AMA: Former model in late 30s often called beautiful by others

[ImImmortalNowBabyDoll]

I'm a former model and now in my late 30s but still regularly described by strangers and friends alike as "beautiful." I've noticed that people who haven't happened to fall neatly into Western beauty standards are often curious about people who do, so AMA.

And if you just want to come and tell me that I'm conceited and probably not as beautiful as I think I am, that's OK too- we all need a hobby.

Yeah my point is… why jeopardise your safety for £400?

FWIW, one place I went back to several times was an RAF base with members of all three armed forces who were being trained in portraiture and lighting, and booked several shoots with those soldiers separately too. It's not all just retirees in their living rooms, although I did that too sometimes. Anyway, I'm sure you had much more professional experiences and know a lot better than me.

Were you working at the same time as Chloe Ayling? What did you make of that? It sounds like you were doing similar work.

Not so much rude. However, I do find it strange that someone can come on here and shout from the rooftops that they’re so beautiful that they were a model But in reality was just a model in the amateur community.

You probably don’t realise that mainstream models have to put in a lot more hard work and jump through many more hoops to even get the privilege of being called a model. If it was as easy as just signing up to a site and saying you’re a model then everyone would be doing it.

I've explained the steps I took to protect my safety and they worked out very well. It's a very supportive community and we all talked about the photographers we'd worked with and the experiences we'd had- anyone who was in any way inappropriate quickly found they couldn't book anyone!

Did you do the lads mags? I was in the ent biz many years ago and a few friends did the whole Nuts/Zoo thing. One got paid very well but she got famous in that world.

I did a tiny bit of commercial modelling back in the day. It was always the most random/boring project that paid the best hah

I have no questions but I’m enjoying the “call yourself a model?” debate.

OK sweetheart, you're more beautiful than me and a more impressive model than me. My AMA was that I'm considered beautiful and have been able to make a living out of being beautiful, not that I'm Naomi Campbell. Everybody wouldn't be doing it because the vast majority of girls that sign up to those sites never even build up a portfolio because people who are spending their money on a model for the day want someone nice to look at. That's kind of the point. You got signed by an agency, I went freelance. I'm not sure what "hoops" are necessary. It's not a professional occupation.

That was a really shocking case. I'd certainly have never travelled abroad for a photographer I hadn't worked with extensively in the UK. I did get paid to go abroad a few times and also travelled a bit round the UK, but always with my husband.

Thank you! What were the outdoor nude jobs for? I hope they supplied a hot water bottle if it was in the UK!

No, I didn't- I got offered a few times but it just didn't really feel like me. I wanted to have a portfolio of beautiful and interesting images rather than sexy ones. The sums they were offering were quite eye-watering though so I can't pretend I wasn't a bit tempted!

Wow. It really is true that people can be perceived as beautiful on the outside but not inside.

What does "empowering" actually mean in the context of art-nude/glamour modelling? Can you unpack that for us a little? I think I'd feel anything but ...

I did a stint of (fully clothed) modelling and did not pursue it as I felt like a commodity.

What made you choose to be a model?

It’s literally like creating an account on Instagram and calling yourself an insta model. Then arranging shoots with other people who have signed up to the same site and called themselves a photographer but aren’t actually photographers by profession. Then meeting up with each other and the model takes her clothes off for the photographer to take pictures them. A bit like meeting strangers off the internet.
Not the ‘beautiful’ model lifestyle that op is trying to portray unfortunately

Nope- a hot water bottle leaves a big red mark on a nude body! I once did one in a hail storm, another wading through a stream in winter, so yep, sometimes it was freezing! Some of them were sold as stock images, or entered into competitions, others were used as adverts for a studio or photography business, for example, I did a lot of boudoir and they then used those images to show what they could do and sell photoshoot experience days. Body painters and make-up artists who wanted to get a portfolio and hired the photographer. A lot of training days where a group of photographers all pay to be taught to take photos and the teacher hires a model. Days where a big group of models and a big group of photographers meets up somewhere and then swap models every hour or so to get a range of photos. Many just did it for the love of the art and the enjoyment of a day out and a good chat. Some were a bit lonely I think and wanted the company.

What does this mean? In the context of the post?

I found it freeing I suppose. I think everyone will feel different being nude in front of a camera but for me it was a celebration of my body. I had some very severe illnesses as a child so I guess my body has gone through some tough times and to see it as it was photographed, as something beautiful and artistic, was really joyful for me.

She's not coming across as a very nice person and has been pretty brusque to posters.

I have an image of you on a peanut calendar in the smoky back room of a pub, leaning over a rusty truck!

I didnt get that impression

Stock images!!!???

Did that not terrify you?

ETA is this a fishing exercise and you will shortly offer to hook any of us up with one of these photographers?

But no one is going to want to take photos for someone who isn’t conventionally attractive right? And that’s what the OP is posting about.

the snippy comments are making me alternate between laughing and also despairing. Why is a woman saying “yes I’m quite attractive and this made some money being in photos” so triggering?

anyway, my question, did you always know you were a beauty or was it people wanting to take your photo to make you realise?

I love that you’re offended on behalf of “real” models lol! You did a bit of commercial work, you’re not Adriana Lima.

People kept asking to photograph or paint me and I started saying yes and built up a bit of a following. I started off with an art class where several of the artists had said they wanted to draw me, other people saw the drawings and asked for my details, it sort of spread like that. I guess I hung around with an arty sort of crowd. I set a limit at art-nude after I started getting offers for more sexual stuff and realised I didn't want to do that but was happy with artistic nude.