What do we mean by a resist your detractors? What is a detractor?
First, a “detractor” is someone who is a “nay-sayer,” a negative person, or just someone who doesn’t share your own optimism for your modeling career. When you start telling people that you want to become a model, you will get a lot of resistance from people. Surprisingly, even people who supposedly are looking out fear best interest, such as parents, boyfriends, girlfriends, friends, will start to tell you this:
“You cannot become a model.”
“You’re too tall!”
“You’re too short!”
“You are conventionally attractive.”
“Try to stick to your own league.”
“It’s a tough world out there, kid.”
“I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“You’re too young.”
When people say these things, they may have good intentions in their hearts. But you have to realize that there is a certain amount of jealousy coming from people who say this. People may be jealous because they don’t feel that they are attractive enough to be a model. Or they may be jealous because at one time in their life they had certain ambitions that they surrendered.
Suggested Answers to Your Detractors:
“You cannot become a model.”
Your Answer: “Why not?”
“You’re too tall!”
Your Answer: “Many successful models are five feet, eight inches or taller. Tall is good.”
You’re too short!
Your Answer: “The modeling industry needs models that reflect the body types of real people.”
“You are conventionally attractive.”
Your Answer: “So what? This describes most models.”
“Try to stick to your own league.”
Your Answer: “No successful model has ever stuck to her own league. Success is about striving for greater things in life.”
“It’s a tough world out there, kid.”
Your Answer: “And I’m tougher.”
“I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Your Answer: I won’t be hurt if I get the proper support and guidance from people like you. Surviving in this tough modeling business is all about having a good support network.”
“You’re too young.”
Your Answer: Most models started young.