Midpoint in Seoul: The Reality of Being a Model Abroad
- Apr 5
- 3 min read
Modelling can be a pain in the ass sometimes. Now that I’ve officially hit the midpoint of my placement, it feels like the right time to reflect so I can look back at Week 10 and see whether I’ve evolved, spiralled, or simply become immune.
One thing that’s impossible to ignore in this industry is the constant, underlying competition. It’s built into the job which becomes particularly strange when you live in a model apartment, because your “competition” is usually people you genuinely like and who are your roommates, your friends, and often turned family.
It’s not like we’re actively battling each other. No one’s sabotaging castings, but when someone is working more, it’s noticed. And, as you can imagine, it doesn’t feel amazing.
Coming into this placement, I knew the biggest adjustment wouldn’t be the work as I’ve already worked within Asia, it would be the living situation. In Tokyo I had my own place, my own routine, my own space to exist. Here, everything is shared. Including, unfortunately, opinions.
I’ve been lucky though. I genuinely like the girls I’m living with. But the environment itself is… intense.
There’s a constant stream of conversation about calories, energy levels, iron deficiencies, weight, measurements, etc. The fridge is perpetually empty, the kitchen barely used, and the shower is sadly always running. Eating three balanced meals a day feels like a rebellious act, and although it may not be conscious you get odd looks for it - like you’ve missed a memo.
As someone who’s always had a relatively relaxed relationship with food, it’s a lot to consume. Or, more accurately, not consume.
When Aoife arrived, things shifted. Suddenly I wasn’t the lone resident in the kitchen. We cook together, which has genuinely been soul saving because it was getting a bit lonely there. Beyond that, she’s just a little piece of home that's been dropped into Seoul.
Although this week, I’ve felt less like a roommate and more like a stay-at-home mother. Because Aoife is booked. And I mean booked. Without exaggeration, she has become a micro-celebrity here. Korea LOVES her. If you open a website - she’s there. Walk into a shop - she’s there. It’s INSANITY!
Before she arrived, some of the girls were already worrying about how her presence might impact their bookings. I didn’t really buy into that mindset. If a client wants Aoife, they were never going to book me so she’s not “taking” anything - she’s just being chosen. And rightly so.
That being said… I’m not immune to comparison. Of course I’m a little jealous. It would be weird if I wasn’t.
We were both told we’d be booked and busy, and now one of us is working six days a week (borderline inhumane), and the other is working once… maybe twice per week. It does knock your ego slightly. Not in a catastrophic way, just enough to notice.
The best way to describe it is: I’m not worried, but I am comparing… and I don’t particularly like what I’m seeing.
Still, I’m trying to keep perspective. Modelling is notoriously unpredictable. It can be silent for weeks and then suddenly explode overnight. For all I know, I could be the Bella Hadid of next week.
Stranger things have happened.
The saving grace of all of this is the guarantee. On placement, most agencies (or good ones atleast) give you a fixed amount of money just for being there. So technically, I could do absolutely nothing for three months and still get paid.
Which, when you think about it, is quite a luxury. Yes, I might not earn as much as Aoife if she keeps working at this pace - but worst case scenario, I’m being paid to explore Seoul, drink iced coffee, and absorb Korean culture.
There are worse fates.
With love,
Mimi x
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