Cameron Russell is a stunning 25-year-old model who has worked for the likes of Victoria's Secret and photos of her have been splashed all over high fashion magazines such as Vogue. Russell however, believes that people should stop overvaluing looks and paying attention to models like herself, and look towards serious issues.
Russesl gave at alk in October for TED that was posted online and she spoke frankly about how modeling is not a real career path.
"Saying that you want to be a model when you grow up is akin to saying that you want to win the Powerball when you grow up," she said at a TED conference.
Russell graduated from Columbia University and studied political science and economics. Russell said, "I won the genetic lottery."
She also wrote an op-ed piece for CNN in which she wrote,"I hoped telling a simple story - where my only qualification was life experience (not a degree, award, successful business or book) - could encourage those of us who make media to elevate other personal narratives: the stories of someone like Trayvon Martin, the undocumented worker, the candidate without money for press," she wrote.
Her TEDx talk was posted on line and got more than a million views. She adds in the CNN article, "
"The talk itself is nothing groundbreaking. It's a couple of stories and observations about working as a model for the last decade.
I gave the talk because I wanted to tell an honest personal narrative of what privilege means.
I wanted to answer questions like how did I become a model. I always just say, " I was scouted," but that means nothing."
She adds that for the past few centuries beauty has been defined as tall, "slender figures, and femininity and white skin."
"And this is a legacy that was built for me, and it's a legacy that I've been cashing in on," she adds.
Russell says she believes she has the ability to make a positive impact on the world but is worried that if she speaks from a place that relies on looks, there won't be room for anyone else. "I will have reinforced that beauty and race and privilege get you a news story. The schoolteacher without adequate support, the domestic worker without rights, they won't be up there with me," she added in her CNN article.
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