I’m a model. In 2016 (16 years old) I moved to China on my own for work. I’ve been working as a model since I was 13, but it was in China where I discovered that the model-to-escort pipeline is very real & sex is used as currency. Modelling doesn’t really pay that well - the real money is made by escorting & modelling work is just a fancy ad: you being the product.
It applies but on a way smaller percentage. For male models their main problem is the lack of work and opportunities - they get paid peanuts compared to their female counterparts. Just not that super in demand. Male modelling is the equivalent of women’s sports. The model-escort pipeline can definitely be exploitative but it’s still a huge boost to income; men’s limited entry into it further restricts their earning potential.