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Why One Model Quit Fashion Week: A Candid Confession

A former runway model reveals the harsh realities, hidden stress, and backstage struggles that led her to walk away from Fashion Week.

By Medha deb

Created on Oct 2, 2025

A former runway model reveals the harsh realities, hidden stress, and backstage struggles that led her to walk away from Fashion Week.

Model Confessional: Why I Quit Fashion Week

Runway modeling is iconic. Yet beyond the glitz, high heels, and designer drama, the industry’s dark side often stays hidden. Here, an anonymous model—once a regular on the world’s biggest runways—shares the unfiltered story of why she walked away from Fashion Week for good.

The Glossy Illusion vs. Reality

When most people imagine being a runway model, they picture celebrity parties, front-row seats, and endless praise. In reality, the experience is grueling. Backstage horror stories and relentless schedules turn dream jobs into emotional and physical marathons. This model worked Fashion Week from ages 18 to 21, eyeing major campaigns. However, she learned that booking shows didn’t always bring glamour—often it brought broken hair, battered feet, and bank balances barely covering rent.

Runway pay is modest: Around $200 per show.
Constant stress: Models hustle for fittings, castings, and approval from designers.
Physical toll: Fried hair, blisters, and clogged pores became the norm.
Unstable income: Paying $1500/month rent was tough on runway earnings.

Behind the Scenes: The Brutal Schedule

While the spectacle of Fashion Week captures headlines, the real chaos happens in the weeks leading up to the main events. Models spend days dashing across cities for fittings, rehearsals, and castings, with barely enough time to grab a lunch—and often feeling too stressed to eat, anyway.

Endless fittings and castings: Success hinges on showing up—constantly.
Weight pressures: Agents and designers scrutinize your body relentlessly.
High stress: The anxiety of casting calls and size checks is persistent.

Designers sometimes make snap judgments about an outfit’s fit on a model, only to call their agents later to question minor weight fluctuations. These pressures contribute to widespread anxiety and body image issues throughout the profession.

What Happens to Your Hair, Skin, and Nails?

Beauty is essential in modeling—but maintaining it is a struggle. Runway season after season, elaborate hair styles and intense makeup routines take a heavy toll.

Hair Damage

Super fine, thin, and bleached hair becomes a battle zone during shows.
Stylist indifference: Little concern for the model’s hair health; it’s all about the show.
Extreme product use: Gel, hairspray, and constant brushing create dryness and breakage.
Visible hair loss: Hair falls in clumps after multiple back-to-back shows.
Routine repairs: Intensive conditioning and post-season haircuts are mandatory to recover.

Nail and Skin Issues

Nail Damage: Bad habits like nail-biting lead to frequent acrylics, making nails thin and weak.
Blisters and foot pain: Poorly fitted shoes at castings result in frequent blisters.
Shoe scarcity: Designers order limited sizes; latecomers face the agony of squeezing into the wrong fit.
Clogged pores and breakouts: Layers of makeup and physical stress show on the skin after every show.

Beauty—at a Cost

While some stylists and makeup artists try to be gentle, most are laser-focused on the show, treating models as little more than mannequin heads. The psychological cost is high; many models feel dehumanized and ignored backstage.

Physical Stressor	Impact	Frequency
Hair Styling	Breakage, hair loss, split ends	Daily during Fashion Week
Nail Treatments	Thin, weak nails	Multiple times per season
Unfitted Shoes	Blisters, foot pain	Every casting
Extreme Makeup	Clogged pores	Each show

Financial Realities: Is Fashion Week Worth It?

Contrary to popular belief, Fashion Week does not offer a lucrative payout for most models. The highly competitive environment and low per-show payments make it difficult to build financial stability from walking runways alone.

Low earnings: $200 per show is standard, minus agency fees.
High living costs: Rent alone ($1500/month) can consume a model’s entire income.
No guarantees: Jobs are short-term and subject to cancellation.
Long hours: The intense workload extends well beyond the runway itself.

The Social Side: Pressure and Perceptions

Even with the harsh realities, there’s undeniable social equity to walking in top shows for brands like Prada or Oscar de la Renta. Being able to claim a spot in these coveted events offers bragging rights and can help in future career negotiations. However, models often realize that many clients outside the high-fashion circuit care more about professionalism and less about runway status.

Pros of Fashion Week Experience

Networking opportunities
Prestige on resume
Access to industry insiders
Short-lived attention

Cons of Fashion Week Experience

Emotional exhaustion
Physical wear and tear
Unstable income
Dehumanizing treatment

Why She Walked Away—And What Came Next

Over time, the model featured in this confessional came to a pivotal realization: The pursuit of high-fashion runways was not the only path to success and stability. Instead, transitioning to catalog and print advertising work offered better pay, greater respect, and far less stress. Eventually, she left Fashion Week behind, focusing on opportunities that rewarded her talent and preserved her well-being.

Print and catalog jobs pay far better and offer more stable income.
Improved work environment: Less stressful, more positive treatment by clients.
Greater personal agency: Models have more control over their work and schedules.

The transition away from runway modeling wasn’t just career-driven—it was essential for her mental and physical health. The model learned that some of the most rewarding jobs are those that ditch the prestige for professionalism.

Lessons for Aspiring Models

This confessional provides essential guidance for those chasing fashion dreams:

Prioritize well-being: Glamour fades, health lasts.
Know your worth: Prestige is not always profitable.
Value sustainable work: Catalog and print can be more rewarding than runway gigs.
Speak up for yourself: Demand respect from agents, clients, and stylists alike.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Fashion Week really as glamorous as social media shows?

No. While the events are high-profile, the workload is extreme, and the physical toll rarely matches the curated images seen online.

How much do models usually earn during Fashion Week?

Most models earn around $200 per show—not enough to cover living expenses, especially with agency fees and city rents.

What are the most common health issues models face?

Hair breakage, skin breakouts, weak nails, malnourishment, and blisters are typical, compounded by stress and anxiety.

Is it easier to succeed as a print/catalog model?

Many find catalog and print work offers better pay and stability, with less pressure than runway modeling.

Does runway experience help with other modeling jobs?

It can provide prestige and networking, but many clients value professionalism over runway credits.

Key Takeaways for the Modeling Industry

The industry is slowly changing: Today, there is growing awareness around model health and well-being.
Respect for individuality: Some agencies and stylists are learning to prioritize models’ unique needs.
Empowerment: Models are increasingly speaking up to demand better conditions and fairer pay.

Final Thoughts: Redefining Success

The runway may be a rite of passage, but true modeling success is about finding balance and self-respect. As this confessional shows, knowing when to walk away can be a power move—one celebrated long after the lights dim on Fashion Week’s stage.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

Read full bio of medha deb