Emily Steel
Trainee Psychotherapist & Mentor
I’m currently training to become a psychotherapist in London where I also work for a mental health charity. Previous to this, I modelled full time for about 7 years and had stints living in Tokyo and New York City. I am passionate about spreading awareness around the importance of mental health and breaking the stigma associated with asking for help.
I was introduced to the programme by a friend of mine who thought I’d be a good candidate for mentoring.
Why do you want to be a Mentor on the Mentoring Young Creatives programme?
The fashion industry can be tough to navigate on your own, especially when you’re young and less experienced. I’d like to be a supportive and reliable mentor to someone at the beginning of their journey within the industry.
What past experiences do you have which you believe will help you to mentor a young person in the creative industries?
Having worked as a model in different cities around the world, I know the daily pressures of the job and how easy it can be to become mentally and physically exhausted if you’re not looking after yourself properly. This is especially true if you’re new to the industry and living in unfamiliar territory. I learned to make time for rest when my body needed it and also made sure to pay attention to my mental health, the two come hand in hand and are equally as important: Healthy mind = healthy body.
What do you hope to achieve from the Mentoring Young Creatives programme?
Knowing I’ve been able to support even one young creative during any moments of uncertainty will give me a great sense of achievement. I hope also to create new friendships within the industry and make sure I’m practicing what I preach when it comes to the mentoring.
What are you most excited about in starting the Mentoring Young Creatives programme?
Getting to know some likeminded individuals and being able to see the industry through a fresh set of eyes.
How do you think your career and health would have been affected had you had the opportunity to be mentored early in your career?
It would have been great to have someone to look up to not only for their work but also for the way they navigated themselves through challenging situations. I think it’s easy for young models to feel like they must say yes to every job and be slightly under the thumb of their agency, so having someone who’s been in their shoes and has lived experience of what the job requires would certainly be beneficial and it’s definitely something I’d like to have had. Also, to have been given the option of mental health support by agencies or even just to have heard mental health being discussed would have been a real game changer for many young models.
What is the best piece of advice that you have been given by a mentor/colleague/friend?
In relation to the fashion industry: Always be professional and don’t take anyone’s opinion of you too seriously. Be kind to others but especially to yourself and if you’re unsure about something, always go with your gut instinct.