Should Models have Social Media?

To have or not to have – Social Media 

In recent years social media has both catapulted those in the fashion industry to great heights of popularity, being a source of free publicity whilst at the same time, having the ability to quickly cause the ultimate career demise of the same people that aim to use it to their advantage. Why is this and should the modelling world use with boundless enthusiasm or steer well clear? 

We only need to go onto Twitter or Instagram to see that there is a new ‘breed’ of model who almost certainly owe their careers to their savvy use of social media. Is there anything to be gained from publicising your every move, or, is in fact the opposite true? 

Today’s models have no need to leave the comfort of their beds when some can casually earn six figure sums by simply hitting the share button and that is before various agencies and advertisers offer them incentives to plug their products to their 65 million plus followers! 

However, as with most things this can work both ways. As quickly as you become ‘the next best thing’ all can fall around you by spur of the moment rants such as model Leomie Anderson’s recent tweet regarding the standard of make-up artist at New York Fashion Week. “Of course I get given to the makeup artist who had ONE brown foundation she was trying to mix with white on a sly because she’s not equipped,” Anderson Tweeted. “Had to ask her straight ‘do you have foundation for my skin tone orrrr?’ My girl started sweating and said ‘I like to mix brands.’” Valid point regarding diversity in the industry or fame gone to her head? A majority of the time the media depict a certain outlook that blames the model for, in this case cultural issues. Some make the point that we all have good and bad days at work yet a cultural issue in a banking firm attracts outrage. In the modelling industry it's more about the model's voice attracting outrage. 

Add to that Victoria’s secret model Jourdan Dunn’s damning comments regarding the company’s highly anticipated runway show. Dunn, who has appeared in the show herself several times, took to Twitter to notify everyone that she was “Feeling so much better about not doing BS ... sorry I mean VS now that Rihanna isn’t doing it also,” she tweeted, instantly revealing that she would not be appearing at the upcoming show. Whilst the Tweet was deleted a short time after, was the damage already done?! Whilst Some of today’s biggest Models Gigi Hadid and Kendell Jenner appeared more than happy to be appearing in the very same show slated by Dunn. 

It seems that in order for a model to stay at the top, they should have a mass following on social media and stay engaged with their adoring fans. Although, when looking at some of the greats such as Helena Christensen and Malgosia Bela, both of whom have years of top scale work behind them, neither has felt the need to broadcast their every move via social media with, what seems, very little detriment. 

So, whilst we are surrounded with endless opportunities to take videos, post blogs and inundate the world with selfies to show ‘we are here’ are we heading toward a place where this becomes the norm, or will the mystery surrounding a person come back into the fashion industry.