Delusions of Glamour

The internet is like a funhouse mirror.

It lies to people. People who want fame can be famous. Kids who want to be adults can be adults, men who want to be women can be... well... you know.

The internet is a fake world of hidden agendas where personality quirks and traits become whole identities. Ironically, people often don't understand how the real and the virtual worlds often collide with fantasically disastrous results.

One of the worse disasters I have come into contact with are the internet models.

Much like anyone with a dream that may be unattainable, many of these women are pretty, maybe witty, and have a dream that their physical blessings will lead them to a career of looking pretty for money. With great hopes they put up websites dedicated to making them at least the next Vida Guerra.

Now, I know that some will be able to do Chingy's next music video and possibly even get a chance to walk at their local Sears fashion show. But the money in that... while decent for the work done, it's short money. This kind of change is honestly not worth the effort of getting photos, putting the effort into learning the walks, consistently getting shot down and (really) putting your faith and hope into modeling overall.

Modeling is a tough biz. I have had a couple friends wisely leave or get burnt out and they were legit models who were actually talented. They hit the sick height and weight requirements necessary to do the job... they had the smile... the look... the walk... and the time and confidence to spare. They had all they needed and made it a short career because they decided it wasn't THAT much fun, as most people with reasonably normal sized egos do. The shallowness, the petty people, the inconsistent work, and the strength to be judged and to look past others not looking past your flaws takes a toll. But even more than that... the industry doesn't have much longevity and I am unaware of any retirement plans. Finally they settled into careers which have, ultimately, more possibilities for the future with fond memories of a fun time in modeling.

These internet women usually don't quite fit the model fold whether they are too short, too large or simply not pretty. What makes this tragic, to me, is that I love people with big dreams of something grander than just being rich or famous. The willingness to work for success is beautiful. But these model dreams (and most acting ones too.. but that is a different subject) are based on the idea that it will be fun to be idolized and it's not much work... which... compared to REAL work.. it's not.

In the end, the internet will connect these "models" with shady photographers, crooked "agents", and other unscrupulous people. They also may mix with general 3rd tier photographers and agents that could give these women a possible lackluster career in modeling. Now, I wouldn't discourage even THIS if the women (and, lets be honest, some men) had careers on the side, which can be done. But this often isn't so. WAY too often years are left in the wake of unattainable dreams... or better put.... delusions of glamour. Therein the tragedy lies.

If time is the one resource that you can never get back... the one thing you cannot fix (ask Michael Jackson... he's still trying to find his "Childhood"). As a former actor now living far away from my childhood home of LA, I have seen the ravages of time on unprepared. From homeless, or the deflated folks trying to hold on to even slivers of past success it is NOT a pretty picture. All I hope is that these people have people around them that will assist them in insuring that a future dream doesn't become a nasty nightmare of reality.

I'm trying to shorten up these posts, btw.. but damn if I can stop myself from my usual blabbering. I apologize. Really, I do.