what's wrong with the modeling industry / how can we do better

TW: I talk a lot about eating disorders and show messages demanding me to lose weight and encouraging disordered eating behaviors. please do not watch this if you have struggled or are struggling with any type of disordered eating and think you might be sensitive to the topic of weight loss and restriction.
my goal is not to expose anyone with this video but to bring to light how damaging and unacceptable this type of message / language is within the modeling industry. it doesn't have to be like this. we can do better.

[@carolynoleary3422]

i’m almost 17 signed with wilhelmina (signed at 15) and i have had absolutely no guidance and all i have been told is that “the person that they signed is the person they want to see as i grow” (essentially saying i’m supposed to look how i did at the age of 15 years old at 17). I am trying to build up the courage to sign with a more inclusive agent that makes me feel good about who i am and what i look like and you posting this video has made me feel so much better about it.

[@vickyjackson]

Hey hun, I’m Vicky, a model from the UK. Is it a negative meaning though? I don’t know if that’s what they’re saying, if they’re saying they want to ‘see you as you grow’ doesn’t that mean they want to see how you change and grow into yourself as you grow up? Rather than staying the same? I don’t know much about Wilhelmina but I know they have models above size 0 and 25+ on their main board. They’re obviously a crazy big agency so I’d try to push and see what you can get from being with them. It might also be you being still underage excludes you from working. I think it’s harder now to work underage in the industry. Have you tested much and got confident at shooting?

[@TheScienceofSelfCare]

This is insane. The height of my runway modeling career was at 21 - I’m so glad I was NOT a minor when I started. I’m so sorry you grew up around this. I was very underweight and told to lose more thigh fat..unhealthy times in my life. That’s partially why I’m so passionate about health now! Today, I cherish my body.

[@isabelleborden3774]

I'm so sorry you had to deal with all those comments and from such a young age. I am currently a little over 16 and 1/2 years old and I had trouble with my body since I was like 11 so I understand to an extent despite not being a model. Thank you for speaking on this stuff. 💜

[@marycavey94]

Bentley, we walked in a show for VCU school of fashion together maybe four years ago. To this day, I haven’t forgotten the harsh words said about my body during the fitting for that show. I didn’t give it much effort after that one negative experience. Years later, I still hear those words. Thank you for this message. It is so important.

[@MeowmyandMe]

Everyone said I should be a model. Met with several agencies who were interested but my size was a non-starter. Six feet, athletic frame, 165lbs, size 8-10. Much too big for standard size and not quite big enough for plus size. Every message I got was negative about size and this contributed to an eating disorder that nearly killed me

[@elkedohmen]

I am so proud of you ❤️ Been following you for a while now and I really appreciate your honesty. as a model who is not signed with an agency at the moment, I can confirm that it is still is a very big problem in the industry and we must use our voices against these inhuman “rules”

[@cw9452]

The hip measurement yes it was only one inch for me too, that was always going to be the death of me. I started modelling in 2014, only did it for a year and a half and been dealing with anorexia nervosa ever since. Thanks for talking about this topic Bentley, the modelling industry is rough to say the least, I hope you are doing ok. xxx

[@bentleymescall1684]

wishing u all the healing in the world ❤️

[@doraaaa0613]

oh my god just imagining a grown ass “professional” nutritionist telling an athletic young teenage girl to cut out entire food groups from her diet is heartbreaking. my heart goes out to your younger self. i had eating disorder tendencies as a byproduct of my depression, from around 15-17, it got so bad that i had to go to the hospital and get on iv drip at some point. i was never ever happy looking at my body in the mirror, but recently i was looking back at photos from then and i was literally so thin already that it bewildered me the kind of thoughts i was having about myself. teenage girls suffer so, so much already. cannot imagine what it must’ve been like trying to be a model and having so called professionals feed this stuff to you. i truly hope you’re in a better place now. ❤

[@muhamadusilla3332]

Im so sorry that youve had to deal with such awful treatment from people who are supposed to take care of you. The fact that they have the audacity to talk to an impressionable girl in such an inappropriate and patronising manner shows how disgusting some agents can be. I hope that you recover from such a traumatic experience and I’m glad thst youve found your own voice in an agency that supports and represents you for who you are.

[@ellora7588]

growing up in the ballet industry is so similar, i have danced since the age of 2 and by age 8 there were weight requirements/ bmi requirements i had to stay within in order to stay with the company. i developed bulimia at 10 and then severe anorexia at 11 and have struggled for the past 5 years due to the nature of the business. it got so bad in late 2021/ early 2022 i was admitted to hospital. i was encouraged to keep doing what i was doing and to stay at a very low and unhealthy weight. i started collapsing at rehearsals as i wasn't fueling myself sufficiently. i was further humiliated by being told that my dancing was "useless" and "i would never get anywhere" . obviously i was dancing poorly - i was being encouraged to destroy my body for years and i knew nothing better, i trusted the people there :( . i would have rehearsals for up to 5 hours a day, 6 days a week. i was told similar things about nutrition (which is complete bullshit) which led me to the point i got to. the wake up call for me was when i had a really bad fall and injured myself. i went to the doctors to see what damage had been done in the fall and was sent immediately by ambulance to the hospital after they took my vitals .i had explained that i had an eating disorder but wasn't currently having treatment and i was told that even another week of living how i was could have killed me. i had to drop out of dance for 8 months as i was required to stay in the hospital and be medically stabled and have treatment for anorexia. it was the best choice to stop working and take a break. it saved me,along with the help of my treatment team . i have been in recovery for a year and a half now!! i left the toxic dance company and now dance with a different one who allows me to be healing from the issues and never encourages anything dangerous. i have never been doing better in my work :) . i have the energy to dance now that i fuel myself properly and i have strength now- mentally and physically i have improved so so much. this video needs more attention, both dance and modelling industries need to be changed in their mindsets so that people can work safely and not have to endure such abuse

[@DavidsSanity]

Wow thank you for sharing

[@marianolasco1151]

Agents should be nutrition certified ! And I’m sorry you had to go through that sad experience

[@meganmccourt6072]

So proud of you, Bentley! And I’m sorry for all you went through. ❤

[@rosebluesky]

Girl, you are so fucking brave for speaking out and I honestly think these agencies need to be called out (including the full names of people involved in this sort of thing, the ones that send you these e-mails I mean). Encouraging eating disorder is a nice way to put it when its actually encouraging starvation. Your Australia modelling thing obviously tells me that there is something wrong with the US modelling industry (I might be wrong, it could be some other countries as well). My point is, it doesn't have to be this way. And I am glad you're speaking out. It takes courage. Subscribed! Love from India.

[@cennarolle6943]

I wanna be a model every bad but the bad side of modeling have me every scared. All my life people told me ‘Oh your very pretty ,’You look like a doll’ and other things . I’m 14 now and I wanna grow my glutes and I wanna be a model but your waist or your body have to be a certain way. I’m the type of person you say something harsh to me I will cry very easily and that will stick in my head and it will replay a lot . At a young age I use to starve myself and forget that I eat or not and that’s sad but now that I’m 14 now I’ve gotten healthier and I wanna be a healthy model.

[@TheApprehensiveRVerDessy]

Your weight doesn't matter for things like commercial modeling, they look for normal everyday people.

[@Moving_Forward247]

Wow how horrible. The enemy works through people to steal kill and destroy… Such beautiful young people should be protected by their parents. I would not let my daughters go into modeling. Just heard the end and I am so happy that you now have boundaries.

[@sarahsultan]

You said it might be triggering for people with EDs but actually it served like a wakeup call. the way your agents used to talk to you is exactly the way I talk to myself and I realize now that's it's crazy. I aspire to be a professional model in Europe (I'm based in Egypt) and I never even tried applying knowing that my measurements don't "fit" and have been trying to lose weight for over a year now. I'm a 36 hip and a 26 waist and my waist is my biggest insecurity cause I know it has to be at 24. Do you think someone with my measurements stands a chance at getting a contract? giving that I am 5'10 so I meet the height requirement

[@bentleymescall1684]

you don’t need a 24 waist or a 35 hip. those requirements don’t exist and the good agencies who are inclusive and find girls good clients who take them as they are

[@sarahsultan]

This is so encouraging thank you so much for responding and for doing the video❤

[@ftwrrrr]

This is so sad. i'm so sorry girl, you're beautiful just the way u are. it's incredible how they are SO POSITIVE about a mindset that's far from healthy

[@themanyfacet]

Wow I had no idea this still happens in the 21st century. So sad. Models need to be healthy!!!!!

[@mikkoniiranen1865]

First of all I am really sorry You had to go through this. Secondly sample sizes are ridiculously small the days in high fashion. Some kind of standard is needed, so that clothes don't have to be made specially for a specific model, but the smallest size possible is not needed or healthy. Even 36 inch hip measurement is very small. I am a designer and pattern cutter and strongly feel, that women's clothes should be shown on a woman's not a girl's body.

[@bentleymescall1684]

totally agree

[@iamharryssushi]

omg I'm so sorry about everything u went through. I am glad that u signed with a new agency u accepts u for who u are and what u have. This shit has to change, they destroy us and they do not even understand this. Proud of u girl 🤍

[@bentleymescall1684]

❤️❤️❤️

[@anthonycummins7617]

Bentley, you have helped a lot of young people. Just by having the courage to put your story out there. We have been following your career for years now, you are intelligent and beautiful from the I side out. Bentley be very proud of you. 🌹🌹🌹❤️❤️🌞🙏

[@SequoiaCoatesRamirez]

I am so so so sosoooooo proud of you girlie, I am so happy you are doing well know💗💗

[@priyaa115]

Wow, i feel blessed,that I watched your, video, going through the same, was currently been told to lose weight, if I want to be in this industry, thank you so much for making this video, If you don't mind sharing what are your current measurements, It would really help, if you can share, But no pressure Much love ❤️🙏 Love from India 🇮🇳

[@emilybiroschak9937]

My first agency had females running the majority of it, so I was lucky in the sense of first exposure. My first agent was a male, however, and I was told he was in charge of the girls who actually had a chance at high fashion. The emails and texts in these videos are identical to what I was receiving and I remember all the other models glamorizing how much my agent 'cared' about me.

[@courtney7358]

Got the same email from my stupid agent, i dont know what agent u had but i had one at IMG and they deserve to be called out

[@oakleywyatt1717]

I know very little about the modelling industry, but this sounds insane. Are all areas of modelling like this, or is it mainly runway modelling?

[@katgreer6113]

I know I clicked on the video myself but this is so scary and sick to even think about...an agency called me back and I might sign with them but I hadn't really thought about how I would grow. I'm 16.

[@hattiecc]

if onlyyyy i had seen this 5 years ago 💔💔💔

[@notorioopsbig5107]

Rooting for you! Thank you for sharing your stories with us. How brave wonan you are🥰😍👍👍👍👍

[@milalewis3387]

Thank you for sharing this Bentley. Will be using these tips with future agencies for sure ❤️

[@jenniferseaselkie]

Yikes, I'd like to know which agent... IMG wants to sign my daughter she's 15 & still growing. This is bad.

[@tikagarthoff]

Thank you for sharing your story. I just discovered your channel and I think you are such a brave, pure and real person. I also find you extremely beautiful just as you are

[@bentleymescall1684]

much love 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼

[@camiwerrell5098]

TWELVE HUNDRED IS INSANE. At 6 foot. WOW.

[@sarahwales6276]

Where were your parents while these people were pressuring you to starve yourself?

[@ervinsmoviecorner8748]

Happy Lunar New Year of the Rabbit, Bentley!🐇🐇❤️❤️

[@jguitar23]

I think you should sue this trainer & the agency. This seems very much like child abuse as well as worker rights not respected.

[@Cleow33]

They were really stupid to put those comments in writing. I know the agency you were with and they try to paint themselves as 'caring', but those toxic comments are there in black and white.

[@bentleymescall1684]

honestly it just shows that they don’t think speaking to young girls like that is wrong or anything they shouldn’t put in writing.

[@Imbored-wx8fj]

I thought the industry left this nonsense back in 2018

[@megk317]

U need more food as an active young woman (more than 2200-2400) a phd in the Fuck it diet says that 2000 is enough for a child lol

[@megk317]

This is something I didn’t know until recently lol