Gilbo Garbage

NAME: James King
AGE: 16
YEAR: 1995 
LOCATION: Backstage at a Karl Lagerfeld show
PHOTOGRAPHS BY: Nan Goldin

James King (Jaime King): At 16 years old, you think you know everything, and then all of a sudden you realize that you don’t know anything at all. That is the best way to explain what I was feeling at that time.

I had grand illusions of what I thought modeling would be, as any young girl would. I was working with these masters in fashion and photography and learning from brilliant, creative people from around the world. But at the same time, I didn’t realize the weight of responsibility that I would carry, to have the same expectations put upon you as a minor that an adult would have. I was just a kid; I didn’t realize the freedom of youth that I was going be trading in for success. I became very successful, and I didn’t know how to handle that. I felt like some people wanted a piece of me, wanted to take something from me. I felt that they wanted to sexualize me.

In hindsight, I can see that and know the truth of it, but at that time I didn’t know that’s what they were doing. I just thought, Oh, I’m suddenly successful and all my dreams are coming true, but why do I feel so scared? I experimented with drugs; I was young and wanted to ‘‘fit in.’’ I quickly realized this wasn’t the path for me, and I haven’t touched any drug since I was 17.

I’m an actor now on an upcoming show on the CW, ‘‘Hart of Dixie.’’ I wish that I would have known how to have a career and be a kid at the same time. I think for the fashion industry that can happen only if they have a union for the young models as they do for the young actors.

(Source: gowithyourself, via gowithyourself)