A catwalker reveals all.
- The Betty Editors, BettyConfidential.com
Is it hard for you to keep your model
weight?
I was always very thin growing up. I was very active as well, so I
stayed slim no matter what I ate. I finally started growing some
curves when I was about 20, and now I do have to work a little to
keep a model's weight. If I don't eat fresh, healthy food
and get a reasonable amount of exercise, it's easy for me to
fall out of shape.
Read more about the fashion industry's obsession with skinny
What are a typical day's meals like for
you?
For breakfast, coffee is a must! Also, I'll have a whole grain
oat bar or oatmeal, a low-fat yogurt, or a piece of fruit. If I
have a shoot or a show in the daytime, I'll usually hold out,
if I can, on eating a meal until after work, snacking on fruit or
veggies or something light. If not, I'll have a salad or soup
for lunch, and some lean protein and veggies for dinner. I try not
to eat late at night, but if I do get late-night munchies, I try to
stick to fruit or yogurt, if I get a sweet craving, or pretzels to
curb my salt addiction.
What's your favorite kind of food when you go
out?
When eating out, I prefer Japanese and tapas, hands down. But I
really love to cook, too! My favorite meal to cook is breakfast,
especially egg white omelettes with veggies and avocado, cooked in
I Can't believe It's Not Butter or olive oil, served with
dry whole grain toast. I live on lean meats, shrimp and grilled
fish, with different veggies tossed around in a pan with
low-calorie marinades or dressings and lots of herbs and spices
like cilantro, basil and Old Bay. I like my food to have lots of
flavor, which I can get just by using lots of herbs and spices and
searching for the best low-cal sauces.
Guys DO hate that, and I hate to be that girl, too! If I'm
going to go on a date with a guy, and he wants to do dinner, then I
eat dinner! There's always something on every menu that is
healthy, or can be simply altered to be healthy. You can always
order a garden salad with oil and vinegar or some steamed veggies
with grilled chicken.
Is everybody always trying to feed you?
We’re often offered free "model dinners" at the nicest
restaurants and unlimited drinks from the most posh clubs and
lounges. It’s so easy to be tempted into constant indulging,
especially when it’s free. However, the best thing for the body is
a consistent, healthy routine without any shocks or surprises.
More often than not, I skip out on food until after a shoot. If anything, I will have a piece of fruit or a protein bar and some coffee until after I'm done. Although this is probably not healthy, I find that it keeps my stomach at its flattest while I'm working, and I can always eat afterwards. I have known girls in the industry to suffer from eating disorders, and it’s a very sad and lonely thing. I think this is a major societal problem, not just within the modeling industry.
We recently did a story about plus-size models,
featuring an
interview with the beautiful Crystal Renn. Do you think
plus-size models have it harder than skinny models?
I would assume that [plus-size models] are under the same pressure
from their agents and clients to stay fresh looking, healthy and
personally proportionate. I think that socially they have it harder
than skinny models, just as plus-sized people have it harder than
thin people in society. I feel like the difficulty that plus-sized
girls have is in maintaining the right bigger measurements while
somehow still looking healthy and not "fat."
What is your advice for women who strive to be as thin
as the models they see in magazines and TV?
It is almost impossible to achieve the model body type, especially
the doctored version that is depicted in most advertising. I also
strongly believe that there are different standards for people in
the entertainment industry due to the sometimes unusual
work-related physical requirements, so woman shouldn’t be looking
up to celebrities as role models for their weight either. It's
important for women to be realistic about their goals, and
reasonable in their methods of attaining them. The most beautiful
body is one that’s well cared for through exercise and healthy
nutrition.
What are some of your healthy tips?
Everything in moderation, and you have to practice restraint. It’s so easy to say, but so hard to do. If you want to look good, you have to eat healthy and exercise. If you absolutely MUST have a brownie, find an organic brownie made with applesauce instead of butter, and stevia instead of corn syrup. Your thighs will thank you!
What do you do for exercise?
I like to take classes at my gym. The group experience helps me to
enjoy exercise. I like pilates, cardio classes, and I love the
stairmaster. I try to work out about 5 days a week, for varying
times and intensities based on my schedule and mood.
Fashion isn’t your only interest. You also started
Feed A Model with some of your model friends, in which
you sell your artwork for charities like Operation
Smile and The Boys and Girls Club of America. Tell us more about
how Feed A Model works.
We sell our artwork for Feed A Model; we actually don't own the
rights to sell most of our modeling photos! We raise money for
various charities through our events. For example, for our
Valentine's Day Party this year, all of our members, sponsored
by and dressed in Petro Zillia designs, made hand-painted
Valentines to sell to event-goers who wanted to help support the
National Breast Cancer Foundation. By the end of the event, we had
all kinds of other people involved in the making and selling
process with us! It’s very rewarding to feel like you've helped
someone tap into something within themselves, especially when
achieving that simultaneously benefits a major charitable
organization.
Editor’s note: The opinions Michelle expresses, and the experiences she talks about are her own, and are not meant to represent the opinions or experiences of others in the fashion and entertainment businesses.
Photos Courtesy of Michelle
Easter
To read more from BettyConfidential | Naked Plus Size Models - A Cop Out?
