Iskra Lawrence has made a successful modelling career out of embracing her curves, but she has opened up on the dark side of the industry.
Brought up in Kidderminster, Iskra is now based in Texas after her modelling career took her across the world while posing for famous brands and magazines.
Despite her success, the curvy Brit has spoken candidly about the hurdles she faced trying to make her name in fashion.
READ MORE: Model Iskra Lawrence called ‘fat' at 15 and marked out of 10 – but is now curvy star
She even revealed that she was marked out of 10 for her features when she was only 15.
Now, speaking on the Real Pod with Victoria Garrick, Iskra recalled another creepy event where she struggled with the modelling industry’s harsh judgement.
“I did an audition one time, and it was to be an umbrella girl at the Formula 1 [racing event],” she remembered. “I was only 16, maybe, and they put us in a room with the teams.
“If you’ve ever seen a Formula 1 team, we’re talking like all the mechanics, it’s a room full of 20 to 30 grown men, and you’re 16.
“And you had to walk down runway-style while they held up numbers and cheered and cat-called.”
Iskra is now happily married and a mum to a young child, and also owns her own body care business, meaning she spends less time in front of the gaze of the camera.
The creepy incident took place only two years after she began modelling at 14 and it made Iskra realise how posing for the camera is often coupled with judgement from others.
“I remember in that moment I was so uncomfortable, and all the other models were a bit older, and luckily I stood my ground and said, ‘I’m not doing this’,” she said.
“But I watched other girls do it, and half of them, it felt like they were so complicit they didn’t even see a problem with it, and the other ones knew and it was killing them inside, but they didn’t feel like they could speak up.
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“What happens is, you don’t get the job and you p*** everyone off. I remember we went on a bus up there and it was so awkward, I was like, ‘am I ever going to work again?’”
Iskra’s fears turned out to be misplaced, and she told the podcast how her career changed when she began posing for swimwear companies like Speedo.
“More and more clients realised that I kind of looked like their customer, and I sell,” she added.
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