigi Hadid, a close friend of Jenner, spoke openly in a Vogue interview about privilege but showed respect for other models and highlighted the importance of hard work and discipline in the modeling world.
While Hadid acknowledges her success in the industry while respecting other models, Kendall Jenner apparently lacks this awareness. A reality check for the model and the agencies that should know the difference between privilege and hard work is long overdue.
