Within seconds of walking into one of her first castings, Gianna Shami, a 20-year-old student at Loyola Marymount University, felt as if she had gotten thrown into the ring. The competition was intense. “That kind of disgusted me,” Shami said. “At the end of the day, we were all sort of competing to see who would get the job, but I didn’t expect to walk into an atmosphere that felt so cold and isolating.”
Shami began modeling in 2022. Since then, she has had her eyes open to the inside of the modeling industry. But the cold first encounter pushed her to adapt, and she has since found a new kind of confidence—security.
Her initial drive to model began in high school when her best friend started modeling. She was intrigued by the excitement but shocked by the industry and its mechanics. As a new model, she thought she would avoid exposure to the normalization of objectification.
Shami wanted an outlet to express creativity and gain confidence. She is stylish and can skillfully use clothing tones to enhance her olive complexion and green eyes. She embraces her earthy features through her style, embodying her natural appearance and ensuring her raw look is never muffled. Presenting herself through photoshoots for her Instagram wasn’t enough. She needed modeling.
Initially, Shami expected support from the other models, who knew how the toxicity felt. “I’m a very friendly person, and I love talking to people as soon as I meet them,” Shami said. “But I walked into a casting a few months ago and felt super self-conscious.” None of the girls said hi, smiled, or made eye contact with Shami.
“I’ve been on a few sets that have made me feel extremely self-conscious, degraded, uncomfortable, and out of place,” Shami said. She never thought she would experience the industry’s wrath so early on, if at all. One of her first gigs was with a male photographer for an e-commerce dress company. “I walked in to try on the dresses, and he instantly commented on my body and legs,” Shami said.
Her real skepticism began there.
“I wasn’t sure if that was normal, and I was just overreacting,” Shami said.
She ended up getting a call back to work with him again. “One of the other models I was working with had also previously worked with the photographer, so he was mostly making the sexual comments to her,” Shami said.
Shami forcefully accepted this, knowing it accurately portrayed the industry. It taught her to push forward. She stands strong for what she believes, not easily swayed by others. So she turned her unease into motivation, paving herself a path to a career as a model.
“Modeling is super fun for me, and I’ve always wanted to do it,” Shami said. She’s learned to be cautious about what agencies and jobs she says yes to shooting. “I don’t take it too seriously because I could see myself going down a very bad path physically and mentally, but I’ve met some amazing and talented people through it, which I’m grateful for.”
Shami also had to get used to the inconsistencies with castings. Brands look for particular looks, and she doesn’t always fit the vision. “In these moments, it’s hard not to compare yourself and pick yourself apart,” Shami said. But she’s adjusted to the inconsistencies and doesn’t get discouraged anymore. She knows she won’t be the right fit for every casting, and not every casting will be the right fit for her.
Instead of searching for confidence through modeling, Shami was forced to find it within herself. “I’ve had to work harder than ever before to learn to love myself and not let external views affect how I see myself,” Shami said. “It’s taught me to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.”