This Supermodel Just Got Real About Dealing With Her Period During Fashion Week
We have something scandalous to proclaim: Women have periods. Wow. Can you believe it? Okay, so it’s actually not scandalous at all, but rather a totally normal part of being a woman. Slowly but surely, the long-established taboo around menstruation seems to be breaking down. Anyone remember when Chinese Olympic swimmer Fu Yuanhui boldly told a reporter about her period struggles after she lost a race? Now there’s a new menstruation maven (lol, sorry, it just felt natural) paving the way to period normalcy: supermodel Victoria Cain.
The British model recently opened up to UK publication The Independent about what it’s like dealing with her period during fashion week. And to be honest, it sounds less than ideal. She explains that when the week-long event rolls around, it requires standing in line for hours at castings.
She tells the Independent, “It’s horrible because you can feel it and you can’t go to the toilet because you lose your spot. You think, do I lose a possible job or wait for another half an hour? So you just put up with the leakiness.” The solution? Wearing a lot of black, apparently.
View this post on InstagramSome funky things happened with hair and makeup on set yday with @wellahair
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Additionally, when a gig has already been landed and the outfit has been tailored, it doesn’t always fit quite right for those days when you’re bloated. But it’s the dreaded period skin that causes Cain the most anxiety. “The thing that stresses me out most about getting my period during fashion week is my acne-prone skin. It’s like my period is smack bang on my face,” she says.
But what’s the industry to do? Surprisingly, Cain seems to have accepted it’s a just setback of a job that’s primarily based on appearance. “A lot of people can’t see behind the glitz and glam of modeling,” she tells the newspaper. “These things happen all the time. The vast majority of a models’ time is standing in line for hours for a job hundreds of girls are all competing for… Personally, I don’t see what the industry can do at all, it is what it is and it is tough at times.”
Fashion is a notoriously cut-throat industry and it’s definitely not an easy problem to solve. But perhaps an industry that’s primarily made up of women could take a sec to think about how it can be more accepting of a natural occurrence that happens to most people they have walking the runways? Just a thought.
Does having your period cause you issues in your career? Share with us on Twitter @BritandCo.
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.