I was a child model for a brief time, and I think it messed with my perception of my appearance.

I know it sounds like a lie. When I was younger, I was really tall, and my parents were told to consider getting me into modeling. I had a funny short haircut at the time, was very tall, and had long legs. I don't know if that was the reason, but was briefly a child model. I didn't really know what it was other than I was being forced to wear new clothes and go to meetings with my parents. I got to go to some really cool places... and sometimes I ate catered food. It was very confusing to me, and I didn't really have any idea what I was doing. But I do remember photo shoots, and having to change clothes, and people adjusting my clothing for the shoot. There were other models in commercials I was in, and I got to go some really cool places.<br><br>I remember this one day we were modeling this kid furniture. The model was a girl, I was pretty sure she was older than me. I remember being told that the two of us were to sit at a desk, and sometimes pretend to draw. I was bored out of my mind, and the other model was sort of stand off-ish. I was told to sit at a desk next to her, and she told me to fatten up a bit because I was too thin. And I was. I was very tall and thin for a kid. This really bothered me, and I remember feeling inadequate after that. I started to think that I was too ugly to be a model. I never saw any of my commercials, and I was getting bored with it, so I asked my parents to stop sending me on auditions.<br><br>Looking back, I think the model was insecure, and was taking it out on me. But as an impressionable kid, I never really forgot that moment. I've never been overweight, and have always been considered to be fairly attractive, but I'm still very insecure about my appearance. I think that moment was the root of it. I even remember getting nasty comments from kids at school, who said I looked like a boy and should "eat a cheeseburger." I was really confused, because I was eating just as much as the other kids.<br><br>I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you're a model, please don't speak like that to children. I'm not sure if it was my fault or not, but I've been insecure about my appearance ever since.