Anna’s Fall: Model Contracts, Control, and Shaved Identity
Neighborly Help to a New Look: How a Chance Encounter Led Me to Join a Short Hair Club and Embrace a Bold New Hairstyle at Mandi’s Barber Shop
Anna woke up at 6 a.m., preparing for a big fashion show in New York City. At 25 years old, her mornings were always rushed, balancing castings and arriving at shows on time. She rolled out of bed and headed to the bathroom to start her beauty routine. After brushing her teeth and washing her face, she stepped into a hot shower, shaving her legs to prep for body makeup later. She shampooed her long brown hair and applied a hair mask for smoothness.
Wrapping herself in a towel after her shower, Anna picked out an outfit from her closet. She chose stretchy black jeans, a simple tank top, and sneakers for comfort backstage. After dressing, she made avocado toast and coffee for breakfast. By 7 a.m., she had finished eating and began doing her makeup, opting for glowing skin, neutral eye makeup, and a nude lip. She diffused her hair into soft curls, packed a small bag with backup makeup, a phone charger, and her portfolio, then caught an Uber to the fashion show venue.
As the Uber pulled up, Anna’s nervous excitement built—this was a huge opportunity with a major fashion label. She took a deep breath and stepped out, weaving through the crowd of models and racks of couture backstage. The energy was electric, but she noticed the models had a haunted look in their eyes. Before she could dwell on it, a show manager’s assistant abruptly handed her a contract, demanding she sign it and head to makeup.
As Anna read the contract, disbelief washed over her. It required all models to shave their heads and remain bald for two years. Shocked, she hesitated, but the assistant pressured her to sign, warning she’d lose the opportunity if she didn’t. Reluctantly, Anna signed, feeling sick at the thought of being forced to shave her head.
The assistant led her to a back room where other models were nervously waiting in barber chairs. A stylist barked “next,” and Anna watched in horror as the first girl’s long hair tumbled to the floor. When Anna protested, the manager coldly reminded her that she could either follow through or lose the job.
Desperate for the money, Anna felt trapped. She pleaded for leniency, but the manager smirked, holding detailed information about her finances and debts. He cruelly reminded her that refusing could lead to financial ruin and even eviction. With no choice left, Anna signed away her rights, feeling powerless.
The manager forced her into a cold metal chair, and the stylist fastened a striped cape around her neck. Anna shut her eyes as the clippers buzzed near her ear, and her once-flowing hair fell to the floor in clumps. Within minutes, her head was shaved down to the scalp. Anna barely recognized her reflection, feeling exposed and devastated.
Looking around, she saw the other bald models huddled together, equally distraught. One petite blonde whispered that they were all drowning in debt—rent, school loans, and more—and had no choice but to comply. Another girl warned that the manager had connections everywhere and had even framed a model who tried to escape. The girls were trapped, bound by contracts and debt, their identities stripped along with their hair.
As Anna’s mind raced, the manager returned, grabbing her arm and dragging her to an outfit review. He berated her, reminding her that any mistake would result in severe consequences. In the viewing room, he selected a revealing outfit that would flaunt her new bald look, then pulled out clippers to shave off the last traces of stubble on her head. Anna stood there, trembling, realizing she had hit rock bottom—her body and life now controlled by this cruel man
