A survey of 100 Fashion Week models, mostly at the casting for Cynthia Rowley’s show last week (with additional models from VPL, Malandrino, and Phillip Lim and at Elite Model Management).
How old are you?
14–15 … … … … 5
16–17 … … … . . 26
18–19 … … … . . 41
20–21 … … … . .24
Over 22 … … … . 4
What did you eat for breakfast this morning?
“Coffee and doughnuts.” “Starbucks.” “Toaster strudel.” “A cheese sandwich.” “A protein shake.” “Turkey sandwich and barbecue chips.” “Paracetamol tablets.” “Oreo cereal.” “Bacon, egg, and cheese.” “Red Bull.” “Sushi.”
How were you “discovered”?
“Wal-Mart flyer.” “Walking on the beach at the U.S. Surf Open.” “The Miss Hamburg competition.” “At the dentist.” “At Ikea.” “By a random guy on the street. Then I lost 30 pounds.”
Biggest hassles of being a model:
Dirty old men … … … … … … … … … . 39
Too much travel … … … … … … … … . . 22
When the “look” changes … … … … … … . 8
Sore feet … … … … … … … … … … … . 4
Sore eyelashes … … … … … … … … … . . 3
Kate Moss:
Comeback queen … 68
Cautionary tale … 23
How much do you expect to make during Fashion Week?
“Nothing in New York, thousands in Europe.” “Approximately nothing.” “Three thousand dollars.” “Enough to cover the hotel.” “Tons of clothes.” “Twenty thousand dollars.” “Enough to buy a house.”
Who makes the best boyfriend?
Rock star … … … … … … … … … … . . 22
Investment banker … … … … … … … . . 16
Pro athlete … … … … … … … … … … . 16
Actor … … … … … … … … … … … … . 7
“Whoever loves you” … … … … … … … . . 3
Male model … … … … … … … … … … . 2
Donald Trump… … … … … … . 0 “Ewww.”
What’s your favorite book?
The Da Vinci Code (4); Harry Potter (3); the Bible (2); “anything by Dostoevsky” (2); The Bell Jar; Flowers in the Attic; Invisible Man; The Devil Wears Prada; The Odyssey; No One Here Gets Out Alive: The Biography of Jim Morrison; The Picture of Dorian Gray; On the Road; “my diary.”
After modeling, you plan to:
Go back to school … 33
Act … … … … … 14
Get married … … … … … … … … … … . 7
Design my own fashion line … … … … … . .4
“Produce films.” “Be in a band.” “Write.” “Study medicine.” “Paint.” “Go to law school.” “Be happy.” “Open a bakery.” “Be an accountant.” Next: Breakfast With Sam Champion
Have good intel? Send tips to intel@nymag.com.