We have all heard the stories about "dumb models." And we have all, at one time or another, assumed that a beautiful person is a bimbo without ever talking to him or her. Yes, even I am guilty of such thoughts, although I, myself, am a member of the modeling world. This makes me a traitor to my fellow models because I know that for the most part, it is a myth. To use a worn cliché, you should not judge a book by its cover. I’m not decreeing that all models have the brains to become neurosurgeons. Civil engineering degree is not a prerequisite for our job, true. But all I’m saying is that we deserve a chance to combat this negative connotation. It’s offensive to say that all models are dense twits. Of course, there will always be a few models who sully our reputation, but let us try to abandon this generalization that beauty equals brainlessness.
Speaking for myself, I am the first to admit that modeling does not inspire us to create Nobel Prize award winning works. It is, after all, a job that focuses primarily on one’s aesthetic value. My point, however, is that just because modeling is our profession, it should not automatically insinuate that we lack the brainpower to do anything else. The profuse opportunities provided by modeling are golden. Travel, great pay packets, and meeting people are a few of the grandiose perks. Nevertheless, one of the greatest things about modeling is that it proffers possibilities to branch out into other things.
Consequently, this is where my story begins.
I completed my Bachelor of Communications/Business in Australia, majoring in marketing, media studies, and Spanish. I received an offer to come to the Philippines to model. The money was fantastic. It would have been ridiculous to decline. Besides, to use another cliché, "you’re only young once," right? So, one thing led to another until one day I realized that I had become a "model" without actually intending to. The experiences were overwhelming. Traveling on my own, conquering a new country with a different language, meeting unique people, and surviving homesickness were just a few of the "struggles" I enjoyed facing.
On the other hand, even with all these experiences my brain began to get restless. I began feeling guilty. I felt that I was wasting my education. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love modeling. I’d be foolish not to. But I did feel a desperate need to use my degree. That’s how Tabu Swimwear was born. I, with a my business partner, import swimwear. And that is how Amanda the entrepreneur came to be. Now I have to careers: One afforded me travel options and money (modeling), and the other allowed me to use my knowledge. But don’t get me wrong, the money in business is good, too.
Tabu Swimwear has been a roller coaster ride into adulthood. While I completed numerous business courses in university, nothing could have prepared me for the work that Tabu would demand from me. Operating a business is no mean feat. We have our ups and downs with it, and we are still very much on a learning curve. Next year we hope to launch our own store. The ironic detail is that without modeling I would not have been able to start up a business. The profits from my modeling projects have been invested in Tabu Swimwear.
As if life could not get any more hectic, a third career fell into my lap…that of a Channel V VJ. Vee-jaying has been a terrific experience. It has helped me overcome my shyness, has permitted me to meet music superstars, and allowed me to explore other facets of my personality.
I’m not a rare breed. There are many models who use their careers as a stepping-stone for other things. That’s good. There are those who combine modeling with another profession. That’s good, too. But modeling does not guarantee a place "upstairs," but it can open doors, and it’s actually the first step that’ll make all the difference.