Perpetuated by the glitzy ads and commercials that spur consumer spending and fuel aspirational daydreams, one of the most enduring misconceptions about modeling is the belief that the glamour flows unabated into a model's everyday life. And while there are notable exceptions who've been launched into the stratosphere of penthouse suites and private jets, most models I know contend with a markedly more modest way of life.
Scraping by on a modest budget of sometimes as little as USD$65 a week (advanced from future earnings and often contingent on steady bookings and maintaining measurements) and huddled up in apartments that can sometimes house as many as 10, model living is traditionally basic and threadbare. Events called "Models Nights", where drinks and sometimes dinner are typically free of charge, can help defray the cost of going out, but after covering daily transportation and food costs, there still isn't much left of that $65 to stow away at the end of the week.
And coming home... Perish the thought of doorman buildings and walk-in closets. Model living often equates to bunk beds, disaster-zone kitchens and shared bathrooms (sometimes 4 to a room - think bunk beds). Obviously some are better than others but here's a sampling of some of the ones I've experienced first-hand.
To be fair, the model apartment experience can be a lot like summer camp, and though communal living isn't for everyone, the cramped conditions often do engender a strong sense of camaraderie as well as an adventurous spirit to go forth and explore.
