can i model afer my tradegy or am i now to old?xx

Posts: 4

hi, im new here and really need some advice. when i was 20 i was scouted for a big modellling agency in england. i thought all my dreams were coming true as becoming a model was something i had always wanted. however just as i was about to start i became seriously ill. i went into hospital for treatment but met a bad docter who sadly made me worse. i became so ill i had to move home to let my mother look after me. i was practically housebound for 2 years, i lost all my hair, got soars all over my face, sometimes i was so weak i couldnt get out of bed for months.

then when i was starting to get better tradegy striked again and i was attacked by a man while out getting treament and this triggered my illness again-this time even worse then before.

its been 4 years now and im finally getting better. my strength has come back, my hair has regrown and my skin cleared. i havent changed at all since the day i first got sick. its almost like ive been in a coma for 4 years and i have just woken up. so now i pick up the pieces and in one area i need advice. id like to go back to modelling. i was scouted for high fashion when i was 20 and i would like to go back. i have a small portfoilio from before i got sick so i havesome experience. howver im scared the original agency wont take me on anymore because i am now too old. this does feel devastating to me, not because i became ill (i dont blame myself for that) but because i was unlucky enough to meet such awful people while i was healing. i was only meant to be ill for 6 months but because of the docter and my attacker 6 months turned into 4 years. if this hadnt of happened i would have been able to go back to my career at 20. i understand i could never be a supermodel now but i would like to get another small taste of the modelling world again. i would like to do a few more catwalk shows before i give up just to feel these bad things didnt beat me. however, i need to know the truth and trust me ive been through so much i can handle it. is 24 too old to model now? i only know one 24 year old top model from england and her name is agnes (cant remember her second name) but even she lied about her age. so is 24 too old, thanks,

niki

p.s sorry for the long post, probably very deep for this forum but i just felt i needed to fully explain my situation x.

Posts: 32336 Location: Ibuprofen Palace / Glasgow

First of all I do hope you are feeling much better now, and I am pleased you have come through the ordeals in your life that you have.

My advice to you would be that 24 isnt too old to have a career in modelling if you want to have one. Think about those girls who compete in these competitions they are making money out of their career even though they will never be high fashion. 29 is too old 24 isnt there is still time yet to keep going. It depends on the type of modelling you would be prepared to do like commercial etc. If it's really what you want to do and you want to make a career of it you would not limit your sights to one aspect of it. That would be like me saying I'm only going to make things that are edgy for the shop I am working in and nobody buying them rather than making things which people will buy and making money out of it.

And dont forget these people came to you I am sure they would still be interested because remember they probably appraoched you as business people, they thought you were lucrative, and I dont know about you but I look the same age now as I did four years ago. If you photograph young it can go well for you. Xenia Markova for example is 21 but she translates younger on film. If they think they can gain prestige and decent commission from having you on their books they would.

Of course we cant judge what you look like etc because we cant see any pics or anything. But I'm not an expert and someone who was already approached you. I dont really know what else to say other than that. I mean you never know with these people the industry is fickle who know what they are after now. I wouldnt wish to get your hopes up because of my opinion on your age, because a casting agent might think you are too old even if I dont. Anyway ... take care love and hugs xx

xx Callie xx

Oh yeah and remember as tragic and horrific as your story is and as much as I sympathise with you as will every other human being with warm blood in their veins and a pulse ... whatever you do dont go and tell it to some agency they will probably think you are looking for sympathy etc. They dont know you to them you are just another face, they only ever really care about you when you are actually in their agency as one of their models ... and even then some of them dont care ... believe me I know how brutal some of these London agencies can be to young girls (though you arent a young girl) even when they have them on their books.

I remember I was watching Americas Next Top Model (I know shoot me for it) anyway Brittany was telling them about her short term memory and Miss Jay said that 'fashion didnt care' and as shocked as I was by this statement it was right. Sad but right, you are just a number to them.

So remember ... deffo finished this time, love and hugs xx

Posts: 73

Wow, I am so sorry for you... however, you can't give up yet! Your story is an inspiration, really... I admire your courage and confidence. Bianca Balti was rejected by many, many agencies such as Elite Models but she didn't give up and now she is one of the most beautiful models ever! 24 may be a bit old, but definitely don't give up yet. I am glad you're better now and I wish you the very best... hope all goes well! xo

Posts: 4

thanks everyone for your replys its gives me a bit more hope. and of course i would never say my story to any agency or to any any kind of job interview. i wouldnt want people to think i wanted a sympathy vote-thats just not me. i just wanted to explain my whole story here because i didnt want people to just think i woke up one day at 24 and wanted to become a model. i didnt want people to think i just wasted all those years before in not pursuing one of my dreams. it still is heartbreaking that i lost an opprotunity in such an unfortunate cruel way and of course the regret and anger is still there but maybe everything happens for a reason. i have many other dreams so prehaps maybe this one wasnt supposed to be for me x.

Posts: 149

If its in heart and you want to do it give it a shot no matter what!!! You story is very heart-breaking! I wish you all the best and I hope that many great things come your way.