I sat down with Poppy Miles to discuss university, her career as a model, and letting go of expectations.

Most university students have a part time job; working at a café, or bar, or some other flexible, low effort work to earn a bit of cash. Poppy Miles is no exception, though the circumstances of her job may seem a bit more glamorous to some: she works as a fashion model.

Scouted by an agency at 15, she received advice from a family friend in the industry before thinking why not? and showing up to the interview. Six years later, she is represented by three talent agencies across the world, worked with global magazines including Elle and Vogue, and walked runways for innumerate renowned designers.

In fact, reading her resume you’d be forgiven for expecting a sort of editorial shoot come to life: harshly contoured cheekbones and piercing eyes glowing out from supernaturally glittered lids, someone who was beyond the scope of us mere mortals, and knew it. But that couldn’t have been more wrong: other than her bright eyes and striking bone structure, the Uggs and hoodie-wearing woman I sat opposite seemed exceptionally human. She was thoughtful, kind, somewhat shy but quick to laugh, and wonderfully honest: she spoke about her knitting habit, laughed at her addiction to Real Housewives, and sheepishly (and nauseously) admitted a crippling fear of milk.

Poppy herself reflected on this common misconception and stereotyping of models in our interview, stating “I feel like probably people have perceptions of models being a certain way… It’s annoying when you’re a model and people put you into a category.” And she was right, I certainly should have known better than to judge a book by its cover. But in an industry focused solely on the outside aesthetic, it is all too easy to forget that a real person lies beneath that couture-clad exterior.

And I’m not the only one to make such a pitfall: the fashion industry itself is infamous for being extremely body-conscious and looks-focused, which can often take a mental and emotional toll on those directly exposed. Almost nowhere else are individuals so bluntly scrutinised and critiqued based solely on their looks. When I asked Poppy about any struggles that she had experienced in such an environment, she admitted that when she was in her teens the frequent rejection was tough on her mental health. Now, however, she recognises that rejection isn’t personal, you just might not fit with the company’s brand. Though she acknowledged that it was sometimes tiring, she said sagely, “its just my body, its not who I am.”

This attitude is perhaps what drew me to interview her in the first place: despite her impressive resume and ability to juggle a career and university, Poppy remains remarkably grounded. Her story is told with an air of shrugging good luck, of opportunities fortunately given and humbly accepted. However, behind this lies an attitude and outlook that has allowed her to open these doors in the first place: detachment and acceptance. She speaks of modelling as a job like any other, and while she clearly enjoys it, if it ended tomorrow, I don’t get the sense that she would be entirely devastated. She alluded to this, mentioning that her proudest career accomplishment was getting a modelling agency in New York, because its “the only thing that I’ve ever been like oh that’s what I want to do out of this, because I’ve never really put expectations on myself for that.”

And why should she? Modelling is an opportunity to travel, meet new and interesting people, and experience as much of the world as she possibly can – and then earn money to do those things even more. As she aptly said, “when you’re young… why not?” Indeed, this conversation confirmed her belief that, whether good or bad, “everyone teaches you like a different lesson… with every experience.” From modelling, to university, to travel, to whatever came after, she was a woman that wanted to make the most of each moment and opportunity that came her way.

Approaching the interview expecting to be swept away by a whirlwind of model-madness, I left feeling like I’d had coffee with an old (and very wise) friend. Beyond the stereotypical “I learned to check my biases” moral of the story, I came away with surprisingly renewed joie de vivre, full of life lessons I didn’t expect to receive; like after reading Brené Brown or Dolly Alderton. Faced with the flashiest and most aesthetic industry in the world, Poppy had absorbed only the humblest of advice: trust yourself, live in the moment, and let go of expectation. She had gone into Balenciaga and came out with (essentially) Buddhism. Inspired and in awe, I was (and still remain) committed to embracing the Poppy Miles ethos,to “make the most of the moments… and don’t waste time doing stuff that you don’t enjoy.” Anyone else?

Written for Razz Magazine