AOC has been concerned about model Catherine McNeil, and I went looking for her today. In the days of COVID and George Floyd, many models’ lives have been totally disrupted.

Young careers in motion were cut off at the knees overnight. Other models have become mothers — yeah! — and so AOC doesn’t make assumptions about the lives of models who haven’t posted for awhile.

At the end of each year, we do try to take a temperature check on people. And Catherine McNeil was on today’s list.

Catherine McNeil covered the November 2022 issue of Vogue Australia, styled by Petta Chua in ‘Catherine McNeil’s Great Comeback’.

In Fall 2019, the top, top model walked out of the Burberry show, returned to New York, got off social media, put her furniture on the street — according to Vogue Australia — and bought a one-way ticket home to the country that would nurture her back to health.

Ten Years to the Month

The first time McNeil put a pause on her career was in 2009. And her return was celebrated exactly a decade earlier than November’s second return. ‘Catherine McNeil is back’, read the announcement on the magazine.

Photographer Jake Terrey [IG] captures Catherine McNeil who has returned to the world of fashion modeling sober, married this month to former NBA American basketball player Miles Plumlee, and now possessed of an identity outside of fashion.

The Vogue Australia article references probably 10 famous photoshoots that McNeil has done. This hot 2017 story by Mert & Marcus for Vogue Italia is on her IG today.

Of course we have it! and will move the story forward in our ‘Renew’ project. AOC loves Catherine McNeil because she takes no prisoners. Only a really gutsy woman would return to fashion modeling with the Vogue Italia story on her IG. LOL

Backbone? McNeil has some to spare. We probably have the entire Vogue Australia list and will post them as a unit. TBD

It would be great if all mia stories ended as beautifully as this one.

The Doctor Will See You Now

McNeil might offer counseling services with a top doctor in tow to our many young models and other high profile talents struggling with public life in the fast lane. I’m talking the top ones who can afford her services, but seem mired emotionally in the rut of modern-day despair.

At age 33, Catherine McNeil has accrued real wisdom but is young enough to relate to the demands of social media on women who cultivate it vigorously and then are stunned over the sometimes negative critiques.

We used to say “You can’t please all of the people all of the time” and get on with life. That is totally passe strategy today, so McNeil could build herself a nice little business here, if she thinks about it.

You must have guts to walk away and come back clear-headed and accept your fashion model fate. Her agency obviously loves her.

To do it twice? It’s called emotional and psychological depth and an absolute willingness to face the woman in the mirror head-on. Simply-stated, you become a warrior woman. ~ Anne