“It’s just always been my job – I’ve never associated it with who I am.”
I wanted to take a second to introduce myself to my new readers and for those of you who have kept up me with from the beginning! My name is Raquel McKinney and I’m a 25 year old girl taking life day by day. I’m a homebody, introverted family girl with a modeling career that entails constant travel, being away from home, and uncertainty. Funny how that works, isn’t it? I’ve been modeling since the age of 15 so it’s all I’ve ever really known, but it’s just always been my job – I’ve never associated it with who I am. Part of it could be because my mom always told me the second it went to my head, she would pull me out of it, and part of it is because my personality is the total opposite of my alter ego.
There are definitely some misconceptions people have about being a model and what it’s actually like. While photoshoots are fun and I essentially play dress up for a living, I never know when I am going to work next, I travel to different cities or countries by myself, and I leave my family more than I would like. It’s all part of the business and I’ve been getting judged solely on my appearance since I was just a kid weighing less than 100 pounds, with my curly hair I didn’t know how to style (still don’t) and braces.
I would get picked on in middle school for being a late bloomer, flat chested, prude, too thin, and I wore bifocals. I’ve dealt with mean girls in school my whole life so you’re not alone. I found an industry though where I fit right in and these “differences” actually worked in my favor. I’ve been told to lose weight, I’ve been turned down from jobs, but 10 years later I’m working for clients I always wanted to work for. Persistence, having confidence in YOURSELF despite the opinions of others, and knowing who you are as a person will get you anywhere you want to go.
So many people today experience cyberbullying, are dealing with insecurities, or are comparing their lives to others on social media. Statistics show that 72% of children report that they are cyberbullied because of their looks and one out of three kids feel they are more accepted on social media than in real life. I think Millennials and Generation Z are really impressionable and it’s important to remain as transparent as possible and know that social media is just a highlight reel and that mean kids are temporary.
Everyone goes through it or has been through it and I promise there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. Keep on keeping on…
xx Raquel
You’re amazing