Modelling is a waste of time, says The Shrimp

Original supermodel Jean “The Shrimp” Shrimpton has sensationally revealed that she saw modelling as “fatuous” and was often left “feeling like a fool” during her fashion assignments.

Jean, who became an icon for the Swinging Sixties and was the face of cosmetics brands such as Revlon and Yardley of London, has admitted that posing for the cameras often left her feeling empty and that she gave away whatever money she earned from modelling.

“I was aware of being the centre of attention but it seemed so fatuous,” says Jean, who memorably hit the headlines after turning up to an Australian Derby race in 1965 in a highly controversial shift dress. Its thigh-high hemline preceded the miniskirt, which later became a worldwide craze.

Unlike today’s multi-millionaire top models such as Kate Moss, modelling did not make Jean her fortune.

“I didn’t feel comfortable with earning a lot of money. I didn’t earn a vast amount anyway, although I did Yardley in America for the money side. But I was very stupid and gave it all away.”

Jean, who during her career dated photographer David Bailey and actor Terence Stamp, eventually had enough of being a clothes horse.

“I gave up modelling at 28 because I’d grown away from it. I’m lazy with clothes. It’s boring pouting at a camera after the age of about 25 and if you’ve got a brain and everybody around you is more creative, you’re just the person pouting at the camera. You end up feeling a fool.”

Nowadays the 66-year-old lives a much quieter lifestyle to the glamorous Carnaby Street scene of her heyday, running a hotel in Cornwall with her photographer husband Michael Cox, but she adds she doesn’t envy the likes of Moss and Naomi Campbell working in today’s fashion industry.

“I wouldn’t have been successful today because I wouldn’t do the things you need to and I’m not very interested in fashion,” she adds. “Even now I hate having my picture taken. I don’t have any pictures of me or my family round the house.”

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