People thought models were hookers:
When director Timothy Greenfield-Sanders mentioned this to us on the red carpet when we asked what he’d learned from his models, we were a little confused. Until we saw the film.

Two models from different eras mentioned that there was a perception that “model” was just code for hookers. Carmen dell’Orefice said that people in the 40s and 50s just assumed all models were hookers. Bethann Hardison, who modeled in the 60s and 70s, recalled telling her mother she was a model. Her mother seemed rather uncertain, until she saw her daughter in a TV commercial. “I thought you were a hooker!” said mom to Bethann, much relieved.