The Dark Side of Fashion: Supermodel Cameron Russell on Exploitation & Abuse | Amanpour and Company

Fashion model Cameron Russell was first scouted at age 16. She has since modeled for Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren and has appeared in Vogue and Elle. Russell has long called out hard truths in her industry. Her new memoir, "How to Make Herself Agreeable To Everyone," explores feeling both objectified and complicit in the system that built her career. She discusses the possibility for industry change with Michel Martin.
Originally aired on April 29, 2024
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Amanpour and Company features wide-ranging, in-depth conversations with global thought leaders and cultural influencers on the issues and trends impacting the world each day, from politics, business and technology to arts, science and sports. Christiane Amanpour leads the conversation on global and domestic news from London with contributions by prominent journalists Walter Isaacson, Michel Martin, Alicia Menendez and Hari Sreenivasan from the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center in New York City.
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[@kasondaleigh]

The “access to wealth and visibility “ struck me as a historical truth for women. Women have been denied access to wealth and visibility UNLESS they are beautiful, sexual vulnerable, or rich and so we are conditioned to follow these paths. It’s sad that so little has changed in this world.

[@hannahb950]

Access to wealth and visibility requires complicity from all who are from the poorer classes.... no matter the sex, gender, sexuality....

[@BilliePosters]

Kasonda you should go out of life and not be in it really you are just horrible I divorce

[@DLYChicago]

I like how she addresses the exploitation of labor and not just of women. We need to be more conscious of economic exploitation.

[@advocacynaccountablity]

Yes, AND, 80% of garment workers are women.

[@sherrytaha9268]

"We could stop asking how do we fix what is and we could start imagining what we want in the world." Wonderful quote and powerful place to place our attention! Thank you Cameron Russell and Michel Martin for a great interview.

[@cam_2022]

Thank you for asking the question “why do older men want to date young women.” The answer was simple “patriarchy”. This woman was so honest. It is refreshing to hear. I hope all young women in that industry pay attention

[@Britta_no_filter]

I’m reading Russell’s memoir now. It’s evocative and thought-provoking-I highly recommend it.

[@sxt4447]

She is so articulate and intelligent. I have friends who are still working as professional models and it’s so wonderful to hear someone voice these issues in such a personal way yet be able to relate these same issues in the fashion world to injustices happening across the patriarchal workforce. Can’t wait to purchase my copy of her memoir ❤

[@cynthialangley7338]

Brilliant interview.

[@rb-pk8ds]

I dont understand how putting a belt around a 16 year olds neck qualifies as fashion (i am assuming it was a fashion shoot) ... was the purpose of the shoot to advertise belts? A lot of the fashion shoots don't appear to have any point other than look what i can make a nearly naked girl do. I appreciate her turn towards the actual industry of fashion ... it gives the fame usefulness.

[@emmaptokyo]

Her genuineness and warm-hearted smile should’ve been utilized in other industries than such predatory world, ie, FASHION. Will definitely check the book❤

[@witwisniewski2280]

"That's how much of the world is working." Tyranny by employers is what is making employment abusive. They have a right to expect work, but expectation of personal favors, not at all. What's worse is that victimhood is the pro quo expected in these deals. Corruption often stems from simple material greed, but, in many cases it is because of mental illness and personality disorders. The victims are sources of narcissistic supply, and willing subjects for people who can't deal with their own minds and need to take it out on others. We need laws that draw the line between legal contract obligations and corruption in the form of personal exploitation.

[@advocacynaccountablity]

Just bought her book "How to Make Herself Agreeable to Everyone" and am looking really forward to exploring it. It seems a very honest, earnest look at what exists and what could be, if we all made aligned decisions.

[@keithmcphail1152]

"Fashion" is a vry insular, primarily male dominated industry, especially the phtographers. The models have no leverage becuase there is no oversight, and the money earned can be outrageous. These young women, and a smaller group of men, have almost no power. Yes, it is exploitation. Donatella Versace has known this for decades, but she has done nothing to stop it. And as one of the leaders in "Fashion", she has the power to make a change.

[@valleyvox]

Great interview. Thank you Cameron

[@giovannilicata2904]

She is writing and publishing this book because she's a top model. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with being a top model. Yet. she has access to publishing companies because she is a top model. Unless she starts the book or interview with that and the acknowledgement of that duality it's hard to appreciate the valid points she is making

[@kengfors21]

She does a great job balancing nuanced points with clarity. Not starting with a rundown of all the privileges that helped her get published shouldn't make it hard to appreciate her points. That's when perfect becomes the enemy of good.

[@wildoceanappaloosawomangay2535]

When we are young we so badly want to be loved and accepted especially as girls and are told not to trust our guts She had family who loved her I had terrible sexual, emotional physical abuse and abandonment had no family who loved me and allowed men to to do terrible things to me 😞

[@emilywilson7308]

God bless you every step of the way on the healing path.🕊️

[@msmacmac1000]

Wow! Thank you for this❤

[@birdlover7776]

I blame rampant capitalism and the idea of winner take all mindset. Male dominated. Not going to change soon unfortunately :/

[@peakdelvalle197]

If it crumbles under the weight of its own hubris and reactionary tendencies, it may be changing sooner than you think. It would be preferable to consciously change it for the better, but a cataclysmic change for the worse is still a change

[@b13inc]

Thank you for sharing your activism, experience and guidance and we move into our next generation. Great interview!

[@BennettJDent]

I think she's a great example of how communication and association can breed relatability, understanding an awareness.

[@philomenacesta563]

God bless you. Good work

[@dad102]

Good questions.

[@msmacmac1000]

This woman is marvelous. Protect her ❤️

[@ashleyparks1738]

That industry won't change for the better until there are more females working behind the scenes

[@louie2012ify]

It’s just a word “ exploitation of women “

[@sandyrosenberger2415]

That industry is so appalling.

[@ricromrec]

I think it’s sad that her Parents weren’t present when she was sixteen, maybe you could bring her back and talk about that.

[@voxpopuli5663]

Where the heck were the parents ? Model is only 16. Weird all around. Horrible industry

[@kasiapetruk6730]

You would be surprised how many parents - if they are there - just send children off to make some money when given a chance, not really knowing the full picture. Also children in this age can be very persuasive if that is something they want to do (modelling).

[@BoulderBieks]

I’d vote for her in the future

[@pedroferreiradoamaral7248]

Vote as in if she were running for public office? Based on the fact that she is a former model who now published a book about the dark side of the industry?

[@matthewbaynham6286]

I'm surprised she didn't mention Gandhi because he originally stood up to protect the garment workers in India. When any country was ruled by the British empire then the country had to import from Britain and support Britain economically. So all the garment workers in India were being undercut by garment workers in the UK, because workers in India were virtually slaves and had no human rights, also they had to pay additional taxes to make British imports into India cheaper than the locally produced products. When Gandhi visited the UK and he had support from people in the area of the UK where all the factories are, because British workers didn't want to be undercut by countries where people had no human rights.

[@jdmmg4904]

❤

[@reginaerekson9139]

I love robert cromeans❤

[@reginaerekson9139]

11:56 the truth is women are very beautiful because they’re made of not just stars - but sugar, spice and everything nice 😘

[@kayerains3513]

Uhhhh....it's the money, honey. Until all women say "no", many more will say "yes". Women were crawling over the Playboy mansion gates...to get IN !!! Ladies, have some self-respect, please! No matter how you whine and try to Oprah-splain, "NO" is the only word needed here.

[@johnishikawa2200]

Why are Victoria's Secret models all so slinky and angular ?

[@joeratley1062]

I heard someone say that the clothes "fit the hangers" which I still don't get. I thought it was about power and control. Now I think that it's cost cutting - less fabric makes more profit. Still, it's more than that. Perves are gonna perv, and more women in positions of power in the fashion industry will ultimately change things. "Terrible beauty" 😮

[@westernnut8407]

Angles photograph well.

[@bluest1524]

I laid around and got paid to be beautiful, living an extremely self-focused lifestyle, absorbing praise for my beauty, and now that I'm older I have discovered: I want more!

[@brainbrain542]

She said the industry relies on exploitation- yet women have a choice to do this or not do it. And tons of women keep doing it. How is anything going to change if women continue to allow themselves to be exploited?

[@Fixtheproblemwithgoodpolicy]

They get discovered when they're teenagers and often young teens.

[@kiwi88888]

most the women are scouted young. they are groomed and exploited.

[@deborahadeen7582]

It is a way for women to gain wealth. Men have different ways to gain wealth.

[@alphaomega8373]

Funny how people stay in places they claim are so horrible, I think its more of a one last money opportunity, when the career is over.

[@merrim7765]

What do you have to lose to say NO, I won't shoot naked? You have to defend your integrity or lose it.

[@azmrl]

I don't know her name or her face.

[@johnwest194]

while I may not have all of the facts about this former model based on this interview I find it hypocritical that she accepted most of the things that she found objectionable and had a successful career but later wrote a book about all of these terrible things to once again profit from her career - I would have respect for her if she had left the model industry and chosen a career that made a positive difference in the world and again I do not have all of the facts

[@greatedges]

You missed her entire point!

[@HW-sj3cs]

@@greatedgestotally agree

[@pedroferreiradoamaral7248]

Finally a grown-up decided to join the conversation!

[@loisthelibrarian]

It’s the thoughts and words of an adult looking back on when she was a child. Perhaps you’ve not done such reflection on your own life or maybe patriarchy works in your favor and you cannot see from the female perspective of a young girl groomed to please others.

[@pedroferreiradoamaral7248]

@@loisthelibrarian or she is just riding the woke wave, enjoying the privilege and entitlement she's unaware of. Mimimimimi I was objectified when I was a model! Shut up boo boo, pick another job then.

[@bluest1524]

How is it "skilled"?

[@imperialmotoring3789]

You want to make money by people admiring your body, then complain when people admire your body...

[@livingintheforest3963]

Oh my God, what a baby how many women would love to be in her position and be making the money and fame she has made boo-hoo

[@jb-evans2995]

She doesn’t have values

[@dianariverjackson5123]

Interesting how all of these models are "objectified" all of a sudden, "abused" all of a sudden, but they didn´t feel that when they got to wear expensive designer clothes, get access to celebrities and fancy parties and so on. I cannot take this seriously, like really. You CHOOSE the fashion world.

[@PearlRubyJasper]

If you are on skilled and they treat you so badly, I've never seen anything so higher or paid are you kidding me million dollars sometimes for a show please stop

[@lefat4697]

Superficially beautiful person is complaining about the privileges shes been given. My my I was discovered by Elite 20 years ago. Worked internationally. My looks allowed me to get out of post communist Czechoslovakia. Opened countless doors for me. Yes. I have struggled with bulimia and anorexia. But to blame this industry? Get out of here.

[@katharinaheckmann4962]

Paulina is that you?

[@pedroferreiradoamaral7248]

The pinnacle of entitlement is choosing to go into modelling, making a career out of it, and then publish a memoir to complain about it. Nobody forced you, honey.

[@HW-sj3cs]

Just because you choose any profession doesn’t mean you deserve to be mistreated especially when you’re just a kid. There is nothing privileged about being a model. Some models barely make enough to survive. Your opinion speaks of jealousy and ignorance. Even high level women in corporations get abused.

[@pedroferreiradoamaral7248]

@@HW-sj3cs If she became the victim of any crimes or gross mistreatment, the perpetrators should be prosecuted. But complaining about some of the inherent aspects of modelling, come on... And don't go into it when you're underage, period. But seriously, overpaid actresses complaining about things they did to get roles... Cindy Crawford complaining about how Oprah made her twirl to show off her amazing figure... Models complaining about taking on certain or postures for specific shoots... Seriously, it gets sooo exhausting. Try being a housekeeper in a hotel and going through the same and really having no recourse because you're at the bottom of the food chain and if you open your mouth, you get fired and don't know how to pay the bills that very week. Or try coal mining... Yes, I know life doesn't have to be a race to the bottom but if modelling isn't working for you, I am sure the next door diner has a couple of shifts for your you to try your shot at waiting tables.

[@CC-xn5xi]

She was a young teen.

[@pedroferreiradoamaral7248]

@@CC-xn5xi old enough to want to make a buck as a model. Why not try tutoring, waiting tables, etc?

[@tnt01]

100%​@@HW-sj3cs

[@trancemuter]

you are clearly woke! just kiddin' you are beautiful! ❤ My mother worked in the industry, me also, on and off... dirty to the core!

[@user-bi4pr5vv5u]

She doesn't get what you're telling her. The room doesn't try to own her , she's condescending. You're brilliant! Blessings..