MODELLING | 2018: Once upon a time, I was a “model” who modelled “after prom fashions” for a crappy newspaper.

As you’ve already seen, I appeared in the visuals that went along with some of my own pieces, and I’d also appeared in some promotional materials while I was a student at Queen’s, but while working at the newspaper I was also occasionally asked to model, as an … actual model. It’s hilarious and slightly depressing to consider, but once upon a time, I was apparently cute enough to be photographed. On purpose! And believe it or not, no one spontaneously vomited when they saw the pictures, which is what I’m made to believe might happen were a photograph of me to be published now.

So yeah. When I was 23 years old, I was tapped to model “after-prom fashions” for the Vancouver Sun.

I thought it terribly funny and flattering that I could be mistaken for a teenager. At this time in my life, some people would mistake me for a 30-year-old woman, others for a 14-year-old-girl. Make of that what you will.

Only one of the many images that were taken actually appeared in the piece.

The actual article was entitled “Clothes to kick around in after the big event”. It was written by a nice woman named Michele Marko who was always kind to me in the newsroom. I can tell you that in addition to the beachy fashions you see here, I also modelled many a “trucker cap” (that early aughts headwear staple). I looked like something right out of The OC.

Sadly, in 2004, I had a raging eating disorder.

My ED (technically ED-NOS) was mostly manifesting in the form of extreme dieting, restricting, and anorexia, however, my general body type wasn’t considered thin enough to warrant attention, which helped to keep my illness hidden for a long time. Jobs like this didn’t help because they reinforced the idea that the deeply unhealthy and dangerous things I was doing were “working”.

Just a baby in a beater and a mini-skirt. Photo by Perrin/Vancouver Sun.