No Lifeguard on Duty: The Accidental Life of the World's First Supermodel
By Janice Dickinson
Krysten Weller
Issue date: 5/16/03 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Supermodel Janice Dickinson has written her autobiography, which details her rise to fame as well as the struggles she encountered along the way.
Dickinson began her modeling career in the 1970's at a time when blue-eyed blondes, like Cheryl Tiegs, were all the rage. Dickinson persevered even though she had many modeling agencies slam doors in her face. Finally, an agency took her on and she began a very successful career. In fact, it was Dickinson's success that opened the door for other ethnic brunettes such as Gia Carangi, Christy Turlington, and Cindy Crawford.
Dickinson details the rampant drug use that plagued the fashion world. She saw supermodel Gia Carangi's life destroyed by drugs as her bad reputation kept her from getting work. Carangi's heroin use eventually led to her death from AIDS in the 1980's.
Her own drug use was fueled by her insecurities. Throughout the book she echoes a statement made by her father when she was only nine years old. Her father told her that she would never amount to anything. This phrase continued to drive her to success, but it also kept her from believing in herself.
She went through three divorces. However, she also went through a painful and humiliating situation in the media when she believed that actor Sylvester Stallone was the father was of her youngest child. Savannah. Stallone insisted on a DNA test and it was soon revealed that the little girl was not his child. Dickinson had to deal with the tabloids and double standards as well as the public's perception of her.
Dickinson gives the reader an open look at her life. She not only gives you the scoop on her own life, but also shares what other celebrities were up to such as her affairs with Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson. We also get a peek into the lives of Iman, Calvin Klein, and Christie Brinkley.
Dickinson's autobiography is the journey of a woman who persevered when the odds were against her. She paved the way for other ethnic women in the modeling world and dealt with her drug problem as well as her dysfunctional family. Dickinson's book is a tale of survival and a refreshing change from the many autobiographies where the writers try to paint themselves in the best possible light.
Dickinson began her modeling career in the 1970's at a time when blue-eyed blondes, like Cheryl Tiegs, were all the rage. Dickinson persevered even though she had many modeling agencies slam doors in her face. Finally, an agency took her on and she began a very successful career. In fact, it was Dickinson's success that opened the door for other ethnic brunettes such as Gia Carangi, Christy Turlington, and Cindy Crawford.
Dickinson details the rampant drug use that plagued the fashion world. She saw supermodel Gia Carangi's life destroyed by drugs as her bad reputation kept her from getting work. Carangi's heroin use eventually led to her death from AIDS in the 1980's.
Her own drug use was fueled by her insecurities. Throughout the book she echoes a statement made by her father when she was only nine years old. Her father told her that she would never amount to anything. This phrase continued to drive her to success, but it also kept her from believing in herself.
She went through three divorces. However, she also went through a painful and humiliating situation in the media when she believed that actor Sylvester Stallone was the father was of her youngest child. Savannah. Stallone insisted on a DNA test and it was soon revealed that the little girl was not his child. Dickinson had to deal with the tabloids and double standards as well as the public's perception of her.
Dickinson gives the reader an open look at her life. She not only gives you the scoop on her own life, but also shares what other celebrities were up to such as her affairs with Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson. We also get a peek into the lives of Iman, Calvin Klein, and Christie Brinkley.
Dickinson's autobiography is the journey of a woman who persevered when the odds were against her. She paved the way for other ethnic women in the modeling world and dealt with her drug problem as well as her dysfunctional family. Dickinson's book is a tale of survival and a refreshing change from the many autobiographies where the writers try to paint themselves in the best possible light.