Image courtesy of Adam Ickes.
Look at the size of her waist!
The lights are hot, bright. These heels impossibly high. I twisted my ankle in rehearsal and the pain is sharp with each and every step.
There’s not an ounce of fat on her!
Turn. Hands on hips, bones digging into my palms. The applause rings hard in my ears. A thin film of sweat coats my body. I scan the room. It smells of money, expensive perfume and admiration. I’m exhausted. Dizzy. Sick.
I’d give anything to look like that!
My vision tunnels. When was the last time I ate?
She’s living the dream!
I’m absolutely delighted The Sister is still No. 1 in the Amazon UK Kindle charts. This week Amazon are featuring The Sister as their Paperback of the Week so if you fancy a physical copy it’s half price for the next few days.
‘Strike a Pose’ was written for Friday Fictioneers. A 100 word story inspired by a photo prompt. Read the other entries over at host Rochelle’s blog and please join in! The more the merrier.
fabricating fiction 
Dear Louise,
Perfect depiction. The modeling industry is brutal and eating disorders are encouraged. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks. I can’t imagine it! I LOVE my food.
Same here. Not that I’ve ever been a model but I’ve been on the other side. Never going back.
You’re an inspiration in many ways ❤️
I love this Louise. It’s very thought provoking and very true that a models ‘perfect life’ is not always as it seems. I will have a look at Rochelle’s blog and join in.
Brilliant. It’s slightly addictive though! Good luck.
Yes! Raw but controlled. Needle-sharp
Thanks Neil.
Great observation and description. These dream lives often aren’t what they appear to be.
More often than we think! Thanks for reading.
Great piece, I liked the 2 competing voices between reality and desire. Great interpretation from the prompt too. Iain
Thanks for reading Iain.
This made me think of a pole dancer, and the hardship such a job carries. Great imagery, and as Neil says sharply defined.
Thanks very much Michael.
Oh I love this. What a fascinating insight. Great use of the photo too.
Thanks so much!
What a great take on the prompt. Well done. A great read.
Thanks Graham.
Image! This is a really serious issue.
It gets worse doesn’t it? Frightening the emphasis the media puts on weight.
Great, sparse writing Louise. A few lines and we see the contrast between the perceived glamour and the brutal reality. It’s a depressing and harmful profession in many ways.
Well done on your continued success. I confess I haven’t read The Sister yet, but a fellow blogger was raving to me about it, saying how wonderfully readable it was, so it’s only a matter of time. 🙂
Ah thanks Lynn. Hope you enjoy The Sister if you find the time. Modelling is such a harsh profession, particularly when they start at such a tender age.
I’m sure I shall, Louise 🙂 Yes, a very tough world and you described it very well
Thanks!
🙂
There are always two sides to a situation. You captured both beautifully.
Thanks Sandra.
What I like about your stuff (that is, the stuff I’ve read so far) is that you don’t take the picture at face value and tell a story about it. Instead, you craft a tale based on the feeling the image conveys. It’s unique and interesting.
Thanks Fred. I go with the first thing I notice and try not to be too obvious. Thanks for reading.
I find this very disturbing.
Well done.
I’ll take disturbing – thanks!
great picture setting, a 100 stories in a 100 words 🙂
Thanks Helen!
Still No.1, jeesh, how great is that…groan. I feel inadequate…lol.
Hehe. I slipped for a couple of days when JK Rowling knocked me off with the new Harry Potter but I somehow clawed my way back. Your time will come. It has been a LONG wait for me.
Congratulations on being the # 1. Good story too.
Thanks!
The silly prices we pay for nothingness.
We do. Thanks for reading.
A sad commentary to societies expectations. Wonderful write.
Thanks very much.
Great contrast between the crowd’s perception and her reality. Nice one!
Thanks!
If fashion designers and photographers revelled in the natural female form instead of stick-thin models, this would never happen. Well done.
One day maybe?
That made me hungry. I was teetering on that runway for a moment.
Wow, congrats on your “Sister” success!
Tracey
Thanks. It’s slightly bonkers but I’m thrilled!
i guess there’s always price to pay. there’s no free lunch. 🙂
Not usually I guess
Captured in 100 words what Selma Hayek tried to communicate in the TV series Ugly Betty!
Anyway, I remember hearing in youth group a story of two sisters, one was more in line with societal beauty standards and envied by her sister. The envying sister later learned that the beautiful one also envied her sister because she had to determine who loved her for her and who loved her for her looks.
Sheesh! I suppose envy is a natural emotion. Those sisters need to hug each other more!
I wonder if all those young girls who dream of being a model would do it if they knew the reality! A really thought-provoking piece beautifully done.
They probably would!
I like what you did with this, Louise. It vividly shows the reality versus the dream people have in their minds. I read where some models eat paper to fill their stomachs and not gain weight. Sometimes it’s not a pretty picture. Congratulations on the continued success of your book. 🙂 — Suzanne
Thanks Suzanne. Eating paper? That’s heartbreaking.
The dream and reality are in collision! True facts stated so emphatically! Good going! Congrats on your book!
Thanks so much.
Nice take on a different perspective.
Thanks Dawn