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Runway Models During a Global Pandemic


Many Models booked jobs for New York and Paris Fashion Week; now, they are struggling to pay bills. Jobs, in the fashion industry, like many other industries, are decreasing rapidly. Runway models have always faced questionable working contracts. All Models do not get legal protections and benefits, which is already risky financially for new and upcoming models. A labor rights non-profit, Model Alliance, conducted a survey. They reached out to 212 working models and asked them how COVID-19 affected their careers. One model said, “I felt like I just got here, and then Coronavirus happened.” The model was booked for multiple shows, and now they are all canceled. The model needed those shows so bills could be paid. Now, Photoshoots for magazines and Runway shows are postponed because of shelter in place laws. About half of the participating models surveyed said they had not received money from their agencies and clients. Two-thirds of the models don’t know how they are going to pay for housing, and one-fifth said they had no health insurance during a pandemic. This survey also showed inequality in fashion modeling. The survey showed that 86 percent of white models could afford necessities needed for survival, while only 60 percent of black models can afford necessities. Many Models feel very confident about continuing their craft. While it may mean wearing gloves and a face mask, it will help put food on the table.

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