From the ad copy accompanying supermodel Carol Alt's new novel, This Year's Model:

"(Modeling" is one of the only businesses where a woman makes more money than a man," says Alt, "and in which a young girl can achieve financial stability, meet great people, and travel the world - all while becoming famous and securing her future."

It's from Avon so it's not technically YA but it sure looks YA and is about a teen getting her big break.
Alt is also sponsoring a modeling competition along with the book's release which is all part of her effort to, according to the pr copy, give "...valuable life lessons to all young women looking to break into the field." Sounds pretty teen focused to me. Get this though, "Melody" is discovered waiting tables the summer before entering a "prestigious East Coast Ivy League University in the fall - when opportunity knocks."

I'm sorry - she's going to an Ivy League college and yet, it takes a modeling job for opportunity to knock? WTF?

There's so much wrong with this whole premise I don't even know where to start, although reading Tatiana Stewart's lessons learned while trying to get into the modeling biz are well worth your time:

Even if, as in the case of Tatiana Stewart, profiled in today's Wall Street Journal, her "willowy physique — she is 6'2" and wears a size 4 — attracts fashion-modeling scouts on the street." Now her mother worries, because her daughter's been told repeatedly that she needs to lose weight, ideally losing 10 to 15 pounds to get down to a "loose size 2" with sunken cheeks. Says her mom: "I can't imagine her being as beautiful as she is if she's emaciated." Despite the deaths of a number of models and a half-hearted attempt by the fashion industry to make health a priority, the reality is that you still can't be too thin. "I always thought I was thin," says Tatiana. "Girls here I know are 5'10 and size 0, and they want them to lose weight for Fashion Week. I don't think anybody's body is naturally like that."

Wow. Forget following in Hillary Clinton's footsteps; I guess this is what empowerment is really all about! (More on Tatiana at WSJ and how she was judged as not thin enough again and again.) (For the record I am 5'10" and 140 pounds and can't imagine being a size 0 - how in the hell would I bench 75 pounds or run more than five minutes at that spindly weight?)

How come you are either obese or skinny in America these days? Have we all lost our minds?! And when in the world was walking down a runway the best way for women to get ahead? HILLARY CLINTON, people! She very nearly became President of the United States without being a size 0!!!!!!!!!!

I'm going to spend some time banging my head on the table in frustration now.

[Post pic of US heptathalete Hyleas Fountain who is not skinny and of course, Senator Hillary Clinton who seems to have done just fine with the Ivy League route.]