After I won top model, I was stuck in a 3 year contract with an agency that no longer wanted me. Top Model dumped them for IMG in season 2 and they were pretty bitter about it. They sent the 3rd runner up who they had signed to Hong Kong because the show was huge there. It was a sensation. I figured they’d send me too considering I won it. Nope. They wanted to send me to South Africa, etc where no one knew me and no one even heard of the show. I did a tv show with Janice Dickenson (Rock me Baby?) and she asked me where I was being sent. When I told her South Africa she said “Oh GOD!” and straight up told me they were shitting on me and my career. She told me to demand I get sent to the market where I would work and was famous/in demand instead of a market where I was unknown. LA, Chicago, London, Hong Kong anywhere but South Africa. No dice. Ultimately, I do not regret going to live there for a summer, as it was one of my favorite experiences in my life. The pay there for models was even more abysmal than in the states, but it was wild and I got this amazing shot out of the deal.
There was nothing I could do besides sneak into castings while in NYC, etc to try to book work. I wasn’t always given a lot of go-sees. I got some here and there. I would usually just spot and follow fellow models. That did lead to some awkward situations. I remember going to a casting in NYC and they let me know it was direct requests only. Oops! Anyway, a long the way I learned how lackluster modeling paychecks were. 40% was paid to the agency by the client. Then, your greedy agency demanded a whopping 40% from YOU. Your agency would hang onto your money till you started shrieking at windows demanding to be paid. I never chased top model for fame. I wanted CASH. When you grow up with a lack of cash, you recognize that money is NOT happiness. However, it parlays itself into many options. I wanted more options. I wanted to be able to treat the ones I loved.
The cover of a major magazine? A fashion spread inside? It did not pay very well at all. Walking a runway? Yay, they bought my lunch tomorrow! I guess the goal is to LOOK glamorous…live in a tiny apartment and skirt by in life. So long as your book keeps building and you LOOK successful, you are! Unless you are one of the 1% of models, your life is NOT very glamorous, even if you are regularly working. Let’s face it, the runner up and third runner up on my season did laps around me. I am not a person that stops others in their tracks with my beauty. I was never going to be a top model even if I had been handled better and sent to markets I could work in. I would have booked due to fame. I am an average/pretty girl who always struggled with being far too fat in comparison to the other girls. I do NOT think I am fat. However, when all the models you run into are built like waifs and you are about 15lbs heavier than them even when you are trying to diet…you realize you are not streamlined for the gig.
(baby me with no make up)
My diamond campaign paid me more than most paid other models. I had befriended the team and they were VERY cool with me. We met on top model and they were really impressed with my photos. They said they tried to immediately book me but the show had me sequestered. I was able to cultivate a friendship/partnership with Merit diamonds after the fact. I struck a deal to go to conventions, etc with em along with my ads. In retrospect, in comparison to future gigs, I would have been on the fence over doing it. It was my best paying modeling job…but after my agency raped me for their percentage and took MORE from the client…I remember being shocked at how little I actuially was paid from it.
I learned very quickly, that my goals should change. TV is exposure and what comes of it is more cash and gigs. I won top model because of my personality, not my striking good looks and perfect body. I focused on that instead. That is when I hit the lotto. When I FINALLY was free of the chains of my former modeling contract (longest 3 years of my life!), I secured an agent and manager. (After the surreal life. My old modeling agent raped that paycheck, too lol) I did it on a handshake. I made it very clear that I would never again be stuck in a contract where people can hurt me. I made sure my agent would not just pocket money off work they did not get me. I wheeled and dealed with my manager to knock down his take depending on certain variables. I incorporated myself so the government wouldn’t rape the last bit of money that I was actually payed from gigs and I could start writing off what I paid my team. Being the spokeswoman for The Flexbelt might not be as glam as gracing the cover of Italian Vogue, but it paid a HELL of a lot more.
Starring in a Pistachio commercial with my ex may not be the apex of all things glam…but it paid far more than a few years of non stop glamorous modeling. A small guest star role on a network show? That shit pays SO much more than a magazine spread. In fact, 10 seconds of walking by and saying two words on a network sitcom paid more than 10 magazine covers, 20 magazine fashion spreads and 15 runway shows. Hell, probably more than even that! Sitting at an autograph convention for a weekend pulls in more money than a month or more of nonstop modeling gigs.
My ex used to tell me “KNOW YOUR PECKING ORDER!” while condescending and shitty for a partner to tell you that, I KNEW it in the fashion world. I was the bottom of the barrel. However, Ken Mok, the REAL creator of Top Model (Tyra thought it up, he made that shit happen) had said it best. “Adrianne is reality tv GOLD”. That is why I was picked. If left up to Tyra, I never would have made the finals of top model. I was choosen because people would relate/want to watch me on tv. I was not chosen because I was an obvious “model”. I wasn’t, I am not. I have said before how I lost myself in a toxic situation, etc. There are blogs up about my journey to finding who I am again, so I wont trouble you with my rise, fall and rise again.
I do not regret NOT chasing the dragon of modeling once released from my chains. I did a few jobs just for exposure (certainly not for pay!) whilst doing the tv thing. I LOVED to model I REALLY enjoyed it. However, if you REALLY enjoy your job but cannot pay your bills even when you work 15 hours a day, you MUST upgrade. Had I did the model thing, I wouldnt be where I am today. If I was sent to Hong Kong I may have never met my husband now. Things worked out exactly how they were meant to. I wouldn’t have been able to fly my friends and family around and treat them to amazing things! I was able to do for my family what I had always wanted to. It took a lot of elbow grease and a different path. Sure, I have regrets (looking like an adiot on tv, anyone? lol), but that is what life is all about. I learned from my mistakes. Now, I was able to parlay that fame into a new career that is FAR less stressful and way more rewarding. I don’t live in fear anymore. I don’t have to go to therapy JUST because I can’t handle people stalking me with cameras. I paved my way to where I am through trial and error. I have no bitterness, anger, nothing toward what I may have once viewed as major letdowns.
I am grateful for it all. The pain,the fear, the successes, and most importantly, LEARNING. Money may be options, and I could have continued to have MANY MANY more….but at what cost? My soul? It certainly did not buy happiness. Happiness is earned, and I hit my jackpot.
Love all your posts. Thanks for inspiring others by being honest and humble. We need more of that in the world.
I applaud your journey towards happiness and letting go of the toxic things that were present in your life, even getting your implants removed! And I am so happy to see you found a true partner in Matthew. But Adrianne, you are stunningly beautiful 🙂 I have always thought that. It is even more refreshing that you focus on your personal/mental health growth and not just the superficial things in life. But you are a beauty, no doubt about it!
Amy
Love your explanation of the industry and your experience with it. I idolized the life when I was young and wanted to follow in your footsteps on top model. But ultimately never had the confidence. You’re so right though. Everything happens for a reason and brings you to the place you should be and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
❤❤❤
Very interesting read! Well said and your happiness and contentment now is well deserved. If only all people were as self enlightened as you seem to be it would be a much better world. Never stop never stopping! 😉
Sometimes it can be amazing to think of all the things that happen in our lives, that we don’t recognize at the time, to get us to where we are.
I find your insights so valuable. I admire your integrity and compassion!
Everything you did was a learning experience. You handled it well and came out of it and now you are happy as a clam. Life is good🤗
I’ve loved following your journey. So happy that you and Matthew found each other! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much Adrianne for insight into your life’s experience. I appreciate your honesty and I really do admire your integrity.
So interesting! I don’t remember much about all your TV gigs, just that I always liked you and enjoyed anything you were on. I did wonder why you never really seemed to model–I always thought you were gorgeous. Funny how life shakes out. 🙂
I love how honest you are about the pay!!! Thats what I really enjoy about this write up. Alot of these models are not making any real money especially living in expensive azz cities like LA and NYC. I mean who tf cares about glamorous photo shoots and magazine covers when you arent making any money??? I know i dont.
I came upon this article randomly and I’m glad I did. I’ve found you to be reality tv gold for decades so it was amazing to hear your overall take on all these years and events. I love how humble your words are as you sum up decades of wins and losses in very few statements. You aren’t denying the bad nor are you taking for granted the subtle good. It for some reason made me proud to hear and feel your personal story and growth. Also made me jealous that you have so much documentation (photos and tv episodes) that it makes it possible for you to see your life from an outside perspective and obtain the sage wisdom you have. Thank you for that.
Your more beautiful than any of the so-called “models” out there. Good for you for staying true to yourself and not selling your soul for fame that wasn’t that great anyway. You are a hero! Never forget that!
I applaud you and Eva Marcile. She really won Top Model not because she was a “true” model but someone who made good tv. She has rebranded herself as you have done and has made tons more money doing RHOA, some movies (not blockbusters) but probably more lucrative than modeling. She is also a regular on a morning talk show and is now married to an Atlanta attorney. So she figured it out like you did. Congratulations to both of you. Smart ladies knowing how to turn lemons in lemonade.
Thank you, Adrianne, for this peek into your past. I really did wonder why we never heard anything about your career stemming from ANTN. You are so REAL. I have followed you for a while and life is good. I LOVE that you are now in LOVE with. Beautiful inside and out. All the best.
Im very that you are now in a good place. I was SOOOOO happy that you won because I loved your personality. I’m sad that you got the shaft on this, but ultimately am glad you made it into the public eye! Congrats and rock on!
🌹Hello Adrianne🌹,
I hope it is okay to write this here. I just needed to tell you how much your livestream today helped me.
I feel so alone in this political climate. My closest friends are extremely far left/liberal, and while I consider myself liberal/democratic, lately I cannot deal with their intolerance.
I am tired of them trying to educate the world in the worst way possible — as a pack of self-righteous bullies.
Long story short — your words today made me feel less alone.
Thank you.💐
~Kris
Love that you are speaking the truth about fashion/product modeling. It’s a tough path. The biggest rewards are often great photos and travel.
I am glad to see the Hollywood celebrity experience of fame and life in front of the cameras break your spirit. We all stumble along our own paths in life, just as you did to find what we want, and where we place our priorities… I’m glad you found your path that brings you the most happiness. You are a beautiful person on the outside. You’re beautiful in your soul, where it counts the most, shining for the world in a new way now… far more positive ways.
I am glad to see the Hollywood celebrity experience of fame and life in front of the cameras didn’t break your spirit. We all stumble along our own paths in life, just as you did to find what we want, and where we place our priorities… I’m glad you found your path that brings you the most happiness. You are a beautiful person on the outside. You’re beautiful in your soul, where it counts the most, shining for the world in a new way now… far more positive ways.