Emotional Labor among Fashion Models: A Scoping Review

Emotional labor is the effort, planning, and control needed to express appropriate and desired emotions during interpersonal transactions. It is particularly relevant in the service and hospitality industry and has garnered attention from researchers over the years. However, there have not been any significant attempts in exploring emotional labor among fashion models, a profession in which emotional labor plays a crucial role in carrying out occupational roles. Models perform emotional labor when they are acting on-ramp, posing in front of the camera or interacting with clients. The aim of this review paper was to explore the representation of emotional labor in scientific literature, and assess its relevance and effects among individuals working in the fashion industry, specifically fashion models.  The antecedents of emotional labor along with its consequences on individuals from various careers have also been discussed, with specific emphasis on fashion models. After reviewing research articles from the existing literature on emotional labor, evidence of both negative (depression, anxiety, burnout, emotional exhaustion, etc.) and positive consequences (feeling more confident, with knowing how to perform emotions, job satisfaction, etc.) of emotional labor were found. However, evidence for the negative consequences of emotional labor was more apparent in literature. Furthermore, the review highlighted the need to study the impact of emotional labor on fashion models’ wellbeing through systematic research studies. Based on the review, recommendations were also made on how employees and employers can utilize psychological training to help them better manage their emotions and perform at the workplace, which inevitably has positive impacts on job satisfaction and long term success.