Ever since Svetlana could remember she wanted to become a model. Throughout her teenage years her parents entered her into a few local beauty pageants, however coming from a poor family in a small town in Southern Croatia didn't give her much exposure. Finally at the age of 17 she had a break. One of her beauty pageants made the news, and a modeling agency based in Paris was interested in her.

Her parents, looking out for her best interests, made her wait until she had finished high school before taking the job. Over the next eight months her and her family saved enough money to pay for her flight and several months living accommodations until she was up on her feet with work.

At this time Croatia was not yet part of the European Union, so Svetlana needed a work visa to move to France, a 900€ investment for which the agency was willing to pay. The first few months she had several photo shoots with some local photographers to build up her book, and met many other models through her agency. Some of her model jobs involved attending parties at night, wearing specially selected clothes, and simply being present, smiling, and available to take photos with the guests. Apart from the occasional drunk or arrogant man, it was an easy way to earn a living, university was within reach, and her parents were proud of her.

Five months later, shortly after she turned 18, her assignments started getting a little sketchier, and she started feeling uncomfortable with some of the demands of her clients. After several strong requests to do what it takes to make the paying clients happy, the 'model agency' finally let her go on the grounds that she had gained too much weight and could no longer to her job.

"I was barely 18 years old, a long way away from my family, and on the street in a foreign country without a job. After a few difficult weeks one of my friends found me a job as a photographer's assistant and shortly after I signed with a professional, legitimate model agency. I've been modeling three years now, and am half way through university. I never told my parents what happened."

True Story.