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The Documentary: Model X

Model X

25/09/2018 GMT

BBC World Service - The Documentary, Model X

In Paris, a Russian teenager tries to become a top model

Every year thousands of young girls, inspired by social media promoting the lavish modelling lifestyle, come to Paris Fashion Week dreaming of walking the catwalk for a big designer brand. Only a few will succeed. In Paris, aspiring models have to adjust to rather spartan conditions: from sharing a flat with strangers to moving around an unknown city all alone and surviving on a mere 80 euros a week. Despite their best efforts to get a job, most of the girls will leave Paris with empty pockets.
 
Former model and now BBC journalist, Alina Isachenka, follows 17-year-old schoolgirl Anna Vasileva from the city of Nizhny Novgorod in Russia on her challenging journey through tough competition and over-demanding casting directors to the top of the fashion industry.

(Photo: Anna Vasileva)

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