'I had to grovel to even be signed to an agency': Iskra Lawrence recalls the bitter struggle she faced at the start of her career - revealing how her 'hunger' for success propelled her to stardom
- The plus-size model, 28, opened up about getting into the fashion industry
- Iskra spoke about how she had to 'grovel' to sign with her first London agency
- Then she left the agency after they kept saying she wouldn't make it in NYC
- Iskra has gone on to star in international campaigns, including ones with Aerie
- She uses her platform to promote body positivity and confidence for others
- The model advised others to 'work harder' to get to where you want to go
Plus-size model Iskra Lawrence detailed the fight she went through to get into the fashion industry — as she confessed to not feeling 'worthy' among other people in the business.
The 28-year-old British fashion star rose quickly to fame in the fashion industry after American Eagle chose her as one of its models; she has also made a name for herself by promoting body positivity on her own social accounts while making it a priority to never retouch her images.
But though she is now one of the industry's most successful stars, Iskra recently revealed to Cosmopolitan that she went through a great deal of disappointments and difficulties in order to reach the dizzy heights of fashion fame.
Fighter: Plus-size model Iskra Lawrence, 28, opened up about getting into the fashion industry
Staying tough: She confessed to having to first 'grovel' to a London agency to implore them to represent her. She has gone on to star in international campaign, including ones with Aerie
Staying positive: Iskra admitted some of the criticism made her doubt her abilities, but she fought to make her way into the New York City modeling scene
'I had to grovel to even be signed to that agency,' she confessed when speaking about her first agency in London.
Iskra explained she had aspirations to one day move to New York City and model since she was a young girl — but her first agency made her doubt her goals after they criticized her body shape.
'I felt embarrassed... I didn’t feel worthy and I did have so many feelings of self-doubt,' she said. 'I reevaluated and was like, "Well, I just have to work harder."'
Eventually, Iskra cut ties with her London agency after she kept hearing she was not ready for New York. She instead decided to go out on her own and find an agency that would take her on.
'They saw the hunger,' Iskra told the publication. 'That’s really what they said separated me from the other models, they saw I was hungrier.'
The plus-size model, who know has over 4.4 million followers on Instagram alone, went on to book an Aerie campaign one year after signing with her new agency. Jobs kept pouring in after that — including modeling for lingerie company Adore Me and walking in a fashion show for L'Oreal Paris.
Iskra wanted people to take her story and use it in their own lives by recognizing that many get turned down from opportunities all the time.
Instead of letting disappointment control someone's life, she said, it should make them 'work harder, think smarter, and be more rewarded when you do get there.'
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Positive influence: She uses her platform to inspire others and celebrate her figure
Disgusted: Last month, she publicly slammed detox products on Instagram, while sharing a video of herself spitting out what appears to be a weight loss tea
Not her cup of tea: The model, pictured in 2018, said in an Instagram post that she would never advertise for the detox products because of the potential harm they can cause on someone
Throughout all of her success, though, Iskra has worked to keep her message about body positivity relatively the same for her followers.
She will often post pictures online showing off her curves unretouched so others can also find inspiration in celebrating their own body shapes.
Then in April, Iskra further pushed her body positivity message by opening up to Instagram followers about detox products and how they fueled her own eating disorder.
'I don't want your detox tea, I don't want your toxic diet culture, I don't want to pick up a bag for promoting a diet, I don't want to join a bunch of celebs who have enough money to not promote something that could damage the health of their followers,' Iskra wrote while sharing a video of herself spitting out tea.
In the clip, Iskra is seen wearing a pair of leggings and a sports bra from Aerie — a body positive brand for which she works as a role model and ambassador — while perched on a kitchen counter.
She is holding a mug in one hand, which apparently held the tea that she is seen violently ejecting from her mouth.
As well as the video, the post also contained an email she received from the brand Teami about advertising for the teas.
Similar minds: The post follows in the footsteps of actress Jameela Jamil, 33, who often criticizes celebrities who promote any detox products
On message: Iskra and Jameela joined a group of women in an unretouched Aerie campaign earlier this year. They often use their platforms to promote body positivity
In the email, the company boasted about previously working with Cardi B, Kylie Jenner and Lisa Rinna when advertising their weight-loss products. But the examples did not sell Iskra on joining the team.
'It's been years since I've spoken against detox tea because I didn't want to give the industry anymore attention but I STILL get emails with offers,' Iskra wrote.
Not today: Iskra decided to make the post after receiving multiple requests in the last week to work with a detox company. Pictured is one email she received
'No $$ in the world (and they offer more than any other brand has for posting) would ever 'incentivise' me to post about detox tea and there was multiple emails sent to my team just last week!!!'
Brands like Teami and Flat Tummy Co. have saturated the Instagram feeds with products promoted by celebrities that promise to suppress the appetite, slim the stomach and promote weight loss.
The Good Place actress Jameela Jamil, 33, established herself as a voice against this industry and those, specifically the Kardashian family, who support the potentially damaging products.
She previously tweeted against the family, writing: 'Their pockets are lined with the blood and diarrhea of teenage girls.'
Iskra, who worked with Jameela on the body positive and unretouched Aerie campaign earlier this year, echoed Jameela's thoughts on the products by sharing with her followers how the detox teas harmed her own body.
'I actually got sucked into buying a detox weight loss tea when I was a teenager, at the time I had body dysmorphia and ED and would do anything to lose weight,' she confessed.
'So an online marketed tea that would make you drop inches fast and was 'healthy, vegan etc' had me grab my parents card (so sorry) and order a "monthly supply".'
But now the model never reaches for any of those detox products and instead celebrates her figure.
