Chat Ed : Welcome to this evening's THIS MODEL LIFE chat with RUTH CRILLY!
CEB : hello ruth!
Ugly_Spottie_Boi : hi Ruth!
Ruth Crilly : Hi everyone, I've just finished watching the programme - I'm ready to chat!
Friskydoughnut : What happened to the turtle...?
Ruth Crilly : The turtle was set free in Central Park - he was too hot in the apartment so we let him loose.
ninimonkey : why did u have to pay ur own expenses while living in NY?
Ruth Crilly : Because basically if you go over to a different country on a direct booking (which means that you're going over for a particular job that you've been booked for) you get your air fare, your accommodation and a chauffeur all paid for, but I was basically going over to establish myself and see clients which was my choice so I had to pay for it myself because there wasn't a client at the other side who had booked me. It works like that for everyone actually.
NS : Hey Ruth, well done on this program! You give models a good name
angel : What is it like waiting for an interview for hours then not gettin gthe job?
Ruth Crilly : The interview that was shown on the programme, that wasn't for a particular job that was for a casting agent, so he would look at you and if he likes your look then he'll keep you on his books for future reference. I have actually been on jobs booked through him now, so it turned out well in the end.
kelly : Hi Ruth, is the modelling lifestyle more hard work then glamorous?
Ruth Crilly : Yes! Basically you do all the hard work so that you can have a glamorous lifestyle and it's much the same as you saw on the programme - if you do castings it's really hard work, but once you get the job it's really glamorous - you get to stay in really expensive hotels, get all your food paid for and get a chauffeur driven car. So it's a bit of both really. You have to do the leg work to get the glamour.
Kat : how did u get into modelling?
june : What age did you start Modelling?
MikeOxford : don't forget what Erin does...live cheap and save like mad!
Ruth Crilly : I started at 20. I was at University and I decided to take some time out because I hadn't had a gap year and fortunately I got scouted by Models 1.So thought I'd give it a go. I recommend anybody that was thinking of trying it to get their education first though so that you have something to fall back on.
country_bumpkin : do you ever regret giving up university?
Ruth Crilly : In some ways yes...because I only had one year to go and I would have my degree by now and letters after my name but I know that there's a strict time limit on how old you can be - you've only got a small window of opportunity in the modelling world so you have to catch it while you can and you can always go back to education at any time. So it was the only way I could have done it really because I was already quite old when I got into it. So kids, stay at school!
Kim : Do you think this tv show is going to help your success?
Ruth Crilly : I've had a really good response from clients but I don't think that people in the fashion world will be so easily swayed just because I'm on TV. It will just make people know me a bit better. Hopefully I'm seen as a good ambassador for the modelling world. So that's good. So yes I think it will help my career but not in the way that you would have thought - I think people are more kind of proud of me than anything.
Es : Ruth ... I just want to say I think you are lovely and unassuming - a good role 'model' who knocks spots off all these fake girls
Ruth Crilly : Aah, thank you! It's nice to have positive feedback and to have people appreciate personality as well as looks.
GemmaM : what do you think of the other models in the show?
Ruth Crilly : Well, they are all friends of mine because all the models at the agency kind of know each other. Erin and Anna are both gorgeous people. We all have very different personalities. Erin and I both deal with the pressures of the job in different ways I think and Anna is quite a lot younger than me, so I probably relate more to Erin. People might think there is bitchiness going and that the girls all hate each other, there's actually so little of that. We find that we get on so well because we are all under the same pressure and we can all relate to each other's problems.
Sugarplum : What will you do when the modelling ends
Kim : Do you think modelling will lead to other work like acting etc?
Ruth Crilly : I'm going to go back to Uni and finish my Law degree. Or writing or journalism. We'll see. Hopefully it's a few years off yet. I'm always thinking about it though - I don't get complacent. It would be nice Kim. It can do for a lot of people. The contacts are there but again we just have to see how it goes - a lot of it is being in the right place at the right time. If the auditions came up then yeah I'd give it a try. You have to try everything once - you never know until you try!
Photographer : Ruth who was the best Photographer u worked with ?
TASHA AND KEV : Ruth, just want to say well done. You've come across as a star!!!!!
Ruth Crilly : I've worked with so many good ones, they are all great in their own way. There isn't a single one that I've worked with where I haven't enjoyed it. Even new photographers - you can see potential in them and everyone I have worked with has been exceptional, so I'm very pleased.
Chanel : Does that gap in-between your teeth stop you getting work?
Josephine : what happened to your teeth? why have you got a gap?
Ruth Crilly : No, the complete opposite.
Ugly_Spottie_Boi : I think the gap is cute
GemmaM : WE LOVE THE GAP!
Ruth Crilly : I hated it when I was younger and I had a brace put on to close the gap and it didn't work, the gap was just too stubborn.
Gemma20 : It is unique
APerfectCircle : long live the gap!
Ruth Crilly : Every client that books me says they love the gap in my teeth. The only place that didn't was Japan - but that's a strange market anyway. Gaps rule!!!!!
marco : how did u cope with the Japanese? How did u find living there??
Daytona : Why wasn't there any translators in Japan ?
Ruth Crilly : The manager that escorted us to each casting acted as the translator but he had 10 or 12 girls that he was dealing with each time. It would have been too time consuming for him to translate everything to all of us. It's a different work ethic there. Living there was great - you get treated very well. Working there was difficult and the food was strange and very, very expensive. I'm hoping to go back in a few months actually. I had a lot of people there who were friends so that helped a lot.
Oliver : Why do you think the Japanese market is so focused on Western women?
mo : what did u do with the blue peter money tower that u made in japan
Ruth Crilly chuckles
Ruth Crilly : I had to leave the money tower there because it wouldn't fit in my suitcase because I'd bought so many things over there. I was going to carry it through as hand luggage but I thought they might think I was a bit mad! It is weird how they want to see girls who are so different to their own cultures, but they love all things Western. - all the European labels etc. It is a shame that they don't use more Oriental girls though.
icklejo : Hi Ruth you are an inspiration to me and all young girls. What did your parents think of you leaving uni and becoming a model?
Ruth Crilly : They were shocked at first because we're a very academic family but the fact that I was slightly older, I think they trusted me slightly more to make a good decision. They saw me travel and becoming more and more independent and developing my own personality and now they couldn't be happier - they're really pleased. They do want me to finish my education at some point because it's a shame to have a brain and not use it, but they are really supportive.
samantha : would u encourage ur children if u had any to take up modelling?
Ruth Crilly : Ooh...that's a hard one. I think, if they really wanted to, and I felt that they were mature enough to make that decision, then yes I would let them, but I'd be quite wary because I know all the pitfalls. There's no way I'd let them do it unless they had done their education because it's just so fickle.
country_bumpkin : Which are?
tally : what are the pitfalls?
GemmaM : what pifalls are there?
Ruth Crilly : You've got to be able to handle rejection because you might do 10 castings a day and each one is emotionally wearing - it's a bit like a competition each time, so it's quite taxing on your emotions. You have to have a very hard shell. And also it's very risky. Some girls leave school before their GCSEs - they might do 4 or 5 years of castings and jobs for no money then they have no education and are unemployable really. You have to be strong and clued up and have a good support network behind you. It's a very changeable business and you need to be aware that things could just flop the very next day.
Gemma20 : Has anyone ever made a clay sculpture from you?
CEB : What has been the best job you have done so far?
Ruth Crilly : No, I'd hate to have a sculpture made of me - I could not sit still for that long so fair play to Anna! Best job... I've had some great jobs where I've been flown to Monaco and Nice, you know, hot places. Too many to count actually. I've enjoyed working with every single group of people. I've been quite lucky. I have done a lingerie shoot though on an English beach at 5am, so that's the other extreme!
adam : what was it like when you saw yourself in a magazine for the first time?
Lauren : is it weird watching yourself on the tv ruth?
Ruth Crilly : It was weird, I was dressed as a cowgirl - I expected it to be all sexy and pouting and I ended up with this mad expression staring back at me from this magazine. It's especially weird when you see your name in print at the bottom of the picture. I felt quite proud of myself.
Louise Helen : How have your friends reacted to you being a model?
Ruth Crilly : They're really proud. They took the mick at first because I'm blonde as well. They love it though. They ground me too because they still treat me the same as before.
paul wilson : Hi. Whats the most you have earned in a day?
Thom : What is the most expensive thing you have blown on a credit card?
Ruth Crilly : Ooh, erm... £7,500 is the most I've earned. Although I made £12,000 on one advert that repeated and that only took 45 minutes to shoot. Shoes and jackets which I could probably have a mortgage on is what I spend the most on. I tend to get given lots of stuff too. I have a coat worth £3,500 which was given to me.
fashionchic : Don't you feel uncomfortable with any of the outfits you have to wear?
Merlin : what do you really think of some of the designers clothes?
Ruth Crilly : Some of them are completely off their rockers and you feel like a complete lunatic but it's all part of the job and it can be a laugh. You just look at each other and have a laugh about it. You can feel uncomfortable though. Some designers like to celebrate the female form a little too much ; )
simone : Ruth your a wicked person! As well as a wicked model so keep up the good work!!!!!
GemmaM : got to go ruth...i wish you every success in the world..bye
Kat : byeeee Ruth!!
Holly2003 : Bye Ruth, Good Luck in the future, you sound like a very nice person.
iwanabamodel : byeee!
Ugly_Spottie_Boi : Ruth!
heiko : well done ruth!
Ruth Crilly : Thank you for all your lovely comments and support. It's nice to know there are people out there with their thumbs up for me and don't forget to watch next week!
fashionchic : byee! thank 4 answring my qs
Becky : byee ruth good luck
