David Gandy Bashes 'Zoolander,' Says Male Models Are Treated As 'Lowest Of The Low'

Top male model David Gandy did some talking to the UK's Sunday Times Style about the industry, Vogue UK reports. Gandy remarked, "People still just think Zoolander, and to come out with your pride and dignity intact is probably quite hard in this business."

He added:

Trust me to end up working in the only industry in the world where women get paid more than men, and treated loads better. We're trying to change that. In the hierarchy of a shoot, you have the photographer, the female model, the stylists, the assistants, then the male model. You are the lowest of the low.

This isn't the first time Gandy has talked about his experiences as a pretty face. He previously told the Telegraph:

Very early on I went to a casting for Dior and they asked me to try on a suit. I couldn't even get one leg into the trousers, let alone put the jacket on. All the models were standing around going, 'Hey, who's the big guy?'

There was quite an unpleasant atmosphere there, quite intimidating. I remember thinking, 'Are these guys appealing?' They certainly weren't appealing to me.'

David Gandy: fighting not only for male models, but beefy male models. A cause we can support!

Comments

[Debbi Mihelic]

04:30 AM on 02/10/2011

...I wouldn't whine too much David. I've seen some of the things you've been treated to. Plus you chose the profession.
Is Chloe treated better than you? No offense, just seems whiny coming from you.

[JEANgenie]

10:03 AM on 01/21/2011

David, baby I feel your pain. I think you need a big hug, let me do that for you. yum

[farginbastidge]

10:35 AM on 01/20/2011

Modelling is not the only industry in which women make more than men--there's also porn. In both cases, the woman is usually the focus and primary draw of any endeavor that involves both male and female participants, so it is only rational that she would be the better paid member of the team.

[Alex Geana]

06:11 PM on 01/19/2011

Ahhhh. The Dior man, a wafish creature that lives on air and has a size 28 waist.

[keldog4511]

05:03 PM on 01/19/2011

Here's an example of society's double standards. Men are not allowed to complain. If it was a woman making these remarks, it would be fine. The guy is just telling it like it is.

[noob1]

11:54 AM on 01/19/2011

And I've heard they have trouble getting dates too, eh?

[gguy]

10:45 AM on 01/19/2011

I was pleased to read that a male model has the same experiences I have had when trying on some designer clothes - it made me feel somewhat better. The designers need to stop designing and making clothes for skinny teenagers, who don't wear them anyway. Kind of ironic, since this complaint has been made by women for years, and now we guys are making it.

[UniversalStop]

09:48 AM on 01/19/2011

To say that the subject of a fashion shoot is lower than the assistants is like a white guy yelling about reverse racism.

You're not the victim. Unless you're in the photo with a woman, you're the center of attention, you're paid well, and you're super attractive.

Get over it.

[MsVella]

01:25 PM on 01/19/2011

Usually male models are not the centre of attention, they're literally hot side things. He prob wouldn't be, but most male models would be.

[Debbi Mihelic]

04:32 AM on 02/10/2011

David is the #3 male model in the world. He is pampered. This is self indulgent because the media follows him everywhere.
Love ya David, but this is out of character.

[N133]

05:09 PM on 01/19/2011

Reverse racism is completely different. If anything he has Marsha^3 syndrome. It's true that men in most editorial fashion shoots are peripheral, and women's fashion is much, much bigger than men's fashion.

And he didn't say he was the victim, he just said he would like to be treated a little better. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be treated a little better at work.

[usrnmna]

08:06 AM on 01/22/2011

Yes, women's fashion is much bigger than men's fashion. The fact is that top female models make millions and millions and top male models make less than 10th of what the girls make because women's fashion IS the fashion industry and men's fashion is pretty much an afterthought, a sidenote in this multi-billion dollar industry.

[VanTroi]

09:21 AM on 01/19/2011

Why do people feel the need to belittle others? The guy is talking about his experiences and people leave lame comments like how dare he complain.

[eric14]

08:04 AM on 01/19/2011

Maybe if men's clothes were more interesting he would have a case. I mean what can he add to men's formal evening wear? ''Look, I'm Fred Astaire with different lapels.''

[BadBadKitty]

02:20 AM on 01/19/2011

sounds like he is just someone who complains about everything

[N133]

05:11 PM on 01/19/2011

He has a blog, and I've never gotten that sense from reading it. http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/david-gandy/

[PelePele10]

12:47 AM on 01/19/2011

yummmy!!!

[commonsense2]

12:40 AM on 01/19/2011

He is a great looking guy. Still, it is hard to feel that much sympathy for his plight when he is still getting paid good money for being genetically blessed. There are a lot of unemployed folks who would gladly put up with being on low end of the fashion totem pole if they could - trust me!

[Angie Daniels]

12:07 AM on 01/19/2011

I think I can offer him a position.

;)

[notmzbehavin]

12:07 AM on 01/19/2011

If this were a top female model trying to help his industry make life healthier for new incoming girls, she'd be getting kudos. Instead, he's getting flack; is it because of his gender? Women need to be saved from the evils of the fashion industry, men can go hang?

I think anyone who goes to bat for others this way should be commended; there are enough people in the world who look out for #1 and to heck with the rest. We need more people willing to put their own necks on the line, regardless whether the majority think it's worth while or not.

[notmzbehavin]

12:14 AM on 01/19/2011

I really wish there was an "edit" function in hufpo. Of course I meant "her" industry.