Watching the Runway From My Dorm Room

Durin’ this time of year, in my modeling days, I woulda been struttin’ my stuff and doin’ my thing on the runway, but not anymore! While I’ve been growing my company, I’ve also been hittin’ the books – and studyin’ away at Harvard Business School.

Even though I won’t be catchin’ the shows at Lincoln Center, this supermodel retiree will be keeping tabs on the latest trends (and new model cuties) from my Hah-vard dorm room in between classes and meetings with my study group. And although I no longer have to remember which designer wanted an “Amazon-meets-Lolita-but-no-smiling” stomp and which one requested an “Audrey-Hepburn-in-post-apocalyptic-Paris” stroll, I must confess that I sometimes miss that cuh-razy fashion world.

Lucky for us all, Fashion Week is only a click away. More and more designers are live-streaming shows so you can see them at the same time as the front-row editors and celebs. Talk about one serious upgrade from my time on the runway. You used to have to (*gasp) wait for the newspaper reviews like a pioneer lady. 

But even with all this incredible coverage, I still sometimes have runway flashbacks. I’m not saying I miss getting stuck with pins or trying to walk in those too tall heels or finding out at the last minute that my booty was going to be hanging out of an ultra-ultra-ultra miniskirt (those designers loved them a booty skirt back in the ‘90s). But there was something intoxicating about stepping down a catwalk under brilliant spotlights, workin’ the runway in front of the wall of photographers and then smizing before rushin’ into the chaos of the backstage, where a whole team was waiting to quick-change me into my next look.

What I don’t miss was that, at the end of a month of shows, my hair would be frizzed to death, my skin would be rubbed raw from makeup remover and my feet would have blisters for days!

I’m happy and proud that in this phase of my life, I’ll be rockin’ a Harvard hoodie during the Fashion Week shows, checkin’ the new set of talent on the runway through pictures and blogs, and thinkin’ of all my model gals showin’ off their struts – and smizes!