My Ongoing Education: How I’m Learning to Be a Better Model (and Person)

I'm not interested in teaching other models - for many reasons. But teaching myself? Always.

Here are some of my personal secrets, strategies, and ideas about being a professional model — because there’s always room to grow, and professionalism has no ceiling.

• Discipline. I’ve learned a lot from ballet dancers — their discipline is wired into them since childhood. Discipline in daily routines, in finances (modeling income can be modest, so you have to manage it wisely), in constant travel, and in all the admin that comes with this job.

• A sense of beauty. If you only follow potential clients and model friends, your eyes go numb from seeing the same type of photos again and again. You have to seek new forms of visual expression, take breaks from scrolling through the endless lingerie poses, and immerse yourself in classical and contemporary art.

• Deep understanding of your health. Beauty starts from within. You need to know what circadian rhythms help you function best, how much sleep and food you need. Prevent illness, stay active, plan rest as if it's part of your job — because it is.

• Networking. Finding new photographers to grow your portfolio. Learning from fellow models. Staying part of the professional conversation.

• Working with emotions and mental health. Therapy helped me tremendously — I’ve been going for over a year, and honestly, I wish I had started earlier. Being a model means constantly confronting your insecurities, your aging, your imperfections. It means being compared. And with the lifestyle I chose (life on the road, risky nude shoots), it also means high stress, vulnerability, potential harassment, and being objectified. You need to process all of this — or it can leave real wounds.

• Social media and personal branding. Understanding marketing strategies is essential now. Being a model without social media is a rare luxury. To be successful, you need to be visible — intentionally and creatively.

• Professional ethics and mutual support. It’s wonderful to get encouragement from followers and photographers — but no one will truly get what you’re going through like another model who’s on the same path. Support each other.

• Investing in yourself. Modeling isn’t cheap. You can get by without certain things, but being serious about this work means investing in quality makeup, knowing how to use it, having a wardrobe of accessories and outfits, owning solid luggage (my suitcase changes locations every 3–4 days). The list goes on.

• Motivation. You need to constantly find new sources of inspiration so the work doesn’t become mechanical or meaningless. And you need to inspire photographers, too — help them push beyond their habits and create something real.

• Balancing intense work with deep rest. Don’t let yourself burn out. Rest intentionally. Rest well. Do it in a way that makes you miss modeling again — so you come back to shoots with fresh eyes and a real hunger to create.

As you see, being a model is much more than winning a genetic lottery. I care deeply about doing my job well, and I am still learning how to master it. Maybe I will retire from modeling one day, but it doesn't mean that I will not be doing my best till the very last photoshoot

Ph @aperturepriorityf1.2