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Set in the cut-throat world of high fashion, "Girl Model" is a startling and harrowing documentary that goes behind the scenes of the modeling industry to reveal the truth about the ruthless exploitation of young girls. The film follows two different narratives that ultimately converge in a devastating way. The first is that of 13-year-old Nadya Vall, a poverty-stricken girl from Siberia who dreams of becoming a model. She is approached by a scout from Japan, Ashley Arbaugh, who promises her a lucrative contract and a shot at the big time. Nadya's family agrees to pay Ashley's agency thousands of dollars in return for their services, and Nadya is sent off to Tokyo alone to begin her new career.

The second narrative follows the story of ex-model Rachel Blais, who has since become an outspoken critic of the industry. She shares her own experiences of being a young model, detailing the pressure to lose weight and conform to impossible beauty standards. Rachel is now working to expose the dark side of the industry and ultimately meets with Nadya in Tokyo.

Throughout the film, we see the harsh reality of the modeling world: the endless castings, the long hours, the pressure to be thin, and the complete lack of oversight or protection. Models are routinely underpaid and mistreated, and many end up stranded in foreign countries with no one to turn to.

Nadya's story is particularly heartbreaking, as we see her slowly realize that the promises made to her were empty. She is put in a cramped apartment with several other girls, forced to share a bed and pay exorbitant sums for basic necessities. She is told she is too fat and is put on an extreme diet, which leaves her feeling ill and weak. And, worst of all, she finds out that the agency has no real interest in booking her for jobs, but sees her only as a commodity to be sold to other agencies as a "new face."

As the film progresses, Nadya becomes increasingly disillusioned with the industry and begins to realize that her dreams were based on false promises. Rachel, for her part, tries to help her navigate her way out of the situation, but it becomes clear that there are few options for the young model.

"Girl Model" is a powerful and disturbing documentary that shines a light on an industry that is often hidden from view. It is a sobering reminder of the ways in which young girls are exploited and mistreated in the name of fashion and beauty.

Girl Model is a 2011 documentary. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 68.