Beginnings

Honest stories about getting started: unpaid internships, freelance chaos, the importance of emotional intelligence, and how connections are really made. We have questioned why people choose to stay—and what it means to keep going in a system that doesn’t always value you back.

Sebastián Bedoya

(Photographer)

Q: How many things did people tell you were “normal” that turned out to be insane?

As a product design engineer, I’m used to constant problem-solving. My career taught me to build things from scratch—motorcycles, cars, sets, household objects—so I’ve seen everything go wrong. Things falling apart, backdrops arriving wrinkled, natural flowers showing up wilted—you name it. Now I always carry a Plan B. Honestly, the hardest part of art direction is having a proper vehicle for transport, a solid budget, and insurance. Once, a model had a panel fall on her head and she wasn’t insured. Everyone on set needs coverage.

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As a product design engineer, I’m used to constant problem-solving. My career taught me to build things from scratch

Martxel Montero

(Fashion stylist)

Q: What was your experience like starting out?

I started as an intern at a magazine, just to learn the ropes. Then I began doing my own projects, which is where you really start applying what you’ve learned and discovering your aesthetic, your strengths, and your weaknesses. There’s nothing like doing small projects with friends—just like I did. The beginning is exciting if you go in with motivation. I was lucky to be surrounded by creative friends who supported each other. But if I had done it completely alone, it would’ve been much harder. This career is a long-distance run, if you don’t have the right people around you, you’ll burn out fast.

Manuela Alvarez

(Fashion Model)

Q: What are some of the wildest things people tried to pass off as ‘normal’ on set?

Too many! Like changing in front of the entire team—men and women you don’t even know—being called “normal.” Or not eating for hours during the shoot day being “part of the job.” At first, you think you have to adapt, but over time you learn to set boundaries. What’s “normal” isn’t always what’s right.

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What’s “normal” isn’t always what’s right.

Gustavo Quiceno

(Art Director)

Q: What was your first experience on set like?

Surprisingly chill—like I’d been doing it for years.

Barbie

(Fashion Model)

Q: How many things did they tell you were ‘normal’ that turned out to be totally crazy?

The modeling world is honestly kind of strange. One time, I was told I didn’t get picked for a runway because I was “too pretty,” haha… And I just thought, okay? That’s weird. It actually made me start doubting myself.

And then there’s the weight issue—it’s no secret that European markets are extremely strict about model sizes, and it pushes us to the edge sometimes. Especially with hips—it’s a constant struggle to slim down.

It’s ironic because even with my current hip measurements, I still fit into a size 4 pants…