Hello everyone,
So in light of recent events I thought it was probably the best time to voice my concerns etc. Firstly, you would have noticed I have stopped submitting sets for now and have archived my first 2 sets. This is simply because I feel I am simply not going to be pink, and I feel I am wasting my money. I was a few sets away from reaching the 20 set mark, but sadly I just feel I'm giving content away for free at this point, it costs so much money to do these sets and I was releasing sets consistently so that there was always something in the queue and interacting in the community to ensure i had the best chance to be made pink. After a while I approached the model coordinator email and asked what I was doing wrong, the response I got was to "smile more but we notice you, we know who you are", what sort of feedback is this?. Considering every single set I am smiling in at least one image?, for me I do not smile with my teeth due to trauma and insecurity issues and my natural smile has always not shown teeth anyway. So I went to a shootfest and one set I smiled a lot more than any other, but yet its met the same fate as the others, again I asked for help and was told "it happens", again not helpful advice. Now someone who is nearing 20 sets, has been apparently noticed and shows clear dedication by issuing constant sets surely it should be rewarded?. Ive been a hopeful since 2016, so where is my big break.
Following from the recent news where hopefuls, SGs and members alike are expressing concerns, ive learnt I may not be the only one. There seems to be perhaps an issue with more popular SGs overshadowing girls who have worked hard, but there's also a lack of diversity as a whole, there are barely any plus size (my category), poc and trans models being featured or given the SG title. I've also noticed models joining the site and being made instapink, I've been told to go to events and I might go pink, as well as some photographers not bothering in boosting hopefuls who have shot with them as they think they won't do well on the site.
Just like most hopefuls and SGs on here I was inspired by the way SG really breaks the social norm and is a place of comfort and safety for those of us who enjoy being unique and free. Having my favourite models as SGs for the UK also definitely helped me in my decision to join SG but unfortunately, the pathway to become official has been met with many unfair advantages and those of us who have tried to work our butt's off are being unnoticed and left behind. SG has allowed me to meet many people who I class as friends and has helped me in accepting my body so I would really like there to be some positive change following the recent outpour of comments from hopefuls, members, photographers and SGs alike. Let's really get down to the nitty gritty and make this site what it set out to be 🙏
A few points to raise for possible thought would be:
1. More diverse SOTD pickings
2. More diverse cosplay sets (so many velma sets)
3. Sets sent for member review get a proper review to ensure they meet guidelines as we are seeing photoshopped images, poorly drawn bras etc etc
4. Model coordinator per country, who can arrange shootfests and liaise any issues/concerns to HQ
5. Long standing hopefuls to be reviewed and if shown hard work awarded with SG title
6. A temporary cease on accepting new hopefuls to allow hopefuls already on the site a chance
7. More awards for members via a tier system
8. Honest feedback if you believe a hopeful doesn't meet the requirement to become an SG so it doesn't waste the hopefuls time and money
9. Any photographers with numerous predatory complaints against them investigated
10. Hopeful video calls where hopefuls can face time a model coordinator to discuss their sets and where they can improve
11. More features on socials for long standing hopefuls and SGs
12. App improvement as everyone uses apps nowadays
13. Photographer reviews - a section on a photographers page where models who have shot with them can post reviews to boost their work intake
I think that's it for now as others have stayed other things.
Thank you to @missy for listening to us all and I hope this becomes the best step forward for SG and its models, so we can ensure more growth and happiness in the alt community!
For me I think I've got one more set to do and then I will be thinking of what's best moving forward.
I do hope I've explained myself well as I often struggle with wording of things, so if there is any confusion please comment and I will address!.
Lastly a big thank you to @hartt for speaking out and allowing others to get some courage to speak up and help SG learn our concerns to be enabled to change for the better.
Much love to everyone,
Midnightpoison
