My name is Lenka Dayrit and I’m originally from Czech republic. I remember having a lot of dreams about my future job when I was a kid. I wanted to be a stewardess, nurse or figure skater but never a model. One day my mum came home, opened a newspaper with a pictures of girls competing for a Miss Junior and said: “if they can do it you can do it as well” and that was it… I went for the pageant, met a bunch of photographers and got introduced to agencies. Quickly I learned that the pageants has nothing to do with real modeling so I dropped my mom’s dream of having a future Miss Czech republic at home and started to travel.
Me on the left at "Miss Rose Bud" |
First test shoot - 14 years old :) |
I enjoyed myself modeling in Europe but something was still missing and I found out what it was when I went to Asia for the first time … I completely fell in love with Asian cultures and decided to stick around. The business was always good for me. Ironically, while I was considered sick looking due to my pale skin in Europe I was celebrated for its fairness in Asia. I soon realized that the concept of beauty varies all around the world.
Malaysia |
Well adventure did come our way but lets just say it wasn’t anything we were expecting… After getting really tired and bruised up I decided to get a doctor check up and I was diagnosed with Leukemia. I remember till today how I felt like when the doctor gave me the news. I kept on staring at him with my eyes wide open, trying not to cry in front of him. Once he left the room I broke down crying hysterically. I kept on crying for the next hour but than I finally realized that if I want to survive than I can’t be sorry for myself. I realized that only if I toughen up and be positive I will survive and ever since than I haven’t cry for my stupid sickness again. I shaved my head – I mean who wants to see all their hair falling all over the place after the chemo anyways? And I sent my hair to Locks of love. I think those little babies need the hair more than me. I could live with my baldhead. You know in the end it was kind of fun not to have to wash my hair anyways.
Posing? What's that? |
I went thru six chemotherapies. It was a hell on earth. You go thru pain, nausea and despair without knowing when its going to be over but you pull thru and every each day you feel better and stronger. This February it was exactly one year since I’m in remission and although I’m always going to be more prone to get sick due to my damaged immune system and be tired faster than other people in my age, I AM ALIVE AND KICKING !!
I took my time to go back to modeling. Lot of people think this job is as easy as walk in the park and sometimes it's true. But a lot of the times its working never ending hours under a lot of pressure. Finally as a one year anniversary approached and my hair grew to a length i was loving I decided its time to jump back in the business. I was lucky enough to sign with one of the most renowned agencies Wilhelmina models and finally started to rebuild my book and run to the castings...
Couple of months ago i got the message that i have been requested for Project runway season 8 casting. Although I knew there will be hundred of other girls I got the tingling feeling that its gonna happen for me. I always loved this show = it's not just a reality show about bunch of confused kids who other than the perfect ability to down 10 shot in one hour don't posses any other talent. This show is about real talented and artistic people. People who have a big dreams and enough courage to follow them! Not to even mention that i myself sometimes create some piece of clothing when i have the vision of certain look but fail to find it in any of my favorites stores so therefore i could always learn some more from the talented designers on the show.. One week later i got the call that i have been casted. It was a destiny :-)
As by now you all probably know that there is officially no Models of the runway show anymore. Since I have become one of the models on the newest season of Project runway (8) I have heard a lot of people asking why there is no more of Models of the runway show. Most of the people liked the inside on the Project runway from the other side = our side. The show gave them the chance to see how it really felt like wearing those outfits and who of the designers were really nice or not when the camera wasn't focusing on them. While i cannot answer you why the show doesn't exist anymore I can at least try to give you some of the inside info.
I will try to write a post as each episode will air. But I'm in advance saying that i won't spill any info about future episodes. Some of the inside info have to remain mystery as well. I don't do it because of any contract. I just know that there had been a lot of money invested in and more importantly a lot of amazing people have put all their energy and sometimes even sacrificed their personal lives for the show and therefore i would never do anything what would hurt either the show or any of this great people.. You wouldn't want me to spoil the fun for you anyways.. I mean who likes when someone tells them the ending of the movie which they haven't seen yet?
I also wanna make sure that you all understand that this all is my personal point of view and it doesn't necessarily express the opinions of the other models, designers or people on the show!!!
I will approach other models from the show to write about themselves and the stories from Project runway so keep on reading :)
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