Lives next to a model, in present circumstances (2,2,2)
I believe the answer is:
as it is
'present circumstances' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adverbs. Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'lives next to a model' is the wordplay.
'lives' becomes 'is' ('be' can be a synonym of 'live').
'next to' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'model' becomes 'sit' (e.g. for a painting).
'a'+'sit'='asit'
'is' after 'asit' is 'AS IT IS'.
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for as it is that I've seen before include "In the current state of affairs" , "Actual state of affairs, often contrary to expectations" , "In the existing circumstances" , "Like now" , "In the present circumstances" .)