“It” models take jobs away from those with more talent

With the spring fashion season kicking off, there has been much talk about not only popular styles and trends, but the models as well. Following the growth of social media, models such as Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner have been coming into the public eye with increasing rapidity. These two girls, also close friends, have gained the support and admiration of teenagers and young adults alike. However, these models do not deserve the position that they both have been given in the modeling industry.

Perhaps the most prominent reason why both girls have even been able to begin their modeling careers is the fame and fortune of their families. Jenner’s family has always been in the public eye since the launch of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” in 2007 and even before that with Robert Kardashian’s fame during the OJ Simpson trial. The reality television show provided her family with even more fame and money than they had growing up. Because of these two things, Jenner has been able to enter the modeling industry with extreme ease. For example, when she first showed a slight interest in modeling, her mother, Kris Jenner, immediately encouraged her to take lessons with runway trainers and get photos taken with professional photographers, the best in the business, of course. However, the majority of aspiring models do not have the privilege of possessing such connections and actually have to work from the ground up, living in communal apartments and under the intense scrutiny of their management companies.

Similarly, Hadid has received unique opportunities to further her career, stemming not only from the fact that she is the daughter of a reality television star and a multi-millionaire but also because of her dating history. Hadid has been featured in the music videos of many of her boyfriends, most notably Zayn Malik, but she also received prominent roles in ex-boyfriends Joe Jonas’ and Cody Simpson’s music videos. These modeling, acting, and in the case of Jonas, directing, opportunities are ones usually given to more talented and hardworking individuals, but Hadid was gifted them because of her romantic relationships.

Additionally, both Jenner and Hadid landed jobs walking in the famous Victoria’s Secret fashion show in late 2015, a new experience for them both. Because of their addition to the lineup of the show, models such as Jourdan Dunn were unrightly excluded.

The media’s coverage of Jenner and Hadid has started to overshadow those who truly deserve the “supermodel” title, such as Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell. The lack of experience and the unfair advantages that models such as Hadid and Jenner receive take jobs away from models with more unique looks, more talented performances and better runway walks.