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Modeling isn’t always such glamorous business.
It can be an intense time for the women who do the runway circuit.
Between the scrambling around backstage, hairstyling and makeup sessions, there is also a lot of downtime.
Stay healthyboth mentally and physicallywith meditation and walking.
Modeling is demanding work.
A growing number of women within the industry, however, are putting their well-being first.
One of the gals I met through the group is the red-haired, guitar strumming Canadian beautyChantal Stafford-Abbott.
“I meditate daily,” she says.
“It’s actually hard work but allows me to relax a bit more during stressful days.
“I take a long, 10-plus mile walk through the city with my partner,” she says.
“We love exploring when the city is just waking up.”
I met Jamaican modelJeneil Williamsback in 2013 at a Pirelli Calendar event.
Ever since then, I admired her focus on optimum performance.
“I don’t starve myself; I love to eat.
But I eat healthy and stay committed to my workouts.
“I feel long and lean after each workout there,” she says.
“Post-baby I had some back pain and needed to refocus on my core.
We sometimes forget to nurture ourselves because we are so focused on fitting into our pre-baby size.”
Eat wellmore plants, less refined stuffand cook when you’ve got the option to.
Two years ago I took it upon myself to understand why I was saddled with such asweet tooth.
It was, I felt, the one thing that was separating me from optimal health.
Most of my friends would agree, but everyone approaches their eating styles in a slightly different manner.
Jeneil concentrates her diet around plenty of veggies and fruits and a little meat.
I am always looking for new recipes.”
Both Chantal and Cameron opt for a plant-based diet.
“I usually cook most of the food that I eat,” says Chantal.
“I tend to eat the same foods all the time,” Gelila admits.
Since she didn’t know how that was affecting her, she consulted withDr.
Charles Passlerabout her nutrition.
Kirstin Sinclair / Contributor, Getty Images
3.
Stay engaged with the world through books, podcasts, and music.
Luckily, the information world has become far more accessible, especially now that we’re on our smartphones.
Jeneil finds podcasts informative, relaxing and just all around fun.
“As for music,” she says, “go right now and downloadAfrica Callingby Holy Forest.
And I love the app called Pocket for saving and sharing articles.
you might see what I’m readinghere.”
Chantal just started turning her ear to audiobooks.
“I just finished Sam Harris’Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion; it was amazing!
I also just finished readingThe Alchemistin French.”
Her music choices are diverse, too.
“Ethiopian jazz, Pink Floyd, blues from Mali,” she lists.
“But lately I have been playing a lot ofStromae.”
she says with a laugh.
And always stay true to yourself.
“The fashion industry can be a confusing one,” says Chantal.
For Gelila, it’s the elevation of her people that makes her happy.
I love when my country is mentioned in a positive light,” she says.
“Lately, however, I have been busy behind the camera doing some documentary filmmaking.
I really owe it to the modeling I’ve done for helping me find my passion.”
Gelila also says it’s important that more models of color become represented.
“The advertising world defines the image of beauty; the lack of representation is dangerous.
