A Communist Cow in Paris ~ Book Review of ‘A Model Summer’ by Paulina Porizkova

There are several books of this nature out in publication; a majority of which were written by women who in one form or another had experience in the modeling world.  ‘A Model Summer’ was penned by Paulina Porizkova who in recent years is best known for being a judge of ‘America’s Next Top Model’ (she claims she was fired from the show) and as a contestant on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ who was eliminated early in her season.  Back in the 1980s however, Porizkova was in every sense of the phrase a ‘super model’.  

 

                The irony of Porizkova being a judge on ‘ANTM’ was that during the height of her career she was very vocal about not liking modeling but loving the money.  The impression she gave me from back in the day was that she was a brat who loved to say things she thought were shocking for the sake of being shocking (not that she didn’t believe what she was saying, it was more like ‘middle finger you I’m great at this but I hate it’).  For instance, she would often report that she couldn’t wait to get older because she wanted a lot of wrinkles.  She would also chat up how she loved junk food and never got fat...you know, because she was a teen with a fast metabolism, yet no fashion rag would correct her.  Although I know things are far from perfect now, I think that back in the 80s her sort of behavior was embraced by the fashion world because it seemed so fresh…and because she was so young.  Porizkova was a wild child who had escaped the grip of communist Czechoslovakia as a poster girl for Iron Curtain oppression to live in Sweden (a big political mess that is emphasized in any biographical article about her but not in her novel).  Despite, or maybe because of her attitude towards modeling, Porizkova was one of the few elite models who not only graced the cover of various international versions of ‘Vogue’, but also the cover of the coveted ‘Sports Illustrated Swim Suit’ edition.  Due to her exposure on the ‘S.I.’ cover she was given a shot as an actress and made the talk show circuit, where she would provide awkward interviewers with the likes of David Letterman.       

 

                In 2007, the year ‘A Model Summer’ was published, Porizkova revisited what one may assume a fifteen year old fictionalized version of herself in Paris.  The setting is 1980 and the world is full of illicit drugs and casual sex; the AIDS epidemic was starting to encroach upon the era but it had not yet gained its notoriety.  The readers meet Jirina Radovanovicova as she is flying from Sweden to France.  The stewardess almost serves her and her seatmate, another young girl trying her hand at modeling for a summer, alcohol before she realizes that both of the would-be-models are underage.  Jirina feels immediately inadequate in comparison to the other girl who has long golden hair and curves.  Then again, she has spent the majority of her formative years feeling inadequate for one reason or another not to see that she too is a beautiful.  She has to live down never feeling overly special to either of her parents who are divorced and can’t stand one another.  Her mother thinks that this social experiment summer will serve up to be a gigantic fail for her daughter.  Jirina thinks that the only two people who will miss her are her seven year old sister of whom she has been the primary caregiver and her best friend from school (they formed a bond because they are both social misfits).  She is surprised that anyone would think that she could model at all since most of her classmates tell her she smells and call her a communist cow to her face.  Once the girls land in Paris they find old perceptions matter little and that life moves pretty fast in the world of fashion.

 

                The more I read this model/fashion genre the happier I was way too short to be a model; none of these books seem to have a happy ending.  Porizkova’s book however stands out because the protagonist (she) comes from a family of origin that seems to care little if she at fifteen spends the summer in Paris under the supervision of no one but herself.  Honestly, after reading her account I can’t help but equate modeling, especially for girls under eighteen, to white slavery.  There has been talk within the fashion industry of unionizing models and frankly that isn’t a bad idea.  The fact that children are working for the likes of such photographers as Terry Richardson whose reputation is that of a lecher who wouldn’t be allowed to work in any industry but fashion is testament to how the powers that be have closed their eyes to obvious problems. 

 

                As for as Porizkova’s ‘A Model Summer’ I found some inconsistencies which might be blamed on cultural differences but for my part were glaring.  Before Jirina even lands in Paris she sees her virginity as a liability which is a position that I would think a world weary fifteen year old might take, yet Porizkova’s character seems terribly naïve when it comes to drugs.  In one scene she mistakes the drug ‘coke’ with the drink and pours the powdery substance in her glass expecting her water to change color and start to carbonate.  There were other instances as well and it left me perplexed.  Perhaps it is my American Midwestern roots, but I was more savvy about drug culture at her age. 

 

During the story as Jirina becomes more confident she also becomes much less likeable which is frustrating because as a reader I want my investment of hearing a character voice her self doubts turn into self assurance not narcissism.  I suppose that narcissism is probably closer to the reality in these situations, but Porizkova doesn’t have the writing skills to engage the reader to actually root for Jirina to either succeed in the business or to see modeling as part of a larger picture.  Instead it was 322 pages of a sad girl in need of love who finds superficial love while facing exploitation and adult decisions.  Throughout the book were tales of drug use, a suicide attempt, a tragic death, a homosexual hate crime beating, jealousy in various forms, loneliness, abortions, gobs of dirty old men (some of which are known by the moniker of modelf******) and what would be known in the States as statutory rape.  Definitely not the sort of book you should read if you are feeling slightly blue.

 

                I think ‘A Model Summer’ may have worked better if Porizkova simply called it a memoir instead of a novel.  There were too many similarities between Jirina and herself to be ignored.  I think the story would have worked better as an adult recalling herself at fifteen versus being narrated by a fifteen year old with little perspective outside of her young years.  There is something to be said about age and wisdom which can make an adult recalling her life at a very young age, and the mistakes she made, informative especially if she grants her younger self grace.  After all, everything Porizkova talked about in terms of hating modeling back in the day is understandable considering events that happened behind the scenes.  As an adult, and a writer to boot (besides this book she has written a children’s book as well as a frequent contributor to the Huffington Post – I actually enjoy her columns) she could explore a business that garnered her fame and give her viewpoint.  She could rise from the brat that she once was and provide a voice to legions of females who have not yet developed the skills to stand up for themselves in an industry that treats them as a commodity.  That is the book that I wish Porizkova had written.

 

                Beyond my complaints I will give Porizkova points for at least inserting a few kernels of wisdom.  Beyond the subject matter however I found her prose sometimes offsetting. 

 

                “It’s a long story; I’ve been away – but guess what?”  I must, must, tell someone.  My words slip out with the finesse of a bowel movement, “I’m not a virgin anymore!”  (page 113)

 

                I don’t know how the above made it past the book’s editor!  I think it was the worst offense, but there were other examples were the wording felt awkward. 

 

                I wouldn’t recommend ‘A Model Summer’ even at the discounted price of $5.00 which was what I paid for it at the Barnes & Nobel at Zona Rosa.  For a book that sounds like it would be a fast read, something that would be best left for a summer day by a pool, it makes the Franz Kafka’s ‘The Castle’ (the book Jirina carries around for most of the summer before burning it) look downright comedic. 

 

Westerfield © 2011