Just Say "No!"

Many models are also frequently invited to parties, nightclubs, new restaurants, gallery openings, charity galas, and other events. Although this is very enticing, it's also true that too many nights on the town can contribute to drug and alcohol abuse and leave you looking less than camera--ready.

The number of models who've used drugs and lost everything--careers, friends, possessions--is depressingly large. Besides the well--known cases, such as Margaux Hemingway and Gia--who were top models in the late 1970s and early 1980s--there are many less-famous models whose careers were derailed by drugs. Although it's probably true that these people might have become addicted even if they hadn't become models, it's also true that the pressures, rejection, and superficial values of the modeling industry can exacerbate drug problems. the fashion industry is also quite tolerant of models' drug problems. Kate Moss admitted that she smoked marijuana (and drank alcohol) pretty much continuously throughout her career, until al stay in a rehab clinic. Although not every model becomes an addict, drugs are a common problem throughout the industry.

Alcohol is also widely available in the fashion world. Backstage at runway shows, the champagne is always flowing, even at nine in the morning. While one glass of champagne isn't a problem, the easy accessibility of alcohol makes it more likely that some models develope problems. And the frantic pace of stress of some models' careers--they appear in a dozen fashion shows in three days, they have to fly somewhere new every night, or they're just running around town meeting 15 potential clients--makes it easy to understand why some models start to drink too much.

If you're still gung-ho about a modeling career, even after hearing all the pitfalls of the fashion industry, your next step is to figure out what level of modeling you'd like to pursue.