Model says she was fired for being on her period

A model has claimed she was fired from her job representing the car maker Hyundai at the New York International Auto Show for having her period.

Rachel Rickert, 27, told the BBC she was "shamed" by the brand and has filed a complaint against the company.

While working at the car show in April, Rickert said she made it clear she needed a toilet break, but was repeatedly told it was too busy for her to leave the Hyundai booth. When she didn't make it in time to change her tampon, the model asked for clean underwear and tights, and got in touch with her talent rep Erika Seifred to explain what had happened.

Seifred told Rickert that Hyundai wanted her to take the night off, but when she asked to stay because she was being paid by the hour, she was told to go home.

The following day day, Rickert's rep got in touch to say Hyundai no longer wanted her to work at the show because they heard about her period.

"I was completely puzzled," she told the BBC. "I was really upset. I started crying... I book out shows, and I miss other opportunities. So I was just like - 'What? This is not right!'

"I'm not going to let people treat women this way," she added. "It's a natural thing that we have, our periods, and it's not like I want special treatment because of it. I just want to be respected as a human and to be able to go to the restroom. And not to be considered a bad employee because I needed to use the bathroom."

Rickert had worked at dozens of other similar conventions and according to the New York Post, was expecting to earn $5,000 (£3890) from the show. She said she hasn’t yet been paid for any of her time there.

The model has made a discrimination complaint to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Hyundai and Seifred's management firm, Experiential Talent.

Hyundai Motor America told the BBC it has not yet received an EEOC filing, but is looking into what happened. A spokesperson for the brand said: "We take any complaint like this seriously and will respond appropriately once we have a chance to investigate the merits of the claim."