Bridget Malcolm is an international fashion model whose career has spanned from campaigns with Ralph Lauren to Maybelline to V Magazine to Victoria’s Secret and Harper's Bazaar.
Listen to Dr. Allie in conversation with Bridget Malcolm as they speak on Recovery, Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and a Renewed Perspective on her mental health.
Bridget Malcolm grew up in South Fremantle, a little beach town just south of Perth, spending most of her days at the beach and ballet class. She was surrounded by music—her dad plays flamenco guitar and her mother the piano – so it was little surprise when on a whim she took up the oboe and fell in love with it. After just six months, she was performing with the local university’s octet and toured Europe with her high school orchestra.
At age 14, she was scouted by her first modeling agency, Vivien’s, “but we had to wait a year or so for me to outgrow my terrible haircut, braces, and general awkwardness.” Her first job was for Harper’s Bazaar Australia, with photographer Nicole Bentley, the woman she credits with teaching her how to model. At 16, she was signed to an international agency, and before she knew it, was juggling high school and modeling work. Upon graduation, she was accepted into the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and WAAPA, but instead decided to move to New York City to pursue modeling fulltime.
Throughout her modeling career Bridget suffered from a wide variety of mental health struggles, including an eating disorder and anxiety, which interfered with her ability to work. She began blogging about her experiences and was humbled by the level of connectivity and overwhelming positive reaction from people around the world. She realized that even though the pressures she faced – working in an image-based industry where the inside often gets ignored – were specific to the modeling and fashion industry, the resulting mental health issues were universal.
Bridget currently lives in New York City. She continues to model and advocate for mental health in the fashion industry and has formed a peer support group for models, while also focusing on “post-modelism” life including working towards a bachelor’s degree with the intention to study public health and writing her memoir. Bridget is also a classically trained oboist and musician.
“My motto is progress over perfection” – Bridget Malcolm
This episode was recorded in August of 2019.
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Links:
Website https://www.bridgetmalcolm.com.au/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bridgetmalcolm/?hl=en
References:
DSM 5. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
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