Seeking a career as a fashion model is truly a profession for the dedicated among us. Many think looking pretty and presenting is everything necessary. A ‘simple’ work many proclaim – a bizarre assertion for those in the fashion industry. Only if they truly comprehended the truth of working long, extended hours, the competition to land one gig with a fashion house, and the uncertainty of your next paid role.

The modeling industry can be really lethal for your mental health, for it’s way too tough. The elevated expectations, the rejection, and the savage competition is no easy ride for striving models. Once you have mastered the ability of networking, juggling a considerable rundown of castings in a single day, and your runway model swagger is solid, you may think about the passionate journey you have struggled through. A journey that only a few can understand. Today, we joined in conversation with Dragana Dujovic, asking her the struggles of her modeling journey and what she heartily advises aspiring models who have just embarked on their journey.

Dragana Dujovic is a heartthrob Serbian-American model and entrepreneur, popularly praised for her participation in the 2004 Miss Universe contest. Dujovic is also the recipient of titles for Miss Serbia and Montenegro, 2004. She managed to conquer the hearts of millions receiving the Special Award for The Best Talent at Miss Model of the World while making her spot in the Top 15, Top Model of The Year 2010 contest. Dujovic is also the founder, and creative mastermind behind Dragana, an incredible fashion accessories brand that proffers only excellence.

With a track record of accomplishments in the modeling industry, Dujovic below reveals the basic struggles of a modeling career and how you can cope with it.

Dragana Dujovic reveals that the most hurting moments of a modeling career are rejections. “What is worse is that it’s not the first time that only hurts; you will be rejected, again and again, each time hurting you so damn badly. You wanted that work in New York so badly, yet you got rejected. It’s thoroughly frustrating; however, remember there are plenty more opportunities out there in the fashion realm with endless kinds of a modeling career. It is you who is going to push yourself out of self-doubts, not letting rejections get into your way of becoming the next top model,” she says.

Dujovic also shares that the worst embarrassment she had to face in her modeling career was stumbling on the runway. “The fear of stumbling is something that every model suffers. Yet, let me tell you something, each and every model has been there, stumbled, and faced that embarrassment. Indeed, even supermodels have stumbled, and so it is something inevitable. A slight misjudgment as you place your foot down on those 6inch heels at a significant fashion show. Get up and stroll on like it never occurred. What stumble?? Gain your confidence right away, and consider it like confronting your demons, do not let it mess up with your self-esteem,” she says.

The other super stressful struggle of being a fashion model is figuring out how to look fierce with your eyes. “This is all about the eyes that speak; we have always heard about. New models practice before a shoot to guarantee that they have cracked a code. Steer away from the stunning eye movement; it never looks great. Pull-on that sassy, fiercely look, and the audience will definitely love your presence on the runway,” says Dragana Dujovic.