Picture Me

Anja Rubik on Backstage: "There's No Respect, We Have to Change with 1,000 Other People Around" —Sara Ziff, whose documentary Picture Me, which takes a hard look at the darker side of modeling and comes out in Manhattan theaters today (and Los Angeles theaters on Sept. 24), asked Anja Rubik about the conditions backstage after the Spring 2011 Rodarte show. "[Working conditions are] getting unfortunately worse," says Rubik. "When we used to model, at least the changing rooms were way better for girls. Now, there’s no respect, we have to change with 1,000 other people around. So I think it’s even going backwards, it’s getting worse and worse. Now, we were at Rodarte and everyone was backstage while we were changing so everyone could see us naked. Back in the days when I started, we had our separate room and there was some kind of wall that separated us. I don’t think it will ever change because everything is so hectic and last minute. There are too many girls who would do the job if you don’t do it, so I don’t think it’s possible to unite all of the girls say, 'No, we want this and these conditions'. I think that’s crazy, It’ll never happen. I think it’s mission impossible." [The Cut]