The world of fashion is glamorous, exciting, and highly competitive. For many young women, it is also the ultimate dream career – an opportunity to travel around the globe, meet interesting people, and earn good money doing what they love. However, there are often hidden sacrifices that come along with this dream job; namely, balancing personal life with professional demands. In particular, for models who have families, maintaining both a fulfilling personal life and successful modeling career can be a difficult juggling act. Here are some stories from models who have managed to find success in both areas.
Gisele Bundchen is one of the most famous supermodels in the world, having graced the covers of countless magazines and appeared in campaigns for top designers like Versace and Chanel. She has also been married to football star Tom Brady since 2009 and is now the mother of two children. Bundchen credits her husband's support as key to being able to balance family life with work responsibilities. "My husband is very understanding," she told People magazine in 2013. "He knows I have to work a lot when I am on a shooting schedule." Her kids even sometimes accompany her to work, allowing her to bring them along to shoots where appropriate. Bundchen has said that being away from home is always tough, but she tries to make up for it by making time for quality moments when she returns. "When I am home, we try to spend as much time together as possible," she says. "We do fun things every day, whether it's going to the zoo or park."
Another model who has successfully balanced a busy career with family life is Karlie Kloss. The American beauty rose to fame as a Victoria's Secret Angel before becoming a judge on Project Runway and starting her own YouTube channel. In 2018, Kloss married Joshua Kushner, brother of President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. While she admits that traveling can be difficult, she makes sure to stay organized and communicates often with her loved ones. "I just make sure to schedule my time well," she told Glamour magazine in 2016. "If I know I'm going to be gone for a few days at a time, I plan ahead so everyone knows what's going on." Kloss also notes that she feels lucky to have an understanding partner who supports her career ambitions. "Josh understands how important this job is to me," she says. "He gets it."
For models who are single parents, balancing work and family commitments can be especially challenging. Christie Brinkley, who became famous for her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition covers in the 1970s and 1980s, is one such example. She has three children from two previous marriages and raised them mostly alone while pursuing her career. "You have to really prioritize," she told People magazine in 2015. "I had to say no to some jobs when they were younger." Now that her kids are grown, however, Brinkley credits their success to her focus on making time for them when possible. "They are independent now and successful people," she says. "And that's all I ever wanted for them."
Finally, there are models who choose to put their families first and modeling second – or even not at all. For instance, Christie Turlington Burns gave up modeling after having her daughter Grace in order to focus on charity work through Every Mother Counts. The organization provides resources and support to pregnant women around the world, something that is particularly close to Turlington Burns' heart given her own experiences giving birth in developing countries. While she occasionally takes on campaigns these days, she says that being a mother comes first. "My priority has always been my family," she told Vogue magazine in 2016. "That's what drives me and gives me purpose." By choosing to put family before fame, Turlington Burns has found fulfillment in both areas of her life.
In conclusion, balancing family life with a demanding modeling career can be difficult but not impossible. It requires planning, communication, and support from loved ones. Whether you want to be an international supermodel like Gisele Bundchen or focus on philanthropy like Christie Turlington Burns, it is important to prioritize your personal life as much as your professional one. With dedication and hard work, anything is possible!