Some thoughts about my work and life as a model in America. Honest update

As I am approaching my birthday (July 31st), it’s naturally a time for me to reflect on my life. So let's talk about my plans, challenges, and ideas about the future.

My plan for modeling in the USA keeps changing – ever since I arrived, I’ve felt torn between the idea of living in New York, close to my friends and returning clients, or touring around the country, since it’s so big and I haven’t seen much of it yet. I was also considering applying to modeling or acting agencies, taking acting classes, and focusing on TikTok and other monetizable social media.

Where do I stand now, 10 months into the American adventure?

I realized I want to tour each major modeling destination twice (for example – I already visited Seattle and Texas once for a long 3-week tour; I’ll do it again and that’ll be it).

It doesn’t mean I’ll never be back, but I won’t be organizing tours on my own anymore – I’ll only do shorter visits based on photoshoot invitations. Organizing long tours and changing hotels and hosts every couple of nights is exhausting, and when I do that, I feel like I’m sacrificing my healthy routines, relationships, and hobbies.

Most likely, it will take me about a year to finish my big American tours – and after that, I’m done with long tours for a while. I plan to be based around NYC (or within a 1–2 hour radius) until the end of my visa, working regularly in the states that are within a half-day’s drive :)

After 10 months of being based in the States, I still can’t say whether I want to extend my visa and settle in America for good or not (and I’m very happy I don’t have to make that decision this year).

But career-wise, I feel very accomplished, and I’m grateful to the people who helped me move abroad last year.

Some challenges I’m facing these days:

Healthy lifestyle. Classic story – living in America and staying fit is a challenge. I’m not exaggerating – every 6-week tour I gain 2 kg, then I go back to Europe for a 2-week holiday, burn it off in the gym, and repeat the cycle. Everything outside NYC is not walkable, all drinks are overly sweet and oversized, and the food is not your friend either :)

Social media. Instagram has been dead for years, and to stay relevant, models have to learn new platforms while still maintaining a presence on IG – full of double standards. It’s a full-time job with the most insane boss and the most irregular pay. I feel bad every time a good model or photographer account gets deleted, while the pages that stay are mostly thirst traps, AI pics, and memes.

Finances. I’m making the most impressive income of my life. Yet I’m still far, far, far from a middle-class lifestyle by American standards. If I stay humble, don’t spend much, and live only with hosts or roommates, I can bring back a solid safety cushion to Europe – but a comfortable, middle-class European lifestyle is not affordable for me in the U.S. anytime soon.

Polish community. After 8 years of having Poland as my only home base, I now feel like I’m falling out of the artistic community – or community in general. I used to feel like part of the Polish art scene. But since I moved out of the capital, leaving most of my friends and acquaintances behind, I’m no longer present as a Polish model. And now, I’m not just 1.5 hours away from Warsaw – I’m on another continent. I chose a better career move, but it feels a bit sad to be forgotten by the environment that shaped who I am as a creative. I have very few Polish friends left with whom I’m in regular touch – and most of them also don’t live in Poland anymore. Of course, I know that if I had more time (or set different priorities), I could easily organize some projects with Polish models and photographers. I’m not present in Polish art by choice. But I do miss it sometimes, and I’m worried I’m not making enough “true art” – the kind not motivated by money, and not limited by travel luggage or available free time.

Other than that, I have to say, I am very happy that I was able to organize my life before coming to the States. Since last year I have a psychotherapist, an assistant for admin work, a personal trainer and a proper medical care (all in Europe of course). I am tracking my finances very carefully. I schedule my work travels half a year in advance (vs 3 weeks in advance like in the past), and even though sometimes I feel like I am physically unable to reply to an easy email, or to produce new social media content (which is different now from posting model photos from my work photoshoots), I see that I keep growing from the business side of modeling.

There are a few big projects coming up (like a book dedicated to our 10 year long work with Albert Finch, a movie feature, and a few workshop events and a few big travels that are not model tours, but a true holiday adventure and language practice). Even though none of those projects move forward seamlessly, I am happy they are in my life, as I am constantly learning new things.

Probably there are more things to share, but I am already 1h into writing, so let's pause here, and talk to you soon!

your (almost) birthday girl Kate

Photo by Werner wekell3@bluewin.ch more images in 30$ tier