While we would all like to think that we've got what it takes to be a model, the truth of the matter is that we don't. However, for some people, they don't realise that they've got what it takes until they see themselves in an advertisement.
This may sound unbelievable, and that's completely understandable. I mean, how does someone end up on an advertisement without knowing? Well, now we have an answer.
Taking to her Twitter account, Subnum Khan shared the story of how she ended up with her face being used in a McDonald's advert in China. Check it out below.
Subnum starts the story by revealing that a friend had seen her face on an immigration poster in Canada.
"So today I'm going to tell you the story of How I Ended Up with my Face On a McDonald's Advert in China - A Cautionary Tale. Six or so years ago, a friend in Canada posted a pic on my FB wall to say she found an advert of me promoting immigration in a Canadian newspaper."
"Naturally I was shocked and... confused. I studied the pic and agreed that it was me. Now I didn't mind that I was promoting immigration in Canada but I couldn't understand why my face was in a paper all the way on that side of the world."
Confused as to why she may have ended up on the poster, Subnum cast her mind back to a few years ago when she had a photo shoot at university.
"After some wtf moments, a friend reminded me we did a photoshoot a few years ago. When I was at university I heard about a free photoshoot by a CT photographer who promised us professional portraits in exchange for shooting us. It was called the 100 Faces Shoot & the photographer"
"took photos of 100 various faces of all ages & races in Durban. Young friends & I were excited; we signed a release form at the start (I thought it was to give him permission to use the photos for his portfolio). We didn't read the small print. I know. It was stupid."
Realising the error of her ways, Subnum got in touch with the photographer and he informed her that she may be on a host of different adverts. Taking the initiative, Subnum searched her image on Google and was shocked by the results.
"So I contact the photographer and he says, yeah, we signed away these photos (we took 3 photos - straight faced, smiling and crazy) and they're now stock photos that he sells. He says I might start popping up in places. So I start a reverse google search of these images & well"
"It feels like I sell everything! If I'm not welcoming immigrants to Canada, I'm selling carpets in NYC, leading treks in Cambodia, or looking for love in France. Let's start with something light: here I'm the face for dental sedation in Virginia Beach. "
While Subnum laughs at the story now, she admits that the story should serve as a warning for people who are thinking about getting a photo shoot done.
"The thing is I've laughed over the years about this and it's a great party story and I do find some of the images hilarious and I still laugh when people find me randomly advertising for teeth implants while browsing a paper in New York,"
"but now that I'm older and more assertive & aware of power plays and manipulation I can easily see how we were all used - a whole gallery of free photographs for this photographer to sell and we haven't made a cent for all the things WE'VE advertised."
"Also this could have gone badly - my photo could have come up in a wrong place (I mean, the right to 'distort photo and character!') is scary af and so if anything, I hope my story is also a cautionary tale to be careful what you sign"
So there you have it, folks - always read the small print.