How to Make Herself Agreeable to Everyone

by Cameron Russell

A fierce and innovative memoir that explores who holds the power in an image-obsessed culture, from the model and activist who helped organize the movement to bring equity to the fashion industry.

Now I measure the distance from model to president. You can see it in pictures. It’s the distance between Trump’s hand and the small of a teenage model’s back. It’s Marilyn Monroe’s breasts to JFK’s jaw as he leans in to speak in the only photo that exists of the two.

Scouted by a modeling agent when she was just sixteen years old, Cameron Russell first approached her job with some she was a serious student with her sights set on college—not the runway. But it was a job, and modeling seemed to offer young women like herself unprecedented access to wealth, fame, and influence. Besides, as she was often reminded, “there are a million girls in line” who would eagerly replace her.

In her fierce and innovative memoir, Russell chronicles how she learned to navigate the dizzying space between physical appearance and interiority, and making money in an often-exploitative system. Being "agreeable," she found, led to more more bookings, more opportunities to work with the world's top photographers and biggest brands.

But as her prominence grew, Russell found that achievement under these conditions was deeply isolating and ultimately unsatisfying. Instead of freedom, she was often required to perform the role of compliant femme fatale. So she began organizing with her peers, helping to coordinate movements for labor rights, climate and racial justice, and bringing MeToo to the fashion industry.

Intimate and illuminating, How to Make Herself Agreeable to Everyone is a nuanced, deeply felt work about beauty, complicity, and the fight for a better world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Essays, Audiobook, Feminism, Biography Memoir, Biography

224 pages, Hardcover

First published March 19, 2024

Reviews

[Nathan Shuherk · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s an essay about looking back to reexamine at the most photographed woman of the 19th century (Virginia Oldoini) that will infect my brain for, probably, years.

[Liralen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Russell had the sort of trajectory that aspiring models dream of—fast, meteoric. But it was a career that she stumbled into rather than one that she sought out, and the longer she spent in front of cameras and in modelling agencies—to say nothing of being in bars with men twice her age, or in photographers' cars, or generally at the whim of men with some degree of power—the better she understood the unspoken costs and imbalances, and the more complicit she started to feel.

On the surface this is a book about modelling, but dig down a very thin layer and it becomes something about power, and abuse of power, and an industry—and society—hell-bent on keeping that power in the hands of White men. Throughout the book, as Russell learns more and more about the industry in which she has found herself, she is taught that innocence is so sexy that it must be destroyed, and she might be getting paid tens of thousands of dollars but her worth is such that she can be thrown away at any moment, and that the only things about her that matters are the ideals that men project upon her. And: that if you're successful enough, and smart enough, and keep your eyes open enough, you might be able to open some other eyes as well.

Russell has made waves before, and this book feels like something that will reverberate. She doesn't name names (although in some cases it's very easy to go run a quick search or two), but she's not pulling punches, either. Photographers call me jailbait. One invites me to drinks. Eventually, I find my body in a bed next to him. Not myself: A lot of myself will be surprisingly gone by then. (loc. 112*) She employs a number of structural choices that can easily fall flat (lists, sections addressed to certain real-life people), but she's more than enough of a writer to pull them off. I expect to hear this one talked about, to see it on a lot of lists this year.

*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.

Thanks to the author and publisher for inviting me to read an advance copy through NetGalley.

[Wylder]

LOVED this one. Giving my body by emrata - interesting perspective on the commodification of women’s bodies and how one can benefit in a capitalist society off of their body image while also being aware of how the work they do harms the image of women in mass media and being aware the consequences of fast fashion and how the modelling industry exploits certain types of women while celebrating the image of others. Loved!

[BookOfCinz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really insightful read into the modelling culture.

[Sar · Rating 5 out of 5]

infinite stars I will be thinking about this book for a long time

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling look at the seamy underside of the fashion industry, told from the perspective of a vulnerable young person who had more of a backbone than most right from the beginning but was still manipulated and abused. Instead of letting herself remain a victim, she used her visibility became an advocate for others in order to help change the system. This book will also go a long way in doing that. Thank you, Cameron Russell, for sharing your experiences in what must have been a very painful memoir to write.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beautiful prose and jumping timeline and incorporation of outside research reminded me a lot of reading Maggie Nelson memoirs. This was powerful, emotional, and literary. I've been having a hard time really sinking into a book recently, but I flew through it!

[Maddi Ketelaars · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was devastating most of the time because Russell is so real about the harassment and assault she went through as a model. I could not put it down, she is an amazing writer! I had no idea when I picked up this book that this was written by the same woman who gave the viral ted talk about modeling.

[em · Rating 1 out of 5]

so where do i start with this one…

I get the point, I do. But I also really don’t get it. Where did this memoir intend to go? We start out referring to ocean vuong & others of the like who dedicate & structure their books in a letter-style to their mother, but that entire schtick was dropped a few chapters after starting it. Also the chapters?? made no chronological sense (which is fine), but had no other artistic vision for why stories were structured the way they were. Also what fucking year are we in? 0 dates or mentions of a year do nothing in the way of orientating the reader & trust me, the reader needs oriented.

These gripes are just with the structure of the work, not even the content of the work itself. I could actually be here all day. It felt whiny. Privileged. There was no self-reflection. Oh sure, she discussed her privileged orientation in the fashion industry, but that was… it. No rumination, no understanding or dismantling of this structure. She mentions multiple interactions with Black women on set & simply moves on. Or states a questionable conversation from a shoot on a plantation about slaves & then starts another chapter. & don’t say “that’s the point”. Honestly, that’s not good enough for me anymore. Not saying anything, being silent— is being complicit.

The author’s intentions or her motive for staying in modeling is never given to the reader. Which makes us all wonder— why not just… stop modeling? Bad situation, after bad boss, after bad contact. Hmmm. You spend a good 200+ pages complaining about how toxic, evil, every bad adjective, modeling is but then… continue modeling. After making millions of dollars. Sounds like being complicit to me. Maybe if there was a single OUNCE of self-reflection, a motive would be clear. But, alas.

The entire book read as if the author was simply stating facts about her life. But the facts aren’t structured or ordered with any rhyme or reason. No artistry.

Also making a quilt while being in labor? God, this was so pseudophilosophical. Some people should just not write books, sorry!

other models— emily ratajkowski in particular, has incredible memoirs achieving what I believe(?) this one was trying to. An absolute disappointment.

[Alice Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really interesting stuff, but the structure was a bit strange/confusing and I didn't love that she redacted the names of the people she was calling out in the fashion industry. Kind of just made me realise how much I enjoyed (and preferred) 'My Body' by Emily Ratajkowski

[CatReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. In her debut memoir, American supermodel Cameron Russell (b. 1987; also known for her 2012 TED talk), narrates her 20+ year career in the fashion industry and her complicated feelings about both:

I started working when I was sixteen and soon filled with righteous indignation at the way the fashion industry worked, and the way the whole world seemed to work. And the longer I worked, the harder it was to see myself as separate from the industry’s failings. I’m not separate. But I am, we are, more than them.

Russell talks about her conflicted feelings about the economics of fashion (the money involved in fashion shoots and who profits, the mercurial nature of trends that keeps us buying way more clothes than we reasonably need, the underpaid market in third world countries that produce these garments, the ecological impact of discarded clothes); the inherent sexism, harassment, abuse and violence within the industry, largely against young women and girls; racism in the fashion industry, and other topics.

This was definitely an interesting read, albeit with a narrative style that won't be everyone's cup of tea (addressing various chapters to various people, some named and others not; lots and lots of redacted names presumably for liability reasons, though it's pretty clear who she's referring to in some instances). It's also a hard, uncomfortable read in many parts when she discusses harassment and abuse in graphic detail.

Further reading:
Wasteland: The Secret World of Waste and the Urgent Search for a Cleaner Future by Oliver Franklin-Wallis
Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion by Elizabeth Cline
I'm Just Here for the Free Scrutiny: One Model's Tale of Insanity and Inanity in the Wonderful World of Fashion by Abby Rosmarin
Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital by Elise Hu

My stats:
Book 118 for 2024
Book 1721 cumulatively

[Lora Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story goes beyond a memoir. It shows the most vulnerable part of Cameron Russell, and even though I didn’t know anything about her going into this, I was still deeply affected by her words and stories. It is a look into the fashion industry, and taught me how one woman’s life story can be used to help boost the voices of thousands, without diminishing the power and importance of each individual story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this eARC!

[Ray johanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Splendid. I loved Russell's perspective on the modeling industry and how hard and toxic it can be for young women. At first I felt like the heaviness just dragged on and on, but the second half picked up and gave the book some much-needed speed. Overall, I would read again, that's how much I enjoyed Russell's writing.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this! Cameron Russell grapples with the dark side of the modeling industry - the power imbalance between men and women (and the abuse in the industry), the racial bias towards whiteness as the beauty standard, and the high praise of models while the women who sew their garments are often paid pennies. I thought this was incredibly well researched and thought out, and I’m happy I picked it up!

[Parisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

mega blind read (didn’t even realize it was a memoir until i started reading) and I’m pretty in awe. incisive and smart and painful

[Allison Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blown away by this book and totally devoured it. It’s simple to opine and share feelings about one’s experience, but the citations in this book make Cameron’s storytelling rich and full of depth, illustrating the scope of the issues she describes. Can’t wait for more people to read!

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's giving I'm Glad My Mother Died without any of the narrative finesse. Stories of abuse and trauma are listed (sometimes, literally, in bullet points) with minimal emotional impact beyond salacious shock value. The weight of the modeling industry's toxic and damaging routines are mentioned, even examined, but then we're moving on to the next thing (which is always more modeling.) After Russell gets her big media break and is sought for her social justice voice, she's asked to speak about 'real practical ways for the industry to change and not just repeating the same sad statistics' and without sharing what she actually presented, she basically tells the reader 'but what else is there to say?'

I'm sure there's a lot worth saying about the exploitation going on-- particularly in how it's tolerated by those receiving insane salaries for (super) modeling jobs-- but this is not the way to tell it. (Why begin by addressing the book to your mother, and then in one sentence abruptly switch to addressing an abusive boss and then... address no one for the rest of the book? Why randomly switch between prose and lists as if this is a blog post? Why randomly switch from personal experience to a collection of essays on other models?) I look forward to finding another author's perspective on this.

[Andrea Thatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read, and should be required reading for aspiring models or others hoping to be part of the fashion industry. But it’s lessons aren’t for the fashion world alone and I always think reading about another persons perspective of the world - especially someone so thoughtful about every aspect of her work - is worthwhile. This isn’t a dishy, gossipy model memoir (though I like those too) - in fact few names are used - it’s much more about her experience as a young, white, thin model, and all the challenges she faced even from those privileged positions. There is a lot about abuse and the me too movement, and details suggest the Harvey Weinstein-like take down of Gerald Marie, the French division of Elite Model Management executive once married to Linda Evangelista. But Marie’s decades of victims received less justice because of France’s statute of limitation laws. Very well written, with much self-awareness and humility.

Trigger warnings for body shaming and sexual assault.

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

I randomly came upon this and enjoyed. Some of the times that she quotes others, especially when it is at the beginning of chapters, was confusing, but other than that I think this worked very well as an audiobook. And it is read by Russell herself, which is always nice.

Overall would recommend if you are looking for a shortish memoir, and I think it is accessible even if you do not know much about modeling or the fashion industry.

[Lily Marsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met Cameron Russell during one of the guess speaker talks at VSS and was completely inspired by the work she has done with the #MyJobShouldNotIncludeAbuse / #MeToo movement!! She is definitely a role model for many people I know and I genuinely loved her memoir, great read

[Katie Dayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This feels like a TED talk that was expanded to make a book. Interesting and engaging but I think it would’ve been a more powerful message in a different form.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need a moment to collect my thoughts.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Furciferous Quaintrelle Bex · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a real potential for this book to not just offer up a thesis, but follow it through to its logical - if uncomfortable - conclusion, via the provision of evidence via statistics / interviews / polls / anonymous admissions / archived media etc, and the bones of what Russell was trying to say are scattered throughout the chapters, but unfortunately "scattered" really is the word. Not just because the nuggets of actual information are sprinkled throughout the book, but because the author's thoughts appear scattered too, from start to finish.

It's hard to know who she is voicing this confessional memoir to, because Russell starts out saying that it's to her mother, then to a photographer she works with, then later an agent? It's not a clever literary trick that I'm simply too stupid to understand, it's simply a very poorly executed choice made by Russell, who doesn't seem to know who she really wants to vent her anger toward. And don't get me wrong, she very much has a right to want to vent. If her account of being a young model, treated like an interchangeable, exploitable, commodity, that was sexually assaulted in multiple ways, by multiple perpetrators over the years, then she definitely should be angry. But maybe she ought to have worked out her feelings towards these beastly people, via some good therapy before vomiting the entirety out into this book, which is too haphazard to allow the reader to really gain enough concerted insight into any specific situation.

And I get it. The repeated nature of these sexual assaults / harassments / infringements of personal space & autonomy, to the point where they all blur together, is supposed to be part of the point that Russell is making. It is so ingrained in the industry and the perpetrators so prolific, that it is as much a part of the window-dressing of the fashion world, as the carefully curated backdrops that are workshopped for months before finally being photographed. The widespread nature of the way models are treated renders each example just another everyday occurrence. That's not me trying to wave them away as something minor to be tolerated; the banality we are entreated to is the point.

I have a great deal of sympathy for Russell and wish that she had not gone through the awful things she had happen to her. I'm not so unfeeling as to just demand that she ought to have walked away from her career once she was older and more established, or that she spoke out sooner, because I know that just as the hellscape of fake sexual assault claims can destroy lives, the reality of being abused by those in power over a period of time also destroys lives, and makes it incredibly difficult to know or understand where the line in the sand ought to be drawn; especially when your job involves being next to naked, or entirely nude, having to be moved manually around to get the right pose, all while exuding a form of sensual allure in order to sell a product. At what point does what you are doing go from being something one can chalk up to artistic licence, and when does it veer off into being involuntary over-exposure, voluntary self-exploitation, a willing participation in soft pornography, or a being a victim of sexual assault?

It's a very difficult kind of career to try and think of ways in which to always ensure that the models are being cared for, their wishes respected, and the nuances of photographer / client / model interactions fully understood because of an established working relationship, over time, that allows for all parties to know exactly how far to push the boundaries, and when to back off.

I think one of the problems that really hampered this book was the constant use of very woke phraseology, an over-use of unsubtle repeated references to identity politics, and the admission made by Russell herself, in which she claims to want to get away from the limiting, restrictive norms expected in non-fiction prose, because of its association with [insert your own leftist, IdPol,
bête noire of choice here], choosing instead to go with a strange mixture of semi-stream-of-consciousness recollections, which sit uncomfortably alongside passages that do indeed follow the much more traditional writing style she claims to want to avoid.

Are there issues around the race and colour of models and how they have been paid differently, or used differently in the industry, that deserve to be examined? Yes. Are there problems with the lack of proper supervision or chaperoning of younger models, that really needs addressing? Absolutely. Is there some kind of parallel to be drawn with the examples of elite corruption that we saw in both the Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein cases? Definitely. Do I think that this book managed to do a good job of merging all of these issues along with the personal reflection of a woman who has been in the industry for 20 years? No. Not at all.

Do I think that Cameron Russell is capable of doing such a job, and could in future write a much more comprehensive, frank yet scholarly book that addresses all of these issues individually, with a view to to showing the dark underbelly of a very seedy industry that relies entirely upon image?

Yes.

I think she's a smart woman with the intellectual chops to write that kind of book, but she needed to have something more solid as a backbone to this book for the rest of the story to hang properly and be seen in its entirety for the complex, patchwork of issues that made it up. As a first outing into the world of ones published work, I think a lot of leeway was granted to Russell purely because she was a/ an internationally established veteran of the industry whose face has graced global campaigns for every big name brand of fashion / make-up / perfume you can think of, and b/ she had not only gained educational qualifications from an Ivy League university, but had already started to give talks on this topic, which had generated a lot of interest online and in real life. Had Russell not been able to use those credentials to give her an easier time of things in the editing process, I genuinely don't think that this book would have been sent to print in the way that we received it.

The writing style was incredibly jarring and stopped me from feeling like I was able to truly connect to the feelings that Russell was trying to convey. Some might try to pass that off as an intentional device used to reflect how difficult it was for her to understand her own feelings from early on, let alone how to tell anyone else about what was eating her up inside. And that would be a reasonable - if hideously trite - explanation for the disconnect I felt as I was reading this book...if it weren't for the fact that this vibe isn't constant, nor does it alter to become gradually more focused and easier to connect with as the years go by, the story of her life unfolds, and Russell learns to find and use her voice. (Please don't try to tell me that this too was an intentional way of representing the changing ways in which a person is able to feel at different places, with different people and at different points in time. To pull that particular trick off would require the kind of literary experience that isn't just happened upon in ones first outing. As smart a cookie as I believe Russell to be, her writing simply isn't of the kind of calibre - yet - to make that kind of narrative decision work. #SorryNotSorry)

I get that Russell wanted to break through some preconceived notions of what would be expected of her, with a more experimental style of writing, but it just failed to land. For her first literary outing (with this amount of credentialed cachet already in her back pocket) I think she would have done better to choose either to go with an entirely floaty, experimental, dissociative, form of personal memoir, or commit to a more formalised standard of reportage in which she laid out the very serious problems with the fashion industry - including all of the issues surrounding wage slavery, sweat shops, overseas production, workers' rights, fast fashion and everything that also entails.

Cameron Russell has every right to be angry. And I completely understand her wanting to come out all guns blazing, calling out every single fault that the industry perpetrates; but by trying to encompass everything, her scattershot approach always felt rather off-target. I did appreciate her referencing multiple biographies by other women who have worked in the modelling world, because I would like to read those and see if they are more palatable by remaining in their own specific lanes, regarding their own personal experiences. Waris Dirie writing about being an ambassador and using her position on the world stage to catapult her to the position of activist, working to eliminate the horrendous practice of FGM in her home country of Somali and beyond, sounds like a brilliant read and much more focused than what Russell was trying to achieve. Crystal Renn speaking about working in both the plus-size and regular-sized categories of modelling will undoubtedly be quite eye-opening, especially with the current cultural commentary around HAES and the problems inherent in fat-activism. And Janice Dickinson's memoir will probably be a strange mixture of hilariously ridiculous tell-alls, juxtaposed against some pretty serious life events and situations, which are all moored in her own personal experience and not too big of an attempt to say everything about all the pitfalls of her chosen profession.

I've ended up giving this book 3 stars because whilst it started off really annoying me - to the point where I had to put it down multiple times before I could get through it - there felt like a tightening up of the prose as the book drew to a close...even if the final chapter was rather cringey, what with the whole 'quilt' motif being rather unsubtle and unnecessary. (It felt like Russell knew that the entire book was a haphazard mess and wanted to do something clever to bring us back to a point of personal reference, all tied up in a garment / fabric themed "bow".)

Overall the book came across as much more sophomoric than I believe Russell to actually be. I think she is capable of writing a much stronger and more deliberate investigation of a book - although with a busy life full of children, family, charitable foundations to work with, and never-ending requests to give talks like that famous TED one she did, way before she had been given a contract to write a book, I doubt she has the time. And perhaps she no longer even has the inclination, having gotten a lot of what was bottled up inside her, out onto the page for all to see.

All in all a very strange, confused book that felt as though it didn't know what it was supposed to be, or how it was supposed to portray it...which is a lot like Russell seemed to feel when she was first signed to an agency, with no experience of what it meant to strike a pose or have the viewer see her the way she was being paid to look. Maybe any future writing endeavours she decides to take on will be as poised, focused and worthy of the advanced-fee as her catwalk work eventually went on to become.

(PS. Having never heard of her before, I did search her on Google as I was reading this book and she is a very beautiful woman, who would look as fabulous in a bin-bag as she did in the fantastical creations she wore on the Victoria's Secret runway shows. Gorgeous!)

[Emilie Chenault · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was extremely well written! I always enjoy a memoir that dives into the model/fashion industry and this included anecdotes of all of the different feelings and perspectives! Very similar to my body by em rata but better. A great book to start 2025!

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

i remember cameron russell from doing that ted talk, so the turn this book took wasn’t a surprise to me. her saying she wanted to be a president also makes a lot of sense.

the content of this memoir is disturbing and heartbreaking, and i couldn’t be more proud of her for releasing this to the world!

i wish we knew some kind of resolution to prevent these things from happening or to the point that men wouldn’t even dream of behaving like this towards women.

unfortunately, this book leaves you with the feeling that it’s not gonna happen anytime soon, at least i don’t think we’re gonna see it even during this century.

[Kasey C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never been much interested in fashion, and apart from the standard “America’s Next Top Model” phase every 2000s preteen went through, have never known much about modeling. This book was recommended on Libby so I thought I’d give it a try. Overall, I found it interesting but thought there were some flaws. (Some of which may have been to the audiobook format I chose).

1. She uses random lists a lot and sometimes on audiobook it’s hard to keep track of listing quotes from other models vice her own experience.

2. She discusses a good but the exploitation of low income folks and environmental impact in the industry a good bit in this book. Upon a quick google search, she has done nothing to help this. So the tone of it felt a bit to me like “You people need to do something about this, but not me. I’m going to keep making millions and exploiting people because I am beautiful. But I did write this book to absolve myself of the guilt I feel doing that.”

3. It’s not always clear when she switches to whom she’s writing in the narrative. It’s not a huge hindrance to following along but could be better.

4. In discussing the harassment, most of the names and situations come as (redacted), at least on the audio version. I think it is good to highlight the need for change, but the way she writes the stories I think could have been better. Either call out the person and use their name or write the story in a way that doesn’t need it. Again, the way it was done seemed to me a way to half-call out without losing her money making connections in the industry which to me came off as a bit contrived.

Overall though, I think she’s mostly a good writer and I did learn a bit about the industry. Maybe real book is better than audiobook.

[Danna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't remember Cameron Russell from her supermodel fame, nor is it an industry I've been particularly keen to learn about. When I received the offer to read this NetGalley, I wasn't sure what I'd think. And yet, this book grabbed me.

Russell started modeling during high school. The industry immediately sexualizes and fetishizes her. And it's not at all shocking, yet entirely shocking, and left me feeling disappointed in humanity. Mostly in the men, but also in the many women that are accomplices to the countless acts of abuse and harassment.

Russell details in intelligent, beautiful prose, her experiences over many years of modeling. She explains how often her boundaries were pushed, the frequently made and broken promises, and above all the desire to make money, gain power, and be successful. And how to survive all of this, Russell had to learn to shut off parts of her brain and spirit. I was struck by Russell's description of how literally and figuratively cold modeling is - how she has had to do shoot after shoot wearing nothing in the bitter cold, with a fan blowing back her hair, and seemingly no care for her well-being. Again, disappointed in humanity.

Russell's seemingly intuitive business savvy, paired with her sense of how to please photographers, made her hugely successful. And so it was great to hear about Russell's involvement in activism and how she's used the platform she earned to amplify voices that need to be heard.

Trigger warnings for sexual assault, among other oppression against women.

Highly recommended. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Frida Dillenbeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly interesting and gripping story of a supermodel growing up in the fashion industry and the sexual harassment and abuse she endured throughout her 20 year career.

I am thankful for Russell’s social justice activism which brings awareness of these cultural issues to the forefront of our thoughts and actions. Having information to teach our children that treating others as objects is unacceptable.

Interesting that rape is never photographed as such and published, these images are hoarded and then presented as art. The making of said art is the rape, but never acknowledged as such.

The writing style was not my style as it shifted between stream of consciousness and then to fact based excerpts from other models’ books or interviews. The references throughout to a brutalizer but never naming the brute was a bit confusing but manageable.

A truly compelling story from an amazing woman who is engaged in a life mission of lifting women in order for their voices to be heard as well as to empower women so as not to be victimized without accountability.

[Ms. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book bc the cover artist also did “Forest of Noise”. I expected it to be showing some of the abuse in the model world but to basically be a light and fluffy read. Not challenging the status qou in modeling or her having such succinct but complex and beautiful writing. I was captivated & will be looking forward to more of her writing. Another must-read if you’re interested in decolonizing your mind & learning about the way models, such as Cameron, are doing & have done to try to change the toxic, abusive fashion & modeling industries. I’ve been steeped in it via fashion & “women’s magazines” like Glamour, hand me downs from my mom, who was indoctrinated into white supremacy aka dominant American culture, when she was transracially adopted by an abusive middle class catholic family. I felt the toxic effects reading those magazines and absorbing the info the elite wanted women to learn: conform to the thinnest, unhairy, white woman ideal. I followed certain brands and models religiously as a teen bc I felt I wanted to become a designer. But after watching several seasons of reality shows like Tyra’s Top Models & learning the seedy ways you had to endure or become an abuser, I was ultimately convinced I couldn’t be a fashion designer by 18. The way everyone in the industry trashes everything sincere or important like climate change is nothing compared to learning about how destructive the fashion & modeling industries are to women and the planet. From the garment workers making half of a non-living wage (!) in countries like my mom’s (Vietnam), to the models being basically sex trafficked. They’re underage, no money or friends to protect you from homelessness & sexual abuse, some can’t even speak English & are halfway around the world alone with predator stylists & photographers, not to mention how many model agents & owners of model agencies are anonymously implicated as rapists, & specifically underage women aka children as targets! Sadly many of the perpetrators are blacked out I the book but even I, a nobody millennial who just grew up watching the industry, was not surprised by much of what I read in this book. But I do love to see it printed for history to learn from but also her tying her industry’s abusive actions to the abusive actions against our planet and our “low class” people. Id say if you’re female or queer & you grew up watching Top Model etc in the early 2000s, that alone would this an interesting book.