published On Sunday 28th June 2026
THAT’S MY JOB
It makes me feel powerful
Jade Hylton, 29, life model
Hylton started work as a life model seven years ago for drawing, painting, sculpting and photography classes across Sussex. She lives in Hove with her dog, Nala.
People assume the hardest thing about being a life model is getting naked in front of a group of strangers, but that’s the easy part. When I modelled for my first job, I told myself there’s no point being self-conscious for longer than a couple of seconds
— as soon as the dressing gown comes off, the class has seen everything anyway. But I chose to sit in the lotus pose for 20 minutes and before long I was screaming inside – I wasn’t physically used to being still for any length of time. Finding stillness is the key to life modelling. I have a mantra when my body is longing to move but I need to remain still:
“I can do this.” You can push your mind and body a lot more than you think you can.
I got into life modelling while I was working in a pub after a long stint as a technician in a photographic lab. I wanted to be creative and in charge of when and how I worked. A friend told me about the benefits of life modelling: the wages are decent, the hours are short and you can say no without anyone questioning you. In my first year I worked every single day but now I do six sessions a week.
Most sessions are two to three hours long, usually in the mornings and evenings. I work with the life-drawing studio Draw Brighton and with lots of different people all over Sussex.
I might be in a studio, a village hall, a church, in the open air or in the basement of a pub.
In winter I appreciate when they put the heaters on for me. If I’m cold the body fights to move
The people who run the class are responsible for ensuring the wellbeing of the model. I don’t want someone taking a photo without my permission or a punter in the pub walking in looking for the lavatory.
For a mixed-pose session I’ll change position every few minutes to start with – that’s when I’ll model the most dynamic, tricky poses — then move into longer ones. I turn my body 45 degrees each time because artists want to draw my back, my legs, my side. A good model never faces one direction the whole time. There’s a break in the middle, with tea and biscuits to revive, and then in the second half I might be still in one pose for a full 45 minutes.
I’m known for my physicality and energy. Recently I did a really fun session in which I struck 50 poses over three hours. But for sculptures it’s one pose for the duration, repeated until the work is done over several week.
weeks. If the weather is hot, then sweat makes it more challenging to keep still: my limbs slide away from each other. In winter I always appreciate when they put the heaters on for me. If I’m cold, instinct kicks in and the body really fights to move.
Every life model has a superpower and mine is standing. I can stand on one leg in tree pose with my arms above my head for ages, no problem. Life modelling is a form of long yoga. I can twist into positions that look uncomfortable but I enjoy them.
To start off I might be thinking about my emails or what to have for supper, but modelling is my time to decompress. Phones are put away and life classes are generally in silence or with music. It’s beautiful to be completely in the present for long periods of time. It makes me feel powerful.
When I was younger I struggled with my body image.
I was a tall, chubby girl and, like so many women, I go between being thicker or slimmer. But at work no one is judging me, so I’m more accepting of my curvaceous body than I am in the outside world. I feel there’s a little bit of my soul in every image. Sometimes I’m gifted a finished artwork, which is special. I have about 15 pictures of me in my living room.
Most life models are slim white women. I set up an initiative to encourage more diversity in life modelling. It’s something I feel strongly about because fine art doesn’t put people of colour at the forefront.
Very few men life model. They worry about not being able to control certain body parts.
Whatever problems I have in the outside world slip away as soon as I step into a studio space. I can be free mentally and physically, and I always feel better about myself and the world when the time comes to get dressed and go home •
Interview by Caroline Hutton / Image by Olly Hearsey for Draw Brighton.
Some messages I received following the interview:
“Hi Jade,
My name is Dave, I’m a Former animator, ran across your article in the times. I would’ve loved to be able to draw you, very beautiful and talented. I can’t imagine holding a pose longer than 15 min. People don’t know how essential life models are 🙂 keep up the good work and congrats for the exposure for your story!
Very Best,
Dave”
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(sent to Draw Brighton)
“I read the article by Jade Hylton in the Sunday Times magazine today, 28 June 2026.
I have been a (male) life model for about 10 years, based near Banbury, and I just want to pass on my thanks to Jade for her honest and inspiring account. She tells it just how it is. Thank you – and my very best wishes.
I would be very grateful if you could forward this to her.
Nic”
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Jade Hylton 