Sheila Sim opens up about harsh reality of modelling world
Sheila Sim, who was discovered aged 16, and found huge success in the 2000s, when she walked runway shows all over the world and appeared on countless magazine covers.
Supermodel Sheila Sim considers modelling a “character-building exercise on how to deal with rejection after rejection”.
The 42-year-old was discovered aged 16, and found huge success in the 2000s, when she walked runway shows all over the world and appeared on countless magazine covers.
Now Sheila, from Singapore, has spoken to Elle Singapore magazine, reflecting on the reality of the industry.
She said: “I mean, we all have humble beginnings, right? Modelling to me is a skill set—a character-building exercise on how to deal with rejection after rejection!”
In one instance in Milan, Italy, in 2003, Sheila had to wait in the freezing cold for two hours for a casting, before the director looked at two pages of her portfolio, shut it and dismissed her without saying a world.
She sighed: “The opportunities given to Asians then were much fewer. They were so racist. I had a really miserable time in Milan”.
Like many of her peers, Sheila also grew up with body dysmorphia issues, believing it was a case of “the skinnier, the better”.
She explained: “The sample clothes are made so small, and if I couldn’t fit into it, I blamed myself. “Now, I think: ‘Design bigger! Why must I fit into your clothes?’ But back then, I thought it was my fault.”
Another incident was when Sheila was watched walking the runway by legendary fashion choreography Rizel Ahyar, who she remembered shouting at her at seven in the morning: “Sheila Sim! Call yourself a top model? Can’t even walk properly!’”
Sheila didn’t struggle with her walk until she was put in long gowns and heels.
She found out while walking a show in Indonesia that they didn’t make a good mix, when another model accidentally kicked her heel, causing her to “stumble stumble stumble” and fall off the catwalk.
She remembered: “There was this mini lamppost right beside the stairs going down. I held on to it for dear life, only to realise that it was not real, and it gave way!”
Luckily, a security guard managed to catch her to avoid any serious injuries.
