Finding Her Place in a World That Initially Said ‘No’: The Story of Model and Businesswoman Veronica Rum

Finding Her Place in a World That Initially Said ‘No’: The Story of Model and Businesswoman Veronica Rum

She didn’t fit the modeling standards, was told ‘no’ too often, and even those closest to her didn’t believe in her path. But Veronica Rum didn’t give up. She didn’t just become a model; she became a woman who inspires others to believe in themselves. This candid story is about victories, pain, self-love, and that pivotal moment when everything finally fell into place.

How It All Began

Sometimes, I feel like I’ve been finding myself my entire life. The Veronica I see in the mirror today is strong, brave, stubborn, and yes, beautiful. Not the kind of beauty I was labeled with since childhood for my height and looks, but the kind that finally allowed me to be my true self. And you know, I want to share this story with you. Maybe you’ll see yourself in it too.

I was born in the small town of Nesvizh. Small towns love to label people. A tall girl? She must be a model, especially with long legs and perfect features. But these words were empty, just casual remarks from neighbors or teachers. There were no agencies, no runways, no support—just me and my dream, which no one took seriously.

Since childhood, I dreamed of being on stage, being noticed, being ‘the one.’ I wrote for the school newspaper, joined a young journalists’ club, and was sure I would study journalism. But my parents, both lawyers, said, ‘First, get a serious education, then do what you want.’ I listened, even though my heart yearned for something else.

From ‘You Don’t Fit’ to Top 10 ‘Miss Belarus’

After enrolling in law school in Minsk, I immediately started going to castings. I naively thought, ‘Now they’ll take me! I was a star in my town.’ But reality quickly put me in my place: ‘Too bright,’ ‘You don’t fit.’ They even told me, ‘You’re too fat,’ and this was at 58 kilograms and 174 centimeters tall! I heard, ‘You’re pageant material, not a model,’ and it felt like a verdict. It was incredibly hurtful, as if my appearance wasn’t me but a set of numbers determining my worth.

Then I decided: if not through agencies, then through pageants! The first and second times I tried for ‘Miss Belarus,’ I didn’t make it. By the third time, at 22, I prepared thoroughly: training, diet, sports, veneers, perfect tan (compared to the other fair-skinned girls). For the pageant, I even lost 6 kilograms. I knew what I wanted, and I made it to the top 10. I didn’t win, but I was noticed. I gained an army of fans; people wrote, ‘We don’t understand why you didn’t win.’ That’s when I first realized I was becoming visible.

Turkey, Italy: International Competitions

After ‘Miss Belarus,’ there were international competitions: ‘Seven Continents,’ ‘Fotomodel of the World.’ Turkey, new faces, new stages—I felt the world gradually opening its doors. It wasn’t easy, both morally and financially: I had to prepare all the costumes and programs myself. But I kept going because I couldn’t do otherwise.

Then came Italy. The prestigious ‘The Look of the Year’ competition, the same one where Cindy Crawford once won. I was chosen to represent Belarus. There were models from 70 countries, all with the ideal model appearance of the time: 180 cm, 45 kg, 90-60-90. And I was different. Yet, out of 24 brands, 19 chose me—a record! I was awarded as one of the best models of Fashion Week. I stood on stage and couldn’t believe it. That year was a time of pain and hope: just a few months before, I had lost my mother.

My mother never approved of my stage aspirations; she thought it wasn’t serious. But before she passed, she said, ‘I’m glad you didn’t follow our path. You found yourself.’ These words became my support and blessing.

After that, I worked in Israel, modeled for catalogs. Upon returning to Belarus, I participated in Fashion Weeks and started collaborating with brands (for example, many shoots for the lingerie brand Milavitsa). Finally, doors were opening for me. But one thought kept echoing in my mind: ‘What’s next?’

Wanted to Be More Than a Model and Opened Her Own School and Agency

I always felt I could and wanted to be more than just a model. I want to be the person I so desperately needed at the beginning of my journey. Someone who says, ‘You can do it!’ Someone who supports, guides, and doesn’t promise the impossible.

And so, I opened my own modeling school and agency. No big office, but with the belief that things can be done differently: honestly, warmly, and with love. Women aged 18, 35, and 52 study with me. Some dream of walking the runway, others simply want to gain confidence. Every month, we organize photo shoots because photos are not just ‘content’ but a kind of mirror, an opportunity to see yourself in a new light. And when a woman stands in front of a camera for the first time—in lingerie, in a bathtub, with a real photographer—she comes out a different person. Not perfect, but strong, open, and alive.

I see them trembling with excitement, then saying, ‘Veronica, this was the best thing I’ve done for myself in years.’ And that’s when I know I’m in the right place.

Beauty Has No Age

I really want fashion to have no age. For a woman at 45, 55, or 65 not to ask herself, ‘Can I still do this?’ but to just go and do it. Because age is not a barrier but an experience. It’s a beauty that knows how to be real.

When I opened my agency, women who had never believed they could be models started coming to me. They said, ‘I’m not the same anymore,’ ‘If only I had in my youth…’ And then—they stood in front of the camera, tried on dresses, laughed, shone, trembled with excitement before their first shoot… and came out with sparkling eyes. Because for the first time, they saw themselves not just as a mother, wife, or employee, but as a woman who can love herself.

Yes, age modeling is not about Milan runways. It’s more about local brands, shoots where recognition and liveliness matter. It’s not always about money but always about self-perception. And when a 50-year-old woman sees her beautiful photo on a billboard for the first time, it’s priceless.

I always tell my students honestly: yes, there’s a professional market with its standards, parameters, height, and age limits. But there’s another path—shooting for brands, doing photo sessions, trying yourself out, inspiring others. And you have the right to do this, even if you’re 60 and just starting.