Too Fat at Size 4, Kicked off the Runway
Nabys Vielman contacted me personally and asked me to walk in his New York Fashion Week show. Because I normally receive monetary compensation for modeling, I agreed only after he confirmed in writing that every model would receive one published editorial photograph in exchange for participating.
I have worked in fashion for years. I understand the industry, know my value, and recognize the difference between a paid booking and an exchange. Since modeling is part of my livelihood, I wanted to ensure that participating would provide something professionally useful to me.
The day before the show, I spent more than an hour fitting the original outfit. When I arrived on show day, Nabys told me I looked fat in it and changed my look to what was essentially a muumuu. Although I am a sample size and have previously recovered from an eating disorder, I remained professional. I accepted the change and continued preparing.
I arrived at 4 p.m. and spent hours backstage with my hair and makeup completed, ready to work. The atmosphere became increasingly stressful, and several people commented on Nabys’ frenetic behavior. Even so, I stayed focused and professional. I was there to help bring his vision to life.
As the evening progressed, I watched approximately 90 percent of the models participate in the editorial shoot, with some photographed in multiple outfits. Despite being promised one editorial photograph, I was left out.
More than an hour before the show, while the photographer appeared to be available, I politely asked whether five minutes could be found to photograph my look. I even offered to stay after the runway, although that would likely have kept me there until midnight.
When I asked the producer about the photograph I had been promised, she called Nabys over. Rather than explaining the situation or trying to correct it, he became angry, accused me of “bringing him down,” removed me from the show, and told me to leave in front of everyone.
Several stagehands mouthed “sorry” to me, while other models encouraged me to stay and said he might calm down. He never did.
I was not allowed to walk the runway, despite attending the fitting, traveling to the venue, preparing for hours, accepting an insulting comment about my body, and remaining ready to work. Including the fitting, preparation, travel, and more than five hours backstage, I had committed roughly ten hours of my time.
A well-run show should be able to distinguish between an innocent oversight and a model asking for an agreed-upon exchange to be honored. Mistakes happen, but a professional response would have been to acknowledge the issue and make a reasonable effort to correct it. I was not asking for special treatment. I was asking for the same opportunity Nabys had explicitly promised to every model.
Models are often expected to accept long waits, uncomfortable conditions, and last-minute changes. What we should not be expected to accept is having the agreed compensation for our time withdrawn after we have fulfilled our responsibilities.
The issue is larger than one photograph. It is about whether a model can advocate for herself without being humiliated or punished. I stayed quiet after the comment about my body, but when I respectfully asked about the professional benefit I had been promised in place of payment, I was removed from the show.
I showed up, prepared, waited, stayed professional, and remained willing to work. I asked for one photograph and five minutes of time.
Instead, I left without the promised editorial, without walking the runway, and without any acknowledgment of the time and effort I had invested. What I received was humiliation, embarrassment, and renewed insecurity about my body.
I was not asking for charity. I was asking for the agreed exchange for my work. I deserved basic professionalism and respect for my time, dignity, and talent.
the above is my subjective recount of my experience at NYFW
No Comments