Wednesday, 25 August 2010

My brief career as a model, aged 45


Last week, I noticed a press request on Twitter for 45 year old women . It seemed odd - after all, why did you have to be exactly 45? But as I am (45, that is), I replied and was asked to email my details to an address.

Soon, my mobile was ringing. The person calling asked if I could go to London for a photoshoot the following day. I had to say no because I had no childcare. That was that, I thought. Oh well. But then, I got another email explaining they could arrange to send a photographer out to me instead. I said that would be OK and they said they would be in touch.

The phone soon went again when I was out shopping at a local retail park. After a 10 minute chat/interview (me sat in my car) about my attitudes to ageing, my beauty regime, how I kept fit and so on, the lady promised to arrange the photographer. She rang off and a feeling of mild panic set in. It turned out the piece was going to appear in the Daily Mail; not my favourite paper, but there you go.

A photographer was arranged for Friday morning. I panicked about what to wear but I needn't have bothered. When the photographer arrived on Friday, he told me a make up and hair lady was on her way, that the shot was head and bare shoulders and I'd have to wrap myself in a towel to get the shot they needed. The make up lady started doing a natural make up look when she arrived, which pleased me as I don't really wear lots. It did however seem to involve a lot of make up; about twice what I'd put on. Then she set about my hair with straighteners. By the time we'd finished, the photographer had turned my lounge into a studio with lights, background, the lot.

Sat on one of my dining chairs made up to the nines with a towel wrapped around me having my photo taken probably ranks as one of the more surreal moments of my life.  The photographer took 3 sets of shots - one with my hair back from my face, one with my hair forward and one sort of half way. The photographer was lovely and seemed to take some nice shots. The whole thing took about an hour longer than I had expected, having thought the photographer would turn up, sit me on a chair, take a couple of shots and go again. 

I loved my make up and hair and took lots of pictures of my new look with my mobile after they'd gone. This is my favourite, and it's now looking at you from my every tweet. Lucky you. I have chosen this picture as "A photo I'm proud of" for Week 24 of The Gallery. I was struggling to find something else in my archives that you haven't seen already and you already know I'm proud of Monkey and Missy Woo. I feel a bit arrogant (some may say brave, others stupid) putting a photo of me here but I wanted to tell the story at some point. I do like how I look in this picture and as you will know if you read my blog regularly, I've been losing weight and am making good progress so I'm getting used to a new me. 

Anyhow, that was that. I'll let you know when the article is published and link to it here if it's online so keep checking  this post. It should be later this week. My life as a model is over. Not that I ever had one, but it was a fun couple of hours - and I didn't even have to leave home! 

I must away now to get my beauty sleep. I don't get out of bed for less than 10p, you know.

Update: The article has now been published on the Daily Mail website and you can read it here - argh!!


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I never actually said some of those things in the article and the journalist in the by line accepts that - she says the Daily Mail have edited/changed it but mine is least changed. I DO use moisturiser for God's sake, I'm not that much of a slummy mummy; I just don't wear a lot of make up and mascara is not my favourite thing. Nor did I ever refer to them as trivialities! And I didn't say I'd lost two stone - I don't weigh myself, how can I? Finally, I never said I was "phobic" about operations; I'd just rather avoid unnecessary ones, thank you very much. 

52 comments:

  1. You look fab! I wish I could smile like that on demand for photos, I usually look either crazed or like I'm in a gurning competition.

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  2. Good for you, Kate! You look gorgeous and it is definitely very brave of you to post a full on face picture of you on your blog. I often shy away from the camera.

    You should be so proud, you look fabulous and I'm so pleased for you that you're managing to lose weight successfully.

    Definitely a different take on the 'photo you're proud of' theme.

    Much love sweetie, Becca xx

    http://beckicklesie.blogspot.com

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  3. Great story, Kate - and you look wonderful - you seem to have been really "bouncy" since this too - looks like it's really cheered you up :)
    Give me a nudge when it's in the paper (I'm not buying one - I'll read it online LOL)

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  4. Hello Kate - Just wanted to say that you look gorgeous (I love the whole 'I'm wearing make up but you can't tell' thing) and it's great that you've chosen to put this up as a 'photo I'm proud of' - nothing arrogant about it! We should all remember to feel proud of ourselves. It's nice to feel nice! LizzyO

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  5. Ha, I took about 15 pix and this was the best. I look like I'm gurning in some of mine, I just delete them. Thanking God for digital photography.

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  6. Thanks so much, Becca. I am getting used to seeing photos of me and an improvement in my appearance certainly helps. I hate my before pix I posted last week but at least I can look at pix like this now and not cringe. :)

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  7. Thanks Nickie. I guess it is a combination of factors. I was talking to another mum on Monday and told her about this, the Toyologist stuff and a few other things I'm doing (like looking round commercial properties, wtf?) and she turned around to me and said, "Kate, you lead an amazing life". It stopped me in my tracks. I thought about it and realised that from that perspective, I do. It's still pretty normal, interspersed with some unusual things that make interesting.

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  8. Lizzy, thanks for visiting my blog and leaving such a lovely comment. I'm glad you think it wasn't arrogant. I agonised over it for a while yesterday but it's my blog about my life so I feel it was apt and it fitted in with the Gallery theme for the week.

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  9. Maggy, red ted art25 August 2010 at 11:00

    Great photo! You really don't look 45!!! I am impressed (with both your age and the photo). What a great experience to go through!!!

    Maggy

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  10. You look fabulous and I totally get where you find pride in a photo of yourself - it's not easy being in front of the camera!

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  11. You look wonderful. I cant wait to read the article

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  12. Wow! Go you! And you're underselling yourself - takes a lot more than 10p to get me out of bed these days (JCB, forklift truck, chocolate) and I'm not a model! Looking forward to seeing the "real thing"!

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  13. Looking good, m'dear! I shall look forward to seeing the pics that appear in the article!

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  14. Looking fabulous! What I want to know is when the photos will be published??

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  15. Wow you look great, whatever you're doing it's obviously working.

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  16. Thanks Maggy, so much. When I was younger, people thought I was older (it was maturity, ha!) and now people think I'm younger. Apparently, it's a trait of Capricorns if you believe that kind of stuff.

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  17. Aw, thanks, Mrs W. I really don't do photogenic very well. My kids do it so much better than me. :)

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  18. Thanks lovey. I'll let you all know when it's out.

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  19. Ha, ha, thanks Harriet!! I drag myself out when I'm ready tbh tho that will come to an end next week when school run resumes.

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  20. Thanks PP. I can't wait for the flipping article now. Still not heard when it is going to be. Gah.

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  21. The people told me yesterday "later this week" and they'd let me know when they know the publication date. I'm keeping an eye on the DM site in case it slips through unnoticed.

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  22. Thanks Greenie for your comment. I'm eating healthily without going stupid either way and exercising regularly. It's a slow gradual process but it makes it easier to fit in normal life when you do it that way.

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  23. You look fab and no way 45. Mich x

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  24. Wow Katie! Ms Fabulous incarnate :-)) Great great pic. How exciting that must have been to have had the full-on visa as well. Bet you felt like a queen! You certainly look beautiful. What a lovely experience - one to remember I bet xx

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  25. veryboredincatalunya25 August 2010 at 16:31

    You look lovely, looking forward to you posting your link.

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  26. Jo@jagsfitnessblog.com25 August 2010 at 17:32

    You look stunning, can't wait to see the others when they're online :)

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  27. Thanks Mich. I don't look like that every day unfortunately. Some days, I don't even get to dry my hair so it styles how it lands. :) But everyone says I don't look 45 and I certainly don't feel it.

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  28. Aw, thanks you, Ms MJM, who's looking hot on her own blog today. :) It did feel lovely to have my make up done, tho having the woman look straight at me hmming was a bit unnerving. I'm getting twitchy now that they are never going to publish but I can't believe they'd go to all that effort getting people around the country and not publish it but hey....

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  29. Thanks you! Watch this space....

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  30. Thanks Jo. I'm itching to see it myself now. Getting nervous and excited all at once, if that makes sense.

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  31. Go you :D It is a lovely photograph, you look fab and what a great story and memory to have. Will log into twitter later and admire your new avvy then! Jen

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  32. Thanks Jen. I certainly won't forget that experience in a hurry. And there's no need to admire the avi. ;)

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  33. Its a great photo, you look fab! And I love the story behind it :) Look forward to seeing the article :) x

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  34. Aw, thanks Cassie. Hoping this article gets published soon. I wanna see as much as the rest of you.

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  35. Wow! It sounds like a fab day! The article is great!

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  36. I just saw the Daily Mail piece and I can honestly say that you come across as the most sensible, down-to-earth one of the lot.
    Most of the others come across as slightly self-obsessed (except for one lady who really seems to have low self-esteem), and in cases where they confess to have had cosmetic surgery, I'm afraid my rather bitchy gut response was "Really?"

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  37. Oh, by the way. I should add that I think you are incredibly brave. I'm 45 too and although I see to be weating pretty well, I don't think I'd have the guts to submit myself to such scrutiny!

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  38. Nice interview and photo in the Daily Fail - I thought you had the best approach to aging too. x

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  39. Haha! Sounds like they managed to change quite a lot!

    It's a lovely picture - and at least you had a free pampering session :)

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  40. Wow, how exciting and what a lovely photo! I hope I look as good as you do at 45!

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  41. Thanks Julia. I'm not 100% with it, but I can live with it as it is. At least I've got my own little corner of the internet to have my say.

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  42. Lol, thanks Mandi. I hope I came across as down to earth but you can never tell when it comes to publication.

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  43. And thanks for this too. I don't actually like the photos of me all that much - think they took better on the day.

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  44. Thanks Jean. There was certainly a variation in attitudes but each to their own, yanno?

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  45. Yip, bubbleboo, it was a free pamper. And yes, that's the thing - but the lady I spoke to today said it was the DM and not her that changed the copy.

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  46. Aww, you're so lovely, Karen. Thanks!

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  47. Check you out ;-)

    You look fab and even though they changed what you said a bit, you've still been in the paper lol

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  48. LOL. Thanks Cass. I have - it's caused quite a stir too. :)

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  49. Hi, just wanted to let you know that your article is also in the new edition of Woman magazine.

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  50. Oh, thanks for letting me know, Jenni. I will follow that up.

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