Chrissy Teigan speaks out about the dark side of the modeling world

The former model has opened up the harsh conditions of the industry in a candid Instagram post.

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Model Chrissy Teigen attends the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018 in New York City.
(Image credit: (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic))

Chrissy Teigan revealed the problematic side of the modeling industry in a recent Instagram post. 

The former Sports Illustrated model shared throwback photos of her catwalk days with her 33.9 million followers, detailing the grim reality behind the glamorous images. 

In the lengthy caption, she talks about the long hours, meager wages, and cramped conditions that shaped her experience working at Miami Fashion Week in 2010. 

“I’d wait 5/6 hours sitting on the floor of the Mondrian to be seen,” she said. Chrissy would be paid just $200 for an entire show, which was further reduced by agency fees. 

Surviving in one of the most expensive U.S. cities on such a low income wasn’t easy for her as a young model. Chrissy became extremely frugal, ordering surplus food at restaurants after shows to take home because the “fashion show money would disappear with agency fees.” 

Her living situation was also far from fancy. “Sleeping in a two-bedroom at the Flamingo with 5 other girls, memories!” she wrote. 

It isn’t the first time Chrissy has opened up about her difficult start in the modeling world. 

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In 2019, the cookbook author told Vanity Fair that she didn’t even have a bank account or credit card during her few years of working as a model. She said she subsisted on fast food because she couldn’t afford to feed herself properly.

“I knew exactly how much it was with tax to get a McDouble and fries.” 

Despite the challenging conditions, Chrissy looks back on the early stages of her modeling career with fondness. She joked that she saw herself as an inferior version to one of the world’s most iconic supermodels as she strutted down the runway. “C-class Naomi Campbell coming throughhhhhh!!!!!!”

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.


Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.