Went to the Banana Republic Flagship Store during lunch with a coworker today to browse. I was there with said coworker looking at the reasonably priced T-shirts ($55) when a young girl with a camera approaches the two of us. Now, I am used to people approaching me with cameras, it seems people can’t help themselves. She asked us if we would do some modeling for her and her friends.
“My friends and me, we are working on a Marketing Project for
The Academy of Art University and we were wondering if you two would model some clothe for us.”
I was, of course, worried that my current
agency would frown on doing pro-bono work, but I thought this was for the betterment of humankind and lowered self esteems everywhere; if I can help launch the next wave of marketing professionals that will create bigger and better ways of making you all feel inadequate about your bodies and yourselves, I’ll do it! I’m a giver that way.
I told her I would be happy to model for her and her friends. My coworker friend declined. I think he was nervous his
employer would frown upon doing work outside of his contract. I can understand that.
The young girl said I could pick out an outfit I liked and go into the changing room, they would be waiting outside for me. Well, I said I would let
her choose my outfit – I felt if they were going to be marketing professionals they needed to learn that the Model never chooses his own clothes (we have stylists and designers for that. Duh!) When I asked for some Champagne, I was shocked, nay, horrified, to learn they did not have any with them, but, I reminded myself that they are young and didn't know any better. I felt it was necessary to give these young girls the benefit of my knowledge of the fashion industry and, in so doing, help them in the pursuit of this most respected of career choices, the Marketing Professional.
After the girls had found the clothes they wanted me to wear, I entered the “changing room” and changed into the outfit they had provided. Not a bad choice of shirt and slacks, but, then again, everything looks good on me, if I may be so modest.
As I exited the changing room, the girls were waiting for me in the foyer. They instructed me to step in front of the mirror and act as if I was checking the fit of the garment I was wearing. This was certainly something I could do as I am looking at myself in the mirror all the time. As I was checking the fit of the slacks around my buttocks, I was asked if I would wear one more item, a black pullover, I obliged. Again, I looked great, of course. As I was posing, the young girl taking the photos said, “Wow, you’re posing just like a real model!” I just smiled and winked at her. Ahh, the little people. So quaint.
After a few photos were taken, the girls thanked me profusely for my help. They said I had made their day and their assignment. I said, “of course I have.” As the girls walked off, I felt a sense of well being, warm with the knowledge I had helped the, clearly, less fortunate. For, if I must use my beauty, let it be used in the pursuit of better marketing strategies so people can know that it is the beautiful people of the world that make life worth living; I am so proud to be able to help with this in my own humble way.
