Model Behavior: Caroline Harty Tells All

Most young girls look at models and think that they have it all. From fancy clothes to daring makeup and perfectly-styled hair, it seems like the best job in the world. The media has painted the job to be a world-traveling, never-ending party. Under all of the glamour, however, modeling reveals itself to be a difficult field that requires a lot of sacrifice.

We sat down with from Caroline Harty, a junior at Elon who works as an editorial model, to get the inside scoop on modeling.

What agency are you signed with?

I signed with “Social New York” in June of 2019. I have a three-year contract with them until June of 2021, meaning I can’t work for anyone/ anything without getting their permission first. I’m still technically signed with them, but I haven’t been working that much this year due to COVID-19 and my busy schedule. 

If you go to the “Development” tab on their site you can find my portfolio and look through some of my professional pictures!

What did your daily life look like as a model?

“When I was really involved with modeling, I also had an internship in NYC at the same time. So my daily life would be commuting into the city by train (about 40 min) to get to my internship at a PR firm for a 9-5 workday. After that, I would take the subway to get to the Social office. There, I would work with other models to develop my skills as a model. These skills ranged from learning the details of runway walks to practicing my digitals (basic set of pictures that the clients review when looking for models), to practicing conversations with clients, to workouts, and so much more. I would be in these workshops from 6-9 pm every weekday. Once I commuted back home (another 40 min), I would get back and go straight to the gym for an hour every day, doing the exercises I was assigned to keep my figure. As you can imagine, this cycle was very exhausting, but I was willing to do it because of how excited I was to be a part of the industry. “

“A day for me on the weekends would be me going into the Social office and having my agent going to castings with me across the city for various brands. When I would work on the weekends, the shoots were all over the place. Some in NYC, some in Westchester, but usually they would take all day.”

What was your favorite part of the industry?

“My favorite part of the industry was definitely the people I got to meet. It’s such a creative industry with a fun, exciting culture. The glam before shoots and runway shows was always really exciting for me too because it made the job feel more professional.  From the other models I worked with to the photographers, everyone was always down to have a good, fun time with the work we were doing.”

What was your least favorite part of the industry? 

“My least favorite part of the industry was the unhealthy mindset surrounding body image, especially for women. Along with all of the other models, I was put on a rigid, unsustainable, and unhealthy lifestyle. This involved both dieting and excessive exercising and wasn’t something I saw as being a problem until I was a part of it. They always say not to compare yourself to models and influencers because a lot of the “perfect” bodies we see on social media stem from dangerous habits. I never truly came to terms with this until I was that girl with the “perfect” body, but was starving on the inside. The standards for beauty in today’s society need to be changed to be more inclusive and accepting of what real women look like.” 

How do you think your modeling career has impacted you today?

“It has definitely made me much more self-aware. I’ve learned what works for my body and my mind, and what doesn’t. Through modeling, I’ve learned that there’s more to me than a pretty smile, much more. I’m stronger than I was before I began modeling because I know what my body needs. I’ve learned more about what this industry demands and expects. However, it was still a super fun and glamorous experience and I’m glad I had it because, without it, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. “

What would you tell a young girl who wants to get into the modeling world?

“I would tell her to follow her dream! I was once that young girl who would practice my catwalks in my bedroom. Since I was a little girl, I’ve always wanted to become a model because that’s what my mom did as a career throughout college. I would encourage someone who is interested in it to try it out because that’s what I did. Although everyone has different experiences with it, my best advice would just be to remain cognisant of the challenges the industry may put on your mind and body.” 

Just like any job, modeling encompasses the good, the bad, and the ugly. Caroline accredits who she is today partly to living in the modeling world. Although there were times when it didn’t prove to be everything it had cracked up to be,  she wouldn’t trade her experiences for the world.