Why do people try to downplay print and editorial modelling?

[curlygirllll]

Like, I’ve noticed in the modeling industry, people try to downplay commercial/print/editorial, and only think of runway as modelling but isn’t print modelling also valid and an accomplishment?

[MrOracle]

It's because a runway model could potentially make one or two orders of magnitude more money, and a higher level of fame that gets them invited to celebrity parties and events.

It's kind of the difference between a character actor and Brad Pitt or Denzel Washington - the character actor might get a lot of work, and maybe in a year with a lot of projects, make $1M in earnings. Brad or Denzel can make $10M or more from one 3-month project. That doesn’t mean the character actor isn't successful, but they will almost certainly never get into the Denzel tier.

[curlygirllll]

True. But it’s usually the people that don’t have the looks, talent, sex appeal or personality or charisma to do neither, that are the ones downplaying it. As if, being in a magazine, commercial or billboard isn’t an accomplishment. Or commercial or print or editorial modeling is “bottom of the barrel”.

[MrOracle]

Obviously it's not "bottom of the barrel" - think of the character actor who can make $500,000-1,000,000 a year. That might not be A-list star territory, but it's FAR above the guy who waits tables 6 days a week and goes to auditions and is lucky to book 2 minor guest star roles and 4 background character roles in a year - which is pretty much the case for the majority of Hollywood actors.

Editorial/commercial modeling is mid-to-upper-mid-tier work. It's certainly nothing to be ashamed of, and nothing to shame. I suspect that those who do are jealous, and are trying to tear people down to try to feel better about themselves. Unfortunately, that's common among a certain group of women...

[curlygirllll]

Why would anyone be ashamed of being an editorial model/commercial model? 💀

[MrOracle]

I think some might because they dreamed of being a runway model and weren't able to get there. But, as I said, it's still above-average success, and plenty to be proud of.