The Camels of COSMO

I could lie and tell you how awful it is to work on women’s magazines. I could do ‘The Model Thing’ and say it isn’t as glamorous as it’s cracked up to be, that it’s long, boring and dull, and that you might as well be working for a pet-food distributor. (Sorry. No disrespect to pet-food distributors, but you know what I mean. Working for a pet-food distributor is not exactly Hollywood, although it might be good, dignified work.)
I could carry on in this way but I’d be lying. Some days, like today, I am reminded how much fun the COSMO crew have, while calling it work.
Today, Cathy is nursing a black coffee and a righteous headache after staying out a bit too late last night with local super-band The Parlotones as she helped them celebrate the launch of their new wine label, Giant Mistake. Zelda is buzzing after having spent the past three days on the back of a Harley-Davidson disturbing the peace and exploring the West Coast and Garden Route.
I arrived at my desk this morning to find two review copies of new books I’ve been dying to read, and a brilliant and sexy pair of Reebok shoes to test-drive.
Terrible, awful ways to earn a living, I’m sure you will agree. Shame.
But no-one in our team has it quite as bad as those in the fashion and promotions departments, who are back from sunny, exotic Egypt after the pure hell of shooting the summer swimwear and beauty supplement, which adds an extra 66 pages to this magazine.
It was absolutely backbreaking, terrible work, according to them. They had to grind away, smiling and posing, labouring and sweating in the roasting sun to bring you the gorgeous, fun-filled pictures.
Shame again.
‘Camels would have had a better time,’ they report, with an evil glint in their eyes. I know they’re kidding. Everyone who works on this magazine loves their job, and I believe it shows.
We’ve always had fun putting this magazine together for you – and it’s important to ensure that you all share in that. ‘Fun, Fearless Female’ are not empty words for us – they’re a promise of the life you all deserve, and the magazine that aims to help you get it! Enjoy.

Author: Vanessa Raphaely