--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had no luck when I started out as a…" description: "\"I had no luck when I started out as a model. I keep telling people that it's the only career in the world that you can't choose for yourself - you have..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acb/ines-de-la-fressange-27043_career_i-had-no-luck-when-i-started-out-as-a-mo_104669.png" --- # I had no luck when I started out as a model. I keep… ![“I had no luck when I started out as a model. I keep telling people that it's the only career in the world that you can't choose for yourself - you have to be chosen.” quote by Ines de La Fressange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acb/ines-de-la-fressange-27043_career_i-had-no-luck-when-i-started-out-as-a-mo_104669.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acb/ines-de-la-fressange-27043_career_i-had-no-luck-when-i-started-out-as-a-mo_104669.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acb/ines-de-la-fressange-27043_career_i-had-no-luck-when-i-started-out-as-a-mo_104669.png) > “I had no luck when I started out as a model. I keep telling people that it's the only career in the world that you can't choose for yourself - you have to be chosen.” [Ines de La Fressange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ines-de-la-fressange/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modeling is portrayed as a career that one does not choose; success depends on being selected by industry gatekeepers. **In simple terms:** Models are chosen, not choose. Key Takeaway Industry gatekeeping limits agency. Themes career modeling choice industry dynamics Mood reflective candid Type industry insight When to use this quote - Talent scouting - Casting calls - Agency representation Key Concepts selection bias professional autonomy Practical Applications - Build personal brand to attract selectors Questions to Reflect On - How can models increase their agency? - What alternatives exist to traditional scouting? A Different Perspective Freelance platforms now allow models to self‑select opportunities, reducing gatekeeper dominance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I started as a model when I was 14 because I wanted to make money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-seigner/i-started-as-a-model-when-i-was-14-because-i-wanted-to-make-money/) [Emmanuelle Seigner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-seigner/) > [I would love to end my career as World Champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hardy/i-would-love-to-end-my-career-as-world-champion/) [Jeff Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hardy/) > [“Choose? When do I ever choose? Have I ever chosen?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/choose-when-do-i-ever-choose-have-i-ever-chosen/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [From each as they choose, to each as they are chosen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nozick/from-each-as-they-choose-to-each-as-they-are-chosen/) [Robert Nozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nozick/) > [I believe in the right to choose. I have chosen to end a pregnancy before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/i-believe-in-the-right-to-choose-i-have-chosen-to-end-a-pregnancy/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [“Then Xander whispers, "Cassia... if we could choose, would you ever have chosen me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/then-xander-whispers-cassia-if-we-could-choose-would-you-ever-have/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [I started as a model in Holland and Chanel took me to New York when I was 19, after which I decided to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/famke-janssen/i-started-as-a-model-in-holland-and-chanel-took-me-to-new-york-when-i/) [Famke Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/famke-janssen/) > [I have done my BBM and a small course in fashion. Then I started out to be a model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nidhhi-agerwal/i-have-done-my-bbm-and-a-small-course-in-fashion-then-i-started-out/) [Nidhhi Agerwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nidhhi-agerwal/) > [I actually started as a model builder and quickly progressed into production design, which made sense because I could draw and paint. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/i-actually-started-as-a-model-builder-and-quickly-progressed-into/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [I started off as a model and struggled for some time until I got a break as an actress. I was too stubborn to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/i-started-off-as-a-model-and-struggled-for-some-time-until-i-got-a/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [I want to avoid becoming too styled, too ‘done’ and too generic. You see people as they go through their career, and they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/i-want-to-avoid-becoming-too-styled-too-done-and-too-generic-you-see/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [A lot of people, when they see my career, they hear or remember, 'Sat on the bench four years in college, got cut by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-warner/a-lot-of-people-when-they-see-my-career-they-hear-or-remember-sat-on/) [Kurt Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-warner/) > [I don't want other people to decide who I am. I want to decide that for myself. I want to avoid becoming too styled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/i-don-t-want-other-people-to-decide-who-i-am-i-want-to-decide-that/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [I've tried to stick with the same people from when my career started to today. The more people you add around you, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-jones-jr/i-ve-tried-to-stick-with-the-same-people-from-when-my-career-started/) [Roy Jones Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-jones-jr/) ## More by Ines de La Fressange > [Even if you live in a tiny village, there's an Internet site. It's quite easy to find clothes, but sometimes women don't know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ines-de-la-fressange/even-if-you-live-in-a-tiny-village-there-s-an-internet-site-it-s/) [Ines de La Fressange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ines-de-la-fressange/) > [Matching shoes and bags immediately age you by 10 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ines-de-la-fressange/matching-shoes-and-bags-immediately-age-you-by-10-years/) [Ines de La Fressange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ines-de-la-fressange/) > [The secret of great style is to feel good in what you wear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ines-de-la-fressange/the-secret-of-great-style-is-to-feel-good-in-what-you-wear/) [Ines de La Fressange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ines-de-la-fressange/) > [I saw a lot of haute couture all my childhood, and without knowing it I've learned from when I was a child to recognise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ines-de-la-fressange/i-saw-a-lot-of-haute-couture-all-my-childhood-and-without-knowing-it/) [Ines de La Fressange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ines-de-la-fressange/) > [If you don't feel comfortable in a plunging sweater, skin-tight jeans and killer heels, go home and change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ines-de-la-fressange/if-you-don-t-feel-comfortable-in-a-plunging-sweater-skin-tight-jeans/) [Ines de La Fressange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ines-de-la-fressange/) > [Life is never what it seems - and that’s the great thing about it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ines-de-la-fressange/life-is-never-what-it-seems-and-that-s-the-great-thing-about-it/) [Ines de La Fressange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ines-de-la-fressange/) > [You can go out and hate everybody, hate your age, and hate all the things you don't have but it will show; you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ines-de-la-fressange/you-can-go-out-and-hate-everybody-hate-your-age-and-hate-all-the/) [Ines de La Fressange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ines-de-la-fressange/) > [Well, that's why I really love Diego Della Valle, because he's crazy. Instead of going out to find a top business school graduate, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ines-de-la-fressange/well-that-s-why-i-really-love-diego-della-valle-because-he-s-crazy/) [Ines de La Fressange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ines-de-la-fressange/) > [But overall when you work in fashion, you're always in a rush. You're always a little late, always in a hurry. Every single moment's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ines-de-la-fressange/but-overall-when-you-work-in-fashion-you-re-always-in-a-rush-you-re/) [Ines de La Fressange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ines-de-la-fressange/) > [One thing Della Valle taught me is the power to say no if something isn't right. That mattered even over sales. Now it's rolling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ines-de-la-fressange/one-thing-della-valle-taught-me-is-the-power-to-say-no-if-something/) [Ines de La Fressange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ines-de-la-fressange/) > [One thing Della Valle taught me is the power to say no if something isn't right. That mattered even over sales.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ines-de-la-fressange/one-thing-della-valle-taught-me-is-the-power-to-say-no-if-something-2/) [Ines de La Fressange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ines-de-la-fressange/) > [People imagine I am always in a Bentley with pearls and diamonds and black glasses and Karl Lagerfeld next to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ines-de-la-fressange/people-imagine-i-am-always-in-a-bentley-with-pearls-and-diamonds-and/) [Ines de La Fressange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ines-de-la-fressange/) > [I was going to the flea markets to buy furniture. It was getting done the way it was getting done - on a small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ines-de-la-fressange/i-was-going-to-the-flea-markets-to-buy-furniture-it-was-getting-done/) [Ines de La Fressange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ines-de-la-fressange/) > [It is true that in France, women put on less things. If they have a necklace, they don't put on earrings; if they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ines-de-la-fressange/it-is-true-that-in-france-women-put-on-less-things-if-they-have-a/) [Ines de La Fressange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ines-de-la-fressange/) > [Fashion is made up of paradoxes. There was a key moment in fashion. When the Japanese first arrived - Comme des Garçons, Yohji Yamamoto,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ines-de-la-fressange/fashion-is-made-up-of-paradoxes-there-was-a-key-moment-in-fashion/) [Ines de La Fressange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ines-de-la-fressange/) [Explore all 21 Ines de La Fressange quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ines-de-la-fressange/) ## More Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had no luck when I started out as a model. 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