Stalkers?

Since I have started modeling (especially since I moved to NY) I have girls contacting me on FB inquiring about getting started with modeling, where to go, what to do... those types of questions. I have always thought it was flattering and try to answer questions as best to my ability, seeing as though it is different for every person and your situation depends on so many factors.

I was recently contacted by a young girl who claimed to know me and started talking to me about NY modeling like she just knew everything, but the convo started out with her asking me questions about agencies. She also was very excited to inform me about an old "top agency" that she had just signed with on the west coast. She asked me if I had thought about signing with certain agencies and I informed her that the agencies she listed as well as the one she was about to sign with are not great anymore (at least not in New York). Because of this, she got extremely defensive and started asking me why I thought these things.

THEN she had the audacity to ask me if I had even gotten any other contract offers, which clearly is an extremely rude thing to do. It's like a coworker asking you how much your raise was. So I told her how it is modeling in NY... cut throat, no one cares about you, you are just an object that your agencies make money off of. Which in my opinion, if you are strong enough to deal with it then fine, but a barely teenager shouldn't have to go through that. So once again, she just really wanted to make my day...

"While I agree with what you are saying, I really don't feel like you have enough knowledge, wisdom, or insight about the industry to really make that decision. You have only been modeling in New York for 4 months, and that now makes you a pro?"

No honey, I don't think I'm a pro, but it doesn't take very long living in NY to figure out how the modeling world works, especially after fashion week. I have been modeling since I was 16. When I was that young, I thought it was exciting and cool and glamorous too, but when I moved to NY, reality checked in and I saw it for what it really is. It's JOB and it's a lot of hard work and everybody in the industry (agencies, bookers, casting directors, photographers, designers, etc) all put you through hell before you can make your claim to fame.

If people like her don't want to believe me, that's totally fine, she'll see some day. In the mean time, from here on out, I most likely won't be answering FB messages from people I don't know to avoid such a situation again. Sorry, to any of the creepy stalkers who want to be models reading this right now.

Happy Thanksgiving :)