Strutting It!: The Grit behind the Glamour

by Jeanne Beker

Who wouldn’t want to wear gorgeous clothes, travel the world, hang out with stars, have adoring fans – and get paid a fortune for it? But is that what the life of a model is like?

World-famous fashion guru Jeanne Beker offers a unique insider’s look at the reality behind the glitz. She demystifies the industry for those who are thinking about a career in modeling and for those who simply want the scoop on an intriguing world. Strutting It! is full of fascinating information, from getting discovered to finding a personal style, from the team of people behind every model to the education a good model should have.

With a foreword by modeling superstar Coco Rocha, Strutting It! is packed with biographies of successful models, lots of black-and-white photos, and the great humor and common sense Jeanne Beker is known for.

Genres: Nonfiction, Fashion

88 pages, Paperback

First published January 25, 2011

About the author

Jeanne Beker is the host and segment producer of the internationally syndicated FashionTelevision and style columnist for the Globe and Mail. She was editor-in-chief of FQ and SIR magazines, as well as being a celebrated judge for several seasons on Canada’s Next Top Model. In the fall of 2010, Jeanne launched her clothing line EDIT at the Bay across Canada. She is the author of five books, including The Big Night Out and Passion for Fashion. Her most recent book, Strutting It! The Grit Behind the Glamour (Tundra Books) is a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a model. She lives in Toronto.

Reviews

[Child960801 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great for any young woman thinking about pursuing modelling. The author really lays it out there: a model is a living mannequin, there to display clothing so that it can be photographed and sold. Therefore, the model's physical size and shape are the most important qualifications and well it can be fun, it is hard and demanding work.

[₵oincidental Ðandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trite & basic. Unless you're a teen-aged girl contemplating the possibility of a career in modelling, don't bother wasting your time reading this book; it offers nothing new in the way of information that isn't already (& readily) available out there.

[Barbara Brockhaus · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected a much deeper dive into the fashion world.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this with my ten-year-old sister in mind since she is an avid mini-fashionista-in-training. Being in my mid-twenties, this book isn't for us. It is for those teens and pre-teens who are interested in the fashion business and have their sights set on being a supermodel.

As someone whose knowledge about the fashion industry is just enough to pass, I found this book to be quite fascinating! It shows the pros and cons of going into the modeling business and just what to expect if you can get your foot in the door. I also really enjoyed hearing about models from the first supermodel to the famous models of today. I was especially excited to see information on my favorite current models, Agyness Deyn and Crystal Renn! I will agree with other reviewers that I wish there had been even more pictures. This is a fashion book, after all! It isn't enough to read about the fashion and the models; we want to see them! Plus, since the book is geared towards pre-teens and teens, I think the book would have done a better service to them with more photos to illustrate their points.

My biggest complaint is with the fact that author Jeanne Beker uses the word "inimitable" on almost every page. Okay, that might be a slight exaggeration, but that seemed to be her favorite word and she overused it. Did the copy editor not catch it and request that she use another word from time to time? By the end of the book, every time I saw that word, I got annoyed. That may just be my own personal issue, but as someone who has done a lot of writing and editing in her day, I was just sorely disappointed on that front because it made the text start to feel stale and repetitive.

Overall, I give this book three stars. It gets an average rating due to its repetitive nature, the fact that there aren't enough pictures, in my opinion, for the subject matter and their demographic, and the advice could be a little more practical. However, the book is well made, and it is obvious that time and attention was put into it. For a young girl who has dreams and aspirations of making it in the fashion industry, I'd recommend picking up this book for them.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strutting It attempts to provide a dose of reality about the modeling industry and is aimed at the age group actually in a position to become working models, 12-16 year-olds. It’s usefulness and appeal lie in the mix of forthright tough-talk, practical advice and glamorous insider-knowledge. Jeanne Beker, a Canadian television personality and author, has been a fashion journalist and host of Fashion Television for over 25 years. She began her career at sixteen and knows the business and players well. This slim volume mixes instructional and informational chapters on ‘getting discovered’, ‘developing your personal style’, and ‘reality of the road’ with factoid profiles of supermodels and lots of photographs on, and behind, the runway. Practical advice is given to help aspiring models avoid victimization. Hand, fit and plus size models are briefly discussed. Eating disorders are mentioned and followed up by the hard to swallow sentence, “The truth is, no one wants to work with a model who isn’t healthy and in top form.” Strutting It manages to temper the fantasy of modeling while maintaining its allure. There is an appealing focus on the hard work and talent of the cooperative teams, including models, that create fashion. It is also clearly a self-promotional vehicle. Regrettably there is no list of resources and no index.

[Erika · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is clearly aimed at pre to early teen girls already familiar with the fashion world. The writing is pretty well done, concise and easy to read, if more than a bit repetitive and focuses way to much on dropping names which mostly meant nothing to me.
I wish there had been more photos of the peoples whose name the author dropped, especially photos that showed examples of the sense of "style" she was talking about at the time, in fact, there needed to be more photos overall.

The author did managed to mention some of the darker sides of the fashion industry but mostly glossed over them or dismissed them as being the fault of the girls weaknesses and lack of focus instead of being a problem with the industry as a whole.
I did like how she pointed out other career options within the industry instead of only focusing on high fashion, even if she did make it clear they were not as good or as valued and she also gave examples of careers former models used their experience in the field to help them move into and that she didn't sugar coat how short and limited most models careers were.

Overall a not horribly written book, but mostly fluff aimed at people who are already caught up in the industry.

[Canadian Children's Book Centre]

Fashion journalist Jeanne Beker has written a great guide to modelling for young women who are keen to find out more about this glamorous career. It takes a reader through the steps, from how to get discovered, to developing her own style, to learning the art and skills of the trade, to working with others.

Beker takes a very practical approach, complete with lots of real-world experiences. This is not a fluffy book, and she dispels the notion that modelling is, in fact, a glamorous life. Although there can be excitement and prestige, it is also very hard work and takes a great deal of stamina, discipline and dedication, as well as a certain body type and that hard-to-define “something.”

Throughout the book there are mini-biographies of notable models, and lots of stylish black-and-white photos.

Reviewed by Mary Anne Cree in Canadian Children's Book News (Summer 2011, Vol. 34, No. 3)

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last week I read "Strutting It!: The Grit behind the Glamour," by Jeanne Beker. I found this book to be very factual and surprising. This book described the daily life of a model. I had never thought that modeling was really hard career to obtain. Jeanne Beker told the life of a model through her point of view. Before reading this book I had always believed that modeling was such a easy job. But I soon realized that modeling was not just taking pictures. Models have to find a agent hat is interested in using them as their model. And as easy as it sounds this is probably the hardest part. In order to achieve success you need to be discovered and liked by the agent. Models work long and hard days and do not get the credit that they deserve. I learned all about the lives of models and the obstacles that they face daily. I enjoyed reading this book and I now appreciate models a lot more that I had before.

[Bea Elwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

Funny enough this is marketed as a teen book but even states that you need to have already started your career by then, so what's the point? As a plus-sized human being (I'm a size 16 for the record) I still love reading about the behind the scene stories of theater (which the illusion of fashion uses effectively to sell its glamor) but this book just left a bad taste in my mouth. "Some day" the world of modeling and fashion may change but for the last 25 years "this is the reality" just sounds complacent to me. Although it mentions eating disorders it also scoffs at how "some people take these fashion magazine images so literally, they actually aspire to look like the models!" (pg 41). Overall I was disappointed in the writing and message of the book, having hoped for a more inspiring look at the grit of it all.

[Phair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written for young people interested in the world of fashion modeling. Nice, realistic look at the plusses and minuses of a career in modeling with lots of good advice including warnings about the dangers. The Canadian author covers a lot of ground in the book's 74 pages. All photos are B&W and some are a little darker than I'd like. Interspersed throughout the book there are profiles of a number of models covering how each was discovered, big break/career highlights and career development beyond modeling . I thought it was interesting that the author indicated that while America's Top Model and similar programs require contestants to be 18 or older, in fact by the time they're 18 or in their early 20s most successful models are already reaching the peak of their careers with many having started by age 16 or even younger.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have recently read the book "Strutting it the Grit Behind The Glamour" by Jeanne Beker. I thought this book was interesting because it teaches us about how a variety models got discovered, when they began to model and who they have modeled for. I thought it was interesting to see how they got discovered because on of the selected models that the book talked about got discovered at a McDonald's fast food restaurant. When I found that out I thought it was pretty amazing that from being discovered at a McDonald's she became one of the top payed models and one of the most popular models. I would recommend this book to people who like to learn about different aspects of fashion and also for people who enjoy fashion. Overall I thought this book was a guide for people who would like to become a model and also for people who would like to work in the fashion industry.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strutting It is a book for those interested in modeling as a career or interested in the modeling profession. The author is passionate about the topic and lets us behind the scenes of this glamorous and demanding world. It talks about the physical characteristics desired as well as the personality traits that will allow someone to become successful in this field. [return][return]The book also discusses the history of modeling as well as the bigger names. The modern names mentioned are probably more familiar to the reader. There are also many models mentioned that I was not familiar with and with no picture or visual to go with the name it seemed as if the author was name dropping rather then going into why she included them in the first place.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Straight talk about the modeling profession told by a fashion insider (Fashion Television's Jeanne Beker). Lots of quotes and examples featuring a deep well of bold-faced names and famous faces - Kate, Linda, Amber, Naomi, Daria, and lesser-known models such as Maggie Rizer, Irina Lazareanu, Carmen Dell'Orifice, and Crystal Renn. Unfortunately, there are not enough photos for a book this focused on fashion, and the book is printed in black and white. Still, a good choice for fabulous young ladies and gentlemen interested in the world of fashion modeling - either as potential participants or as avid spectators.

[Sammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last week I read the book strutting it, which is about the daily life of a model. It teaches you all sorts of facts and teaches you about popular models. I learned that when you are a model you have to go on go sees, which is where you get interviewed by designs and try on their clothes. At goes sees they either get accepted for the clothing line or rejected. Also I learned that if you are a model you have to be strong. You can't get mad if you dont get accepted bus certain company, you have to be strong and move on. Overall I think that this was a very good book that taught me a lot of different things.

[bjneary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beker gives a birds-eye view of the ins and outs of the modeling world. Each chapter discusses what it is like to start in the career of modeling, getting discovered, developing a personal style, and how the world of modeling has changed through the decades. The author also describes how models have also built empires through clothing labels, writing books and making videos and also being other kinds of models. Each chapter contains biographies and highlights of supermodels and black and white photographs

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read the book "Strutting It! The Grit Behind the Glamour" by Jeanne Beker, this book really made me respect models even more. It shows you that models work very hard, and it is not easy to be liked in this business. You have to find a respectable agency and agent. This book made me realize that models work for most of the day and get about 4 hours or less of sleep. They have to work in foreign countries far away from their families and friends.

[Buckle Button Zip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Behind the scenes info on the life of a high-fashion model. Interesting asides on supermodels from Twiggy, Cindy Crawford, Chanel Iman, Kate Moss and Gisele Bundchen, who according to this book, is the last supermodel of our day.

[Chrissy]

...saw this at the bookstore and was definitely intrigued!

[BCPL Youth Services Librarian]

Click to see book in BCPL's online catalog

[Lori Song]

Help! I wish there were more reviews of this. I cant buy it where I live and there are no copies in the library so I am contemplating on whether I should buy it off the net.