slides gave me an ultimatum
if you have been wondering why i have not been posting a lot since coming back from germany, it's because my agency gave me an ultimatum: either quit doing the technology stuff, or leave the agency. they say that fashion and technology do not go together.
they say,that i can not do both things and that i must choose to either be a model, or do the tech stuff. they say i will not find an agency in paris who will accept for me to do the both. and so i have been thinking deeply about what i am to be doing.
modeling makes me money, tech does not. i love tech, why should i have to give it up.
my two male model friends, koos and nathan show up on my doorstep as i am not feeling well, and i ask them what they think. you can hear their interview.
can models do more than one thing?
Great article!
Posted by: Gutschein | 02/17/2007 at 11:10 PM
Hey,
My name is Marquiesha Hodge I am a 14 year old female in Benton Harbor Michigan. I love modeling and everything about it. It is my dream of someday to model and be the best at it in everyway. But everytime I sign up or register to be a modeler someone ask for different amounts of money and whenever I send the money to them they don't ever send me more information on what to do as far as modelind so if there is someone who need a teen model please e-mail me at www.missqueen_beeps@yahoo.com
Thank you
Marquiesha Hodge,
Posted by: Marquiesha | 12/28/2006 at 01:50 AM
You have to trust in your self, and i think that you have to keep doing both things!.
Posted by: Carlos | 11/18/2006 at 04:18 AM
yeah. you can do it at the same time. I've watched the movie "raising helen" and she is working on a fashion agency but she was fired cause she has three kids to raise by her sister who passed away. but at the end the agency still want her to work there. cause she's talented, she loves her work, she has great detemination on her work. at the end she was promoted to become a agent in that agency! me, myself dreams to work on a fashion agency nor to become a fashion model! :)
Posted by: Ztac | 05/21/2006 at 08:41 AM
OMG - so terrible. A big hug ..
Posted by: Beth | 02/08/2006 at 03:27 AM
This is an appaling abuse of your personal, professional and human rights! Fight this but only if you've got a reasonable chance of coming out on top ;-). Don't go hungry trying to beat the system.
Modelling won't last forever so keep a daily diary of events and you may well find a book in there sometime in the future.
Best wishes
John
Posted by: John A Thomson | 02/03/2006 at 03:31 PM
At the risk of repeating what everyone else has already said: dump the creep! Find an agency that *welcomes* a model who is increasing their value as she is increasing her own value.
Posted by: Martin-Éric | 02/03/2006 at 03:11 PM
Nokia, Ericsson, Intel, Cisco, Google, Yahoo, or even Microsoft: this is a great opportunity to hire a smart and beautiful woman who truly connects with the mobile global village society.
Hire Anina! Make her Chief Blogging Officer, and let her model in your ads so she can combine two things she loves doing.
Posted by: Erik van Eykelen | 02/02/2006 at 08:22 AM
When I give tech presentations I always start with this quote from Erik Bonabeau: Managers don't mind problems they cannot solve, but they hate solutions they do not understand. Does it not say it all?
Posted by: Ewan McIntosh | 02/01/2006 at 04:00 PM
sending positive vibes your way.
seems like this is a little crunch time for you.
just stay focused and remember who you are. keep to your dreams. keep your principles intact.
it's worked up to now. it'll work from here on.
this too shall pass.
Posted by: charlie | 02/01/2006 at 01:55 PM
Hello Anina,
There is a debate going on here...if you understand spanish.
http://salsadigital.typepad.com/salsadigital/2006/01/o_desfilas_o_bl.html
Posted by: Alvaro Andoin | 02/01/2006 at 12:39 PM
Anina,
I really don't know what to say except that I hope you end up on top!! Keep your head up girl and give 'em hell!!!
Posted by: Darla | 01/31/2006 at 09:11 PM
Sounds like they (your agency) are rearing their ugly-jealous heads over all of your positive publicity (most likely more than they receive) and rise to fame ...and the fact that you are are a beautiful model who happens to be brainy, tech savvy, industrious, a visionary, creative and intriguing...guess it's just all too much for them to absorb and understand! I love your postings with my a.m. coffee...modeling was a world I left at 24 out of sheer boredom, but I still love to peek into that world through your posts! Thank you for providing us with such a wonderful treat...we will miss you if you decide not to do this anymore! :-(
Posted by: Rebecca | 01/31/2006 at 07:43 PM
Hey Anina, really sorry that you have to go through this. I don't understand why your agency gave this ultimantum. I believe that most supermodels would have hobbies and maybe other interests other than modeling, such as business, marketing or technology like you, so don't let your agency stop you from whatever you like to do.
As for "fashion and technology do not go together" is just a piece of crap. If your agency feels that way, why would they have a website? why would they have emails setup? As far as I know, fashion is about business too and business will never too far from technology. They would need technology to communicate with their clients or bookers, etc.
I agree with what Oskar said, you should do more modeling and probably reduce the tech stuff. Your life is about modeling, so don't let your hobbies interfere with your real career =).
Posted by: ReZA! | 01/31/2006 at 03:28 PM
It doesn't seem to be any of their business, does it? They don't have a right to dictate what you in your spare time (or what doesn't interfere with your work), you are not an indentured servant.
I won't say take a stand and put your career in jeopardy, but there are always compromises that can be made that might satisfy both parties. Good luck, adn keep us updated.
(sent here via Martin aus Muenchen)
Posted by: desyl | 01/31/2006 at 02:06 PM
Wow.. that's not good.. Sorry to hear that.
Next time they give you crap about technology just say:
"Don't hate me because I'm brilliant"
Honestly... you could make a BIG deal about this and really propel your modeling career. Just say that they don't think smart women can be models... Get on Oprah and let the world know how you feel!
Posted by: Kevin Burton | 01/31/2006 at 04:11 AM
Anina,
Dont let anyone cage you.
Even if it leads to disaster (ie the end of your modelling career) isnt that better than life in a cage?
That's what you need to decide I guess, noone can make that decision for you or tell you what it is.
I would say though that the fact they actually said you wont find another agency means they are scared you will tell them to go fuck themselves. If they fear it, they must think it is an option. If they think it is an option it probably is. I'm sure you are putting your feelers out and will find out for your self on this score.
Good luck, I will send mojo your way.
Posted by: Tony | 01/31/2006 at 03:38 AM
i think though this is an unfortunate situation, you have to see the problem from the perspective of your agency: you are a liability for them, they spend resources and time on you, and if you are at, say, a blogging/mobility conference for a week and can't take jobs or castings they're selecting for you because of that, then you cause them to lose potential revenue and hence they become less profitable. as such, they will want you to either choose modeling or blogging because they certainly know you aren't being profitable enough to stay on their roll.
it's hard to be a part-time model and a full-time blogger/tech girl or vice versa--that is, you may not be able to explore your full potential in either field alone if you try to do them concomitantly. that said, it is apparent to everyone that your mobility projects are inherently linked to fashion and your life and experiences as a model, so to lose one aspect (ie, your agency and thus your modeling jobs) is to lose an essential part of the other.
it's a tough situation and i don't think there may be a clear-cut resolution unless you want to rethink your projects and base them on your *past* experiences as a model (that is if you quit your agency), which could be just as interesting and innovative.
bon courage.
Posted by: mikey | 01/31/2006 at 12:37 AM
All my support and the best of luck.
Support seems to be rallying in the blogs. Hope that helps in these difficult times.
Posted by: Ron van den Boogaard | 01/31/2006 at 12:12 AM
It's their business, and their choice on how to run it. If it runs them into the ground, oh well.
If they gave you an ultimatum, then the choice is simple. All of the resulting drama can be avoided if that's the choice you make.
There are tons of options, one might be to start a geek agency of your own.
Posted by: Forrest | 01/30/2006 at 11:38 PM
i've been dooced from two gigs for having a blog. the difference? i'm a technologist (well, a designer for technology).
if that's how they want to play, go shopping for a new agency, be upfront and proud about this side of you and sign on another dotted line.
and in the "worst case scenario," you freelance or start your own agency. fuck 'em.
Posted by: spcoon | 01/30/2006 at 11:32 PM
Hi... I don' understud your agency... Don't give up... Your agency sucks... You are better then them... I will visit you soon... I hope you will be here...
Posted by: Travnik's Night Walker | 01/30/2006 at 11:11 PM
anina .. this is not a technology issue this is pure and simple a firm who fears the loss of one its major assets (you) who is becoming an important brand (anina)who may indeed over shadow the agency's brand. Good business/marketing would be to leverage the visibility and work you are doing in the blog/social media space and position the agency as an innovator in the "new" modeling world. Like it or not, technology is not going away but those who can harness and capitalize on the benefits and results will be the ones who do not fall off the runway!
What's the trite saying ... when one door closes a window opens? Without a doubt through your successes you'll prove to them that they missed the boat on this one! All the very best.
Posted by: toby - the diva ;-) | 01/30/2006 at 09:50 PM
Scoble makes note of your work with Nokia: http://tinyurl.com/dpunw
I'd have to agree with the commenters above and around the blogospere, find a new agency with a clue. Like Parmet said, for his next employer he'd make sure they'd read The Cluetrain Manifesto.
Posted by: R C | 01/30/2006 at 09:04 PM
You don't have to choose between modelling and technology, you have to choose between an agency that thinks it owns you, and taking a couple of days to find a new agent. You're already a much bigger celeb than anyone else at that agency. Fire them.
Posted by: Some Guy | 01/30/2006 at 08:39 PM