Demanding friend

[Judepol]

My friend is 44 and been trying to get into modelling for 10 years. She meets up with dodgy old blokes and goes to their houses which most of the time and does not get paid. One even tried to attack her and throw her on the bed. She went alone most times. Sometimes her dad has been but waits outside. Her ex when they were dating was unhappy and said these men are pervs which they were and they were just using her and not really modelling agents. Her ex was always concerned but she ignored him and said she would do what she likes.

I told her many times to use reputable agents but was ignored. Recently she paid a deposit to a 'modelling agency' and I said reputable agencies don't ask for money. Over a week ago she asked if I can go to modelling shoots with her and she would give me petrol money. I said I can't right now as my brother was in hospital.

My brother is out now and I am supporting him with my parents to get better. She has text me asking if I can still take her to Manchester next Saturday. I never said I would go and feel stressed out because I need to help support my brother and don't have a day to waste while she gets photographed by timewasters. It is too far for me to drive nearly 2 hours there and 2 hours back and she is unlikely to give petrol money.

I only see her 2 to 3 times a year and feel she is a user and she only meets up when she wants something. I don't know why her sister can't go.

As an ex model myself - I can tell you she isn’t a model. Not a proper one anyway. These ‘photographers’ she does ‘shoots’ with in her home are just amateurs plucked from amateur model/photographer sites. Most photographers on those sites are predators and not genuine photographers. I am very familiar with these sort of sites. Most of the ‘models’ on them are unable to get signed to a reputable agency as agencies are extremely selective - hence why she is ignoring your suggestions at finding a reputable agent. It’s extremely dodgy as she’s just meeting up with random strangers off the internet. Real models are signed with agents and work for proper Professional brands and companies with a full team of people around them! She’s being a cheeky fucker

Sorry but it does happen. I’m an ex model in myself and only stopped in my late 30s because I had children. My old modelling agency has many models on their books who are in their 40s, 50s and 60s as well as ones in their 20s and no it’s not for only fans they’re working for genuine high end or household brands.