MY DAD!!!!! He hated that I went into it, but unlike my mom, who disowned me for it, and inadvertently, pushed me back in to it when I was about to give it up. He was smart, by supporting me and being my advocate, along with the fact that I looked like jail bait, he was able to protect me.
At 18, when I pulled out my NYC map, and told my father I was taking the train from philly to nyc to do the interviews with the big agencies, instead of saying, no, he drove me up there and sat in the car as I went from agency to agency that whole first day. >From then on, I was required to give him my go-see or photoshoot schedule >everyday and call him at designated times. He encouraged me to tell the >people I met with that I had to call him and ask to use their phones . I >commuted to NY from Philly for the first few years. He had me call him every >morning from the train station when I arrived in NY and I had to called him to >let him know what train I was getting on when I was coming home Another reason, I think I survived was because, I do not think I wanted it bad enough. I wanted to show my mother that she couldn’t control me more that I wanted to be famous. Deep down, I wanted to be like her and own my own business. So, when it came time to do the casting couch thing, either the men having a fear of my Dad, who I had to check in with several times a day, or the threat of not being a star not working, or me not needing a father figure, probably caused me to blow a huge number of casting couch “opportunities.” All my friends had boyfriends who “kept” them, I had boyfriends who could barely afford their car, or had to get to class. I dated guys they were real smart and I liked them in my own age group. So, my boyfriends tended not to be rich like most models. They tended to be geeks. I had a friend who I thought was gorgeous. Around Christmas once she called me devastated because her boyfriend got her a nose job for Christmas she did not ask for nor want, nor up until then, think she needed – at least up until that point. I think there was a lot of remaking going on with models and their “boyfriends”. I guess I was a horrible friend, because I always told them to dump them and move back home. That is not the root to stardom. What happened to Vanessa Williams with the photos, could have happened to me a few times. In the eighties/nineties nudity and showing pubic hair were not considered artistic like now. I did underwear, sheer coverings, and other camoflague covering, but no nudes. Another old fart tried to molest me, but I told him I was sixteen, and my dad was waiting for me and would come looking and he let me go. During the promotion of my rap album at a new music conference. I caught a lot of flack from my producer because I would not take the pills they kept trying to give me “to relax.” They complained that I did not trust their judgement. I would not drink any liquor, and I never drank my drink if I left it unattended whenever I was with them. Again my dad, being in my ear gently guiding let me to make safer choices than many out there on their own. A few other scary incidents occurred, but I think my system with my dad, protected me from getting hurt. One guy told me I had what it took to make it big, but if I did not play by the rules, I would never make it beyond mediocre. I do not know if I could have made it big, but I certainly would has gone much further than I did. He was right about the mediocrity. But, it was my decision, not someone controlling me. Most of the people I met that did play by the rule(not all) did not end up so great. Even some who made it further than I did, did not end up so great. Maintaining long term success in that arena is hard to achieve. Anyway, I’m soooo very lucky I had my dad, so I was able to come out of the experience with a more positive outlook than negative. The daily grind of just working among the mediocre was fun and nonthreatening. By the way, I think we should all want to be as hot as Sophia From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:scifino...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Keith Johnson Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 8:13 PM To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] OT: Was the photoshopped Ralph Lauren model fired for being overweight? I agree, it seems to be an ugly industry. How did you survive it? I just find the change in desire of body types interesting. Back in the 50s and 60s, it was much more curvy women that were desired (at least, by certain groups' standards). I remember watching those corny beach movies with Frankie Avalon just so I could sneak a peek at Annette Funicello. She'd be considered overweight nowadays. And Sophia Loren? They'd have her on a restrictive diet so fast her head would spend. My wife tells me that Jennifer Aniston was ordered to lose weight when she was on "Friends". Note that all the women on that show got significantly thinner over the years. As I was reading your response earlier, i was watching the new ABC sitcom "Modern Family". Not only is it for my money the best new show of the season (hilarious!), but one of the stars is Sofia Vergara. Staring at--er, watching--her, I can't imagine how anyone could prefer a pencil thin model! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tracey de Morsella" <tdli...@multiculturaladvantage.com> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 8:05:34 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: RE: [scifinoir2] OT: Was the photoshopped Ralph Lauren model fired for being overweight? As a former model, this disgusts me. When people ask me how to get their kids in the industry, I tell them, but tell them the ugly side with the hope that they will opt not to get their children involved. While my daughter has the looks, she does not take instruction well. Can’t figure out where she gets her stubbornness “she says scratching her head” I’m glad in a way because it prevents me from being tempted to take the showbiz mom route. What they do to these kids and women is horrible. What is more disturbing to me is that there are men that prefer the Alli Mc Beal types. That does not help matters From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:scifino...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Keith Johnson Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:22 PM To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Subject: [scifinoir2] OT: Was the photoshopped Ralph Lauren model fired for being overweight? I don't know what's more disturbing: that they think this model in her current true form is overweight, or that anyone in any country in the world thought that doctored photo of her was either realistic or attractive. I have tried over and over to understand the American obsession with thin models and actresses. My wife always explains to me that clothing looks better when hung on a thin frame, since designers feel a woman's curves detract from the dress, and a thin woman's body doesn't do that. (she doesn't agree with the philosophy, but understands it). Assuming I bought that--I don't--why then do even actresses, who ostensibly aren't modeling clothing, get told to lose weight? Why are so many makeup models thin when all we should be looking at are their faces (the Queen Latifah's of the world notwithstanding) As a black man over 40, raised to think a good body was represented by the likes of Nichele Nichols, Chaka Khan, Pam Grier, Sophia Loren, or Racquel Welch, i guess I'll never understand how "voluptuous" can either be a dirty word, or applied to someone as relatively slim as Cindy Crawford or Claudia Schiffer. I do know it must be crazy to be a woman trying to survive in the fashion or movie industries as long as this skewed view of beauty persists. No wonder so many models are anorexic and addicted to amphetamines! Remember back when TV Guide grafted Oprah Winfrey's head onto Ann Margaret's body? Man, do we ever see anyone as they really are anymore? ************************************** http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/was-the-photoshopped-ralph-lauren-model-fired-for-being-overweight-525248/ Was the photoshopped Ralph Lauren model fired for being overweight? photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com <http://a323.yahoofs.com/phugc/vu7vD17UuinS/photos/597ce10efef7ea981abcc5e023c89874/mr_b5fda2fd46300c.jpg?ug_____D.b5bBnGG> photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com Last week Ralph Lauren came under fire for (what looked to be) an <http://shine.yahoo.com/event/fallbeauty/image-of-ultra-thin-ralph-lauren-model-sparks-outrage-521480/> extremely altered photo of a model in one of its ads. Bloggers at the website BoingBoing.net posted the image online, and lawyers for Ralph Lauren attempted to sue them for copyright infringement. Unfortunately for Ralph Lauren, this only furthered public interest and outrage over the dangerously thin looking model and, eventually, the clothing company released this apology: "For over 42 years we have built a brand based on quality and integrity. After further investigation, we have learned that we are responsible for the poor imaging and retouching that resulted in a very distorted image of a woman's body. We have addressed the problem and going forward will take every precaution to ensure that the caliber of our artwork represents our brand appropriately." Unfortunately,"addressing the problem" may have included firing the model, 23-year-old Filippa Hamilton. She is 5'10" and weighs 120 pounds--clearly more full-bodied than the photoshopped girl we see in the advertisement. Though Hamilton has modeled for Ralph Lauren since she was 15, the company let her go "as a result of her inability to meet the obligations under her contract with us." But the story gets worse: Hamilton says she was let go because she'd become too fat to model for them. "They fired me because they said I was overweight and I couldn't fit in their clothes anymore," she explained. "I was shocked to see that super skinny girl with my face...It's very sad, I think, that Ralph Lauren could do something like that." Filippa Hamilton in a past Ralph Lauren ad <http://a323.yahoofs.com/phugc/QnN_NrSbXFLk/photos/434d36deb4d4d3a146f7af8eb1e62295/mr_83d94ea74bc024.jpg?ug_____D_al.SAiq> Filippa Hamilton in a past Ralph Lauren ad Most of us know that a tall, young woman who weighs 120 pounds is not overweight. But Hamilton claims Ralph Lauren was dissatisfied with her body, and therefore fired her six months ago. However, the company continued to use her image, whittling down her arms, waist, thighs, and possibly several other body parts in the above ad. If they were so unhappy with how she looked, why not get another model for the campaign? Why use the photos and alter and distort them? Today, Ralph Lauren himself is distancing himself from the ad, claiming, "The image in question was mistakenly released and used in a department store in Japan and was not the approved image which ran in the U.S." So we're confused. They say the photoshopping was an error, that Hamilton is "beautiful and healthy," yet they allegedly fired her for her size? With all these apologies and statements it sounds like the brand still has yet to accept responsibility for their actions. Hamilton in Italian Elle <http://a323.yahoofs.com/phugc/tyRmeitRuDZ8/photos/0bf10ce9af91f3ee02489cc9d95b2829/mr_3bc0213fb69037.jpg?ug_____DUlAvOtOv> Hamilton in Italian Elle Hamilton in French Vogue <http://a323.yahoofs.com/phugc/KBKmMDTbRBDx/photos/9a27b5a64f0b19f97661c0042464a8ed/mr_82aa0567a5e8ae.jpg?ug_____DAdusG7RO> Hamilton in French Vogue When I searched for more images of Filippa Hamilton, I instantly remembered her—she was the face of Ralph Lauren's fragrance, Romance, has been featured on the cover of international editions of Vogue and Elle, and has appeared in many ads. She's a gorgeous woman. "I think they [Ralph Lauren] owe American women an apology, a big apology," says Hamilton. "I'm very proud of what I look like, and I think a role model should look healthy." The truth is, models get fired or overlooked all the time for being what the industry considers overweight, we just rarely see or hear about it. Eating disorders are not only common among models, but they're also common among the women and young girls who emulate them. We're happy to see that Hamilton has come forward, and wish more models and celebrities would do the same. It's awesome and empowering when stars admit they've been photoshopped for an ad or movie poster and say how dissatisfied they are about it. With foreign countries banning underweight models from their fashion weeks, and the increasing presence of "plus size" models in women's magazines, we wish the unhealthy representation and falsified depiction of models—and women—would come to an end entirely. Do you think the day will ever come? Sources: [NYDN <http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/fashion/2009/10/14/2009-10-14_model_fired_for_being_too_fat.html> ] [Extra <http://extratv.warnerbros.com/2009/10/blog_and_ralph_lauren_fight_over_skinny_model_ad.php> ] [Hulu <http://www.hulu.com/watch/102044/nbc-today-show-model-i-was-fired-for-being-%E2%80%98too-large%E2%80%99#s-p3-sr-i0> ]
