America's Next Top Model

"Modeling is like quicksand sometimes. The more you try, the more you sink."
— Paulina Porizkova

Look into the fabulous world of America's Next Top Model and you'd think modeling was all about cushy lofts, supa-fly stretch limos, and jetting to exotic locales. But in reality, the business can be challenging, cutthroat, and downright depressing. Here are the top 10 things Tyra didn't tell you about the modeling world.

1.  Models are beautiful, rich, and happy people.

"The judges felt the need to save you from this crazy, cutthroat world of modeling that would make a sad girl extremely depressed."
— Tyra Banks

Looking at glossy fashion mags, people are made to believe models have it all — beauty, gobs of money, closets stuffed with haute couture, and glam, jet-setting lifestyles. Then they see larger-than-life supermodels like Tyra Banks on TV and assume modeling equates to instant success and fame. The truth? The life of a fashion model is super stressful, super competitive, and super lonely. More on this below...

2. Models rarely face rejection.

" It's not my place to put anyone down, I am put here to build their egos up. I feel for them when the models trip or flub-up, and I try hard to contain my laughter. But child...sometimes I just gotta laugh."
— Miss J

A day in the life of the average fashion model involves long hours traveling alone, living in cramped models' apartments, and going to casting calls (where the casting director will often take one look at your book and promptly dismiss you). The demands of working in the fashion industry can crush a young model, and nothing is beautiful about that kind of sadness. After years of casting, the rejection has become extremely taxing even to my own self-esteem. You might be surprised to know that Tyra and company are nothing compared to the insensitivity and bluntness of the real fashion world!

3. All models have eating disorders.

"I was thin, I was 98 pounds, I was five-foot-nine, I was an inch shorter than I am now."
— Tyra Banks on her teenage years

Weight — ANTM's constant drama. Season 4's Keenyah Hill was criticized for putting on the pounds, while the other models launched an ANA Alert on Elyse Sewell (Season 1) and Cassie Grisham (Season 3).

The truth is, models are constantly told to lose weight. The other truth is that many of them are genetically-gifted individuals: They were born with the height, thin frame, and proportional features. Also, fashion models are super young, generally between 14 to 19 years old, so they can afford to literally have their cake and eat it too. Even Miss Tyra was uber-thin in her teens.

Remember: Just 'cause a model looks impossibly thin, doesn't mean she has an eating disorder. You'll be relieved to know that there is such a thing as being too thin in the fashion industry. After all, it's hard stay fresh-faced and perky on a crash diet of cigarettes and Diet Coke.

4. There’s a Modeling 101.

"Believe it or not, I just really know how to pose well. It took me five years to learn what my best angles are."
— Tyra Banks

First of all, you don't have to go to modeling school to become a model. You also don't have to join a trainwreck CW reality show to become a model (shocker, we know). Modeling is actually not something you learn by being taught, but rather a skill inherited naturally and from experience. One thing models do need to know is how to walk in heels. Often at castings models will be asked to walk for the client, and if you can't walk in heels without falling, you ain't gettin' the job. (Psst! That means you, Alexandra.) Thankfully, most agencies will have walking lessons set up for newer models, just like feisty runway coach Miss J does on America’s Next Top Model.

"Don't look like a hoochie. Do walk like it's for sale and the rent's due tonight."

— Jay Manuel and Miss J on consistency

5. They get to keep the clothes.

People assume models get to keep the designer clothes they model. Sadly (for you and for me), this is so false. Models can't keep any of the fab fashion from a magazine shoot or a fashion show! The clothing models wear is simply a sample the designer uses to advertise the line for the upcoming season. Models can end up with designer threads through trade — this means they were given clothing instead of a paycheck. You and I both know that haute couture isn't going to pay the rent!

6. Models live the high life.

"We don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day."
— Supermodel Linda Evangelista, 1990

Unless they have some ridiculous caffeine addiction, I don’t know of any models who can’t wake up for less than $10,000. If you remember the first episode in Season 7 of America’s Next Top Model, Melrose ironically turns into a diva during the "Stereotype Shoot," and no one took it well. The same goes for the real fashion industry: Most clients won’t tolerate divas. Aspiring models need to get humble quick if they want to survive this less-than-ideal lifestyle. This means flying coach on your own dime and sleeping in cramped model apartments — on bunk beds. Sorry, but you won't see any hot tubs or other luxuries as seen in the ANTM model house.

Modeling is not only emotionally taxing, it's freaking expensive. A model has to pay inflated amounts for all their materials such as couriering, copying photographs, composite cards, and website usage. Even top modeling agencies will charge its models ridiculous fees for staying in model apartments. And have fun saving for that plane ticket to Paris...

7. Models are picture perfect

"I'm a perfectionist. Sometimes I have to remind myself that it's OK if there are flaws here and there."
— Tyra Banks

No one is perfect, and models are no exception to this. We get pimples, take bad photos, and — gasp — have bad hair days. A model has to put in effort to present his or herself to clients, and can still be told fix something else about their image. Luckily, models can get a little assistance from Photoshop and air brushing. Just FYI: Those pretty photographs you see in the magazines have all been retouched! Models go through hours of hair and makeup and are dressed by professional stylists — that is how they can look so good. I only wish I looked as gorgeous as I do in all my photos!

As you're familiar with ANTM, you know that high-fashion models are sometimes not even typically “beautiful.” This is what you'll hear Tyra describing as "ugly-pretty." She so eloquently describes this phenom during ANTM Cycle 11, "Pretty pretty is ugly ugly." A girl may last a season or two because she looks “weird” and stands out — and if we're talkin' freakish, plenty of female models I know are over six-feet tall.

8. Models are Contracted by Designers

"I have an invested interest in all the girls. I take Adrianne's struggles to bed with me at night. Adrianne's problem was that she went to Europe to try to make it and nobody knew who she was there. So it was like starting over. But after a girl leaves [ANTM] it's really up to her to be aggressive and try to succeed."
— Tyra Banks in response to ANTM contestant Adrianne Curry's complaints

Here's a little business for you: Models are self-employed contractors. We are hired by clients, but only on a job-to-job basis. For example: If a model is booked to shoot a Marc Jacobs lookbook, she's only contracted for that specific job. Models will also sign contracts with an agency (or agencies) to get work. This gives them access to bookers who can help promote the model to the client. No matter how many castings you score, it's ultimately up to you, the model, to be responsible for her career so she can get more jobs with more clients.

9. All models are dumb.

"A smart model is a good model."
— Tyra Banks

I'll just say this one more time: Modeling is a business, and to do well in this field you need to be business-savvy. As hard as it might be to believe, most models are intelligent people. Though Tyra may have patience with the more difficult contestants for the sake of entertainment, clients aren't interested in working with a model who has a bad attitude or can't follow simple instructions. In most cases, the model is a young girl and the client (or makeup artists, photographers, etc.) average in their 30s. A model working with this age gap requires a certain grace and maturity.

10. Models get discovered at the mall.

"This is the girl who didn't know anything about modeling and we found in a mall."
— Tyra Banks on ANTM contestant Sara Albert

Cycle 6 contestant Sara Albert was famously discovered by an ANTM producer while shopping for shirts at her local mall. But catching your big modeling break isn't a magical Cinderella moment. Most models have found the right agencies and garnered the right attention for their career. Becoming a top model sounds a lot more fabulous, but it takes lots of time and effort  to become established in the fashion industry. In reality, being "discovered" is just a stereotypical story that's fun to tell. And sorry, but joining a model search like ANTM doesn't guarantee you instant success in the modeling world.

11. They come from Russia, with love

"It's long overdue that black models receive the same benefits as white models. But I still don't make as much as the white supermodels do."
— Tyra Banks

There is a huge pool of gorgeous young women out there trying to make it as models, the and competition is insanely fierce. What it takes to get work as a model comes down to more than just beauty and appeal. It's where you come from that matters.

Discrimination in the fashion industry is the elephant in the room. There are many talented black and mixed race models who could successfully work, but agencies and clients aren't likely to take a gamble using them. Major clients will actually say things like, "Don’t send any more black models to this casting" — no beating around the bush! In a runway show there will only be one black model and one Asian model, if any. I totally commend Tyra for having a diversity of girls in each season, but out in the real industry, most girls are judged by their background, and this is why models are stereotyped to be from places like Russia. The fashion world is more welcoming to leggy, white girls.