Modeling Journey Quotes

As a means to an end, modelling was good, but I had to distance myself from it when I started working as an actress, because even though I wasn't high-profile, I found in my first write-ups that I'd be referred to as 'model Gemma Chan.'

I never had an ambition to go into modeling, originally. I still can't believe how quickly it all took off.

I wasn't a model that loved food. I was someone that loved food that started modeling.

There wasn't really one time in my life where I was like, 'I want to be a model!'

For some reason, I don't like the term 'model-turned-actress' - which is what I am, essentially.

I hadn't planned to be a model. It just happened by pure chance. I went to a beauty school with my sister, and I got discovered pretty late. I was discovered when I was 20-21.

Being a teenage model was lot of fun, like playing dress-up. I'd feel ugly and awkward and chubby, and they'd transform me. Not that that makes everything better. Then my mom shopped the pictures around, I guess, and the agencies started calling. I wound up going with a little agency, Spectrum. It all happened really quickly, I started modeling for magazines like YM and Seventeen, and I did a couple of bigger things like Italian Vogue.

When I was 17, my mum thought it would be a good idea to compete in a modeling television show. It was hard for me to book jobs in Australia at this time, being that my look was so different. Even though I didn't win, I was given a modeling contract with New York Models, so I flew to New York as soon as the show was finished.

I went down to Miami, and somebody saw me on the streets, and that's how I got into modeling.

I modeled for 4 years before I felt like I had my big break.

I actually wanted to become a model agent, and went into what ended up becoming my first agency for a job interview. They ended up suggesting I model instead. I guess I sort of fell into it.

I'm definitely focusing all of my attention on acting. Modeling comes up by default, and I love it - of course I think that it's great - but I'm definitely focusing all of my attention on acting.