Roman Kemp has opened up about the ‘soul crushing’ reality of his teenage modelling career – admitting the experience left him so scarred that, even now, he cannot undress in front of a mirror or watch himself on television.
Before becoming a well-known household name, Roman, 32, fronted campaigns for brands including Topman and ASOS.
Now, recalling his time the industry, he opened up about the humiliation of being made to strip down to his underwear in front of stony-faced casting panels.
‘When I was 19, I was the massive billboard on Topman at Oxford Circus. But it was horrendous – absolutely awful,’ he said. ‘A lot of people don’t know… it is genuinely the most soul crushing thing you’ve ever done.’
The son of Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp and former Wham! singer Shirlie Holliman, Roman eventually left modelling for broadcasting, finding fame as a Capital FM host. He now presents television including BBC’s The One Show and Sky’s Premier League Friday.
Recalling the early days of his fashion career on his About You? podcast, the former I’m A Celeb star said: ‘I was doing castings… You’d walk into these rooms with a piece of card the size of a birthday card – it would have your picture on it and your measurements.
Roman Kemp has opened up about the ‘soul crushing’ reality of his teenage modelling career – admitting the experience left him so scarred that he cannot undress in front of a mirror or watch himself on television
Before becoming a well-known household name, Roman, 32, fronted campaigns for brands including Topman and ASOS
Recalling his time the industry, he opened up about the humiliation of being made to strip down to his underwear in front of stony-faced casting panels.(pictured in 2009 with his dad Martin and sister Harley)
‘You’d walk in and it’d be like X Factor. You’ve got a group of fashionistas who do not acknowledge you. They do not say hello to you. They barely even look at you. They make you feel like you’re just a piece of s***.
‘Then the person running it would go, “Take your top off!” So you’re just stood there in your boxers while they pass your card around.
‘Then they’d tell you to walk up and down. The most soul crushing bit was waiting to see if they put their hand up to keep your card. Like, oh yeah, maybe I’ll call you back. It was awful.’
Roman admitted he often compared himself harshly to others in the room, saying: ‘I used to watch people go in and think, he’s better looking than me, what’s the point of me being here? I hated the industry. Absolutely hated it.’
Although he admits the money was initially good, he said the work was gruelling, recalling ‘12-hour days’ trying on endless outfits before rushing to catwalk rehearsals.
‘My look was a skinny build. Every time I was on ASOS, I was in mesh. Always the worst outfits,’ he revealed.
The presenter also recalled one distressing incident during a rehearsal for a Milan fashion show, saying: ‘There was a girl there who really wasn’t in a good place physically. We did the rehearsal and she fainted on stage. People were trying to give her food but she was refusing because she wanted the job and there was pressure coming from outside. I saw that on a regular basis. It was awful.’
Although Roman has since quit modelling, the experience still affects him daily.
Roman admitted he often compared himself harshly to others in the room during his years modelling as he auditioned for jobs
Roman revealed how those casting ‘do not say hello to you. They barely even look at you. They make you feel like you’re just a piece of s***’
He explained: ‘I can’t look at a picture of myself if it’s on the day because it will upset me for the rest of the day,’ he confessed. ‘Because then I know what I look like for the rest of that day. I can look at a picture that was taken two weeks ago.
‘Even with The One Show, they’ll throw to a video tape of me doing something somewhere else. And everyone will go, you should watch it. I have to avoid the screen. I cannot look at it because it will put me off. I’ll be judging everything. It won’t be about what I’m actually doing, it’ll be about how I look. I don’t want to live like that.’
The One Show host continued: ‘I guess maybe I do have… that type of body dysmorphia, but I do everything I can to avoid it. When I go to a changing room in a shop, I will actively turn myself to not see the mirror until I’ve put my clothes on.’
The NHS describes body dysmorphic disorder, or body dysmorphia, as a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance. These flaws are often unnoticeable to others.
‘I think weight in our world is a massive [problem],’ he added. ‘I feel horrendous for the pressure that they put on us, especially women.’
The star said the pressure around appearance is not unique to him, pointing out: ‘There are so many blokes who go through the same thing. I’ve got mates who video call me saying, “real talk, am I fat?”’
Roman has been candid with fans previously about his mental health and shared a health update to his followers last November.
He said: ‘Now while I’m still learning about why I suddenly want to cry more and may get snappier at my friends, I’m excited at understanding what the emotional side of me is really like,’ he said.
Roman has been candid about his struggle with his mental health and has campaigned tirelessly following the sudden death of his friend, radio producer Joe Lyons, who took his own life.
Sharing a selfie, Roman wrote: ‘It’s now been four months since I stopped taking anti-depressants and it’s safe to say they’re out of my system.
‘Something I have taken since I was 15 years old.’
If you’ve been affected by this story, support is available from Beat on 0808 801 0677 or by emailing help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk
