Have you ever thought about a modelling career but don’t know where to start? The world of modeling has something for everyone. Becoming a model can be easy, or it can be difficult, depending on how you approach it. Read the guide below to find out how to become a model!
How to Become a Successful Model
1. Getting Started as a Model
If you ask a little girl what she wants to be when she grows up, there is a good chance she will say “I want to be a famous model!” When she becomes a teenager, the childhood dream accelerates as pages from Vogue, Glamour and Elle decorate the walls of her bedroom. And for the very determined, the fascination will gain momentum and ever so gradually, a sense of urgency will emerge. At its pinnacle, her fantasy will ultimately beg the question, “How do I go from dreaming about being a model to actually becoming a model?”
2. The Three Types of Modeling in the U.S.
The first thing to understand about becoming a model is there are different types of modeling. The type with which the layperson is most familiar is “High Fashion.” High Fashion modeling encompasses designer runway shows, the advertising photos you see in top-ranked fashion magazines, spokesmodels for glamorous products and of course, the “Cover Girls (boys)” who grace the front pages of elite fashion publications.
The second type of modeling to which one might aspire is known as Commercial Modeling-National. Commercial Modeling on a national level includes advertisements for everyday household products, restaurants, chain stores, adult beverages, food items, and the like. These print images are found in down-to-earth magazines such as Good Housekeeping, People Magazine, Redbook, as well as hundreds of others. Opportunities at a national level also include catalogs for major department stores, brochures, and online-marketed goods and services.
The third type of modeling is Commercial Modeling-Local. Local commercial models will do photo shoots for photographers intending to sell photos online as stock inventory or in need of models for other purposes. Sometimes the shots will be for smaller businesses, a local line of products, tea-room modeling or fashion shows in a variety of events, such as a bridal fair or car show. Models also work for national brands in need of local talent to promote their products i.e. energy drinks at state fairs, military bases, special events, conventions, and sport’s games.
3.Why Do You Want to Become a Model?
If you desire a career in modeling, the most important question to ask yourself is, “Why do I want to become a professional model?” If your reasons include, “It looks fun!”, “My friends all say I should be a model!” or “I want to be on magazine covers!” you will need to brace yourself for a strong dose of reality. While those reasons are all valid explanations for wanting to become a model; the only answer that matters in the real world of professional modeling is “I have what it takes to be a model and therefore, I am marketable.”
Modeling is a unique career because it is all about your physical appearance. Unlike other industries which offer advancement for working harder, attending higher levels of education, or earning additional certifications, the world of modeling is not flexible. Ironically, the modeling industry will take you and your appearance, literally, at face value.
4. Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Successful Model?
It has never been easier to ascertain your suitability for a modeling career than it is today. Historically, the industry mandated jumping through expensive and arduous hoops before an aspiring model could make their way up the chain, only to find out that they stood no chance of succeeding as a model.
Today, each category of modeling mentioned above, High Fashion, Commercial-National and Commercial-Local, has a distinct standard for acceptance and success. If you are taking the first steps towards a career in modeling, it’s best to investigate the specifics of each category so that you can make the best use of your time, money and energy.
5.High Fashion: Standards & Requirements
High Fashion Is Highly Competitive & Rigid
Of all the types of modeling, High Fashion has the most rigid and easily determined standards. Although there are always exceptions to the “rules,” there are some basic truths about the industry that are indisputable: you must be tall and thin, period. You may have read about or heard interviews with models who have defeated the odds, but the cold, hard reality is that for every single exception there are literally thousands and thousands of hopeful inpiduals who failed. And, while the world of fashion has seen an influx of plus-size modeling, the demand for models who break the mold has not yet permeated the traditional model.
While this may sound both discriminatory and cruel (muck like the world of horseracing and jockey selection), there are reasons for the rules. For fashion designers to truly show off their work, those wearing the pieces must not detract from the lines and subtleties of the clothing. Further, the taller the model, the greater the material exposure and the sleeker the fashion will present and cast itself as finely proportioned.
World-famous expert, Paul Fisher has demystified the world of High Fashion modeling in two television shows: “Remodeled” and “I Can Make You a Supermodel”. His journey began in 1987 when he founded IT Models. His career and notoriety in the industry grew to remarkable highs when he represented supermodels such as Naomi Campbell, Carol Alt, and Stephanie Seymour. Fisher recommends that anyone interested in the world of High Fashion take a measured approach when assessing their own chances of success in the industry. Anyone who is serious about a career should begin by taking the following steps:
- Research the Industry:At this juncture, you must treat the industry as any other you would consider entering. You must do your homework. Fisher advises, “Find this out: Do they want what you have? What are their clients looking for?” They way to research the industry, per Fisher, is do a thorough survey of the website “models.com.” At the site you will find the following categories:
- Become a Statistician:Chart the height, weight, hair color, age, shoe size etc. of the top and up-and-coming models. Find out which agencies are representing each model. Read about what the clients are looking for; what the designers want to see; and who the photographers clamor after for photo shoots.
- Analyze Your Data:Make charts and/or graphs. Then determine if your appearance, thus far, is meeting the profile of the successful model. If the answer is yes, go on to step 2. If not, you will want to investigate other options in the industry.
- Take Pictures Without Make-Up:Ask a friend or family member to photograph you. Find an area with a neutral background and without distractions. Wear a bathing suit and include full body shots from front, back and each side. Also, take head shots. Do not enhance or edit the photos in any way, shape or fashion. If you have long hair, pull it back in at least one head shot.
- Submit Your Photos to the Top Agencies:According to Fisher, the next step is where the proverbial rubber meets the road. You are to send your photos to the nation’s top modeling agencies. Before doing so, review their websites thoroughly; there may be a process you’re required to follow. Be sure and follow it exactly as indicated. They receive thousands of photos; be sure yours is one they look at because you followed the rules. At this point, it is a waiting game. It could take some time. But ultimately, you will find out what the top modeling agencies think about you. With regards to High Fashion modeling, Fisher says, “Send them your picture. You will hear back from them. If you do not hear back from them, don’t model.”
6. Commercial Modeling: National
The wonderful news about the world of Commercial Modeling on a national level is that clients are looking for real people; people who are young, old, tall, short, thin, heavy, etc. The one most important thing about this branch of the industry is that you have an agent.
Securing Representation from an Agent or Agency
To be prosperous as a Commercial Model doing national print work, you must have an agent who is successful; the key idea being–the agent is successful. But how do you find a successful agent?
- Scour the InternetAll successful modeling agents have websites showcasing their models and the client accounts they have represented. Scrutinize the quality of the website; as in any industry there are unscrupulous imposters who will take your valuable time and money if you are not careful. Vet the agencies which appear to be of the highest caliber. Google their name; find out if their claim to any fame can be legitimized. Watch any YouTube videos which discuss the agency. Make a list of the agencies you verified as trustworthy and affluent.
- Dissect Each Website for DirectionThe fact of the matter is this: if you can make money for an agent, they will want you. The professionals in this industry are not trying to make your dreams come true; they are businesspeople working to make a profitable living. But unlike High Fashion representation, agencies will vary in what they are looking for in a model. A good analogy is the literary agent. Some agencies deal only with romance novels or mysteries; others may work only with biographical manuscripts. The same can be said of agents and agencies. They may represent every look or be in the market for only a few particular types. It is your job to find out the agency’s process.Next, take your list and methodically examine each website. Look at everything. Finally, go to the section on becoming part of their talent roster. It may be entitled “Contact Us” “Recruitment” “New Talent” or even “Become a Model.” Again, before you go any further, make sure you are dealing with a reputable firm. Otto Models, a California-based agency has this warning prominently displayed on their website:The above paragraph is some of the best advice you will ever receive with regards to agencies. Reputable agencies do not try and sell you photo shoots with “their photographers” or ask for any money from you for representation. Parents should always be the one to contact an agency on behalf of minors; and under no circumstances should nude photos be solicited.
- Follow DirectionsEach agent will have their own method of processing new talent. Make sure you follow their instructions thoroughly. Most will ask for photos and your vital statistics such as age, weight, height etc. Do not be deceptive. The worst thing you can do is be dishonest about any aspect of your appearance. Remember, this is a business and no one wants to hire a liar.
Website Platforms
You may come across websites which offer to assist you in finding an agent. They serve as the platform on which you showcase your photos. As with your agency search, approach with caution. Find out what is in it for the website. Make sure the service is reputable. Do not do anything which hints at being improper or a scam.
7. Commercial Modeling: Local
This type of modeling is difficult to do at a professional level. “Professional,” meaning the job you do to support yourself to make-a-living. Depending on the town or city in which you live, you may find work doing the following:
- Working for local photographers
- Posing for newspaper advertisements
- Representing local businesses in their brochures, menus or catalogs
- Modeling clothes for a local department store
- Modeling for restaurants (Tea-Room Modeling)
- Modeling or posing for art schools and schools of photography
Local modeling is typically done for fun or as part-time work. If you have an agent, however, you should never accept a job without their consent and knowledge.
10 Ugly Facts About The Modeling Industry You Should Know Before Start Modeling
When one sees a model online, in a magazine, on a billboard, or in a runway show, we tend to envy them for their beauty. In our society, we assume that beauty is the ticket to happiness. It becomes the most desirable attribute, to the extent that people spend thousands of dollars on diets and plastic surgery to become just a little bit better-looking. Almost no one feels sorry for models, and they believe the worst thing they ever experience is eating disorders.
The sad reality is that the modeling industry lures in young people who have dreams of fame and abuses them in more ways than one. Their stories are often a mystery to those who are not involved in the industry. These unattainable ideals plastered in the media aren’t just damaging to the models themselves but to society as a whole. We truly have no idea just how messed up the life of a professional fashion model can be.
10. Unaccompanied Minors
In many cases, models start their careers when they are just 13 years old. In a documentary called Girl Model, a 13-year-old named Nadya is recruited as a model during an audition in Siberia. She flies by herself to Japan, where she is instructed to lie about her age, because 15 is the minimum age requirement there. Nadya wears layers of heavy makeup and is made to pose provocatively in front of the camera. Without the proper paperwork, no one bats an eyelash as barely pubescent girls get work overseas on a regular basis.
Backstage at a runway show, models are all getting undressed in front of stylists, designers, photographers, and journalists. They are not allowed to have any modesty or privacy, which means that minors are exposed for everyone to see on a regular basis. The New York Department of Labor did not protect the rights of child models until 2013, after a series of child sex trafficking cases happened in the deregulated industry. Even after the changes were made, it really only required working permits and mandatory breaks every four hours. It still does not fix the issue of exploiting young girls.
9.Poverty And Debt
Many have imagined life as a world-famous supermodel who gets to travel the world and live in luxury homes. In reality, only a tiny fraction of models actually get to that point in their careers. When they are still new, models live in crowded city apartments owned by the agencies so that they can go to auditions. There are usually four to six people sleeping in bunk beds arranged in a studio or one-bedroom apartment. To make matters worse, agencies typically charge their models five times the market rate on rent.
Models are only paid after the agency is reimbursed for the rent and travel expenses they provided in the beginning. Many aspiring young models realize they no longer want to live that lifestyle and actually end up in debt to the agency. If they choose to keep going, and they need more money, they can borrow against their future earnings from the agency, which charges interest for doing so. Even when a model can climb out of the debt cycle and become successful at her job, the true average salary is around $48,000 per year.
8. Working For Trade And Exposure
With social media playing such a huge role in marketing today, it’s no longer good enough to simply have some great headshots before an audition. Many aspiring models choose to post themselves on Instagram. Many times, gaining a healthy social media following before getting paid has become an essential part of the modeling business, and it can even lead to jobs. Companies like Glossier have hired amateur models directly through Instagram. However, the amateur photo shoots are essentially working for free in order to get exposure.
World-famous supermodel Karlie Kloss posted a video on her YouTube channel explaining how in her early modeling days, she was very lucky that her family supported her modeling career. They even moved from St. Louis to New York so that she could commute into the city for auditions. She did not need to go into debt like many other young girls do. As a teenager, Kloss worked in exchange for free clothing.
In some cases, if a model works with a fashion designer who ends up becoming famous someday, this strategy can pay off in the long run. Today, Kloss’s clothing collection from her for-trade work is worth thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, for models who do not have support from their parents and actually need to pay their debts to an agency, that plan will not work. “The best shows to do, especially in the beginning, were for-trade. I didn’t care about money. I cared about clothes,” says Kloss.
7. Sexual Abuse
One of the biggest scandals in the fashion world was the revelation that Dov Charney, the founder of American Apparel, was sexually harassing his models and female employees during photo sessions and at his factories. He would force women to pose nude or half-nude and persuade them to have sex in exchange for work. He was forced to step down as the CEO of his own company.
Charney is not the only man who is guilty of sexually abusing models in the fashion industry. He is just the most unapologetic and downright proud about the entire thing, calling himself a “pussy fanatic.” Even after this public scandal, Charney maintains that his behavior is normal in the industry. His new office even has a mattress on the floor with condoms sitting next to it, totally shameless. During an interview, he was asked if he believed he really could make a comeback from the scandal. He chuckled, as if the question was ridiculous, saying, “People are still listening to Michael Jackson!”
Despite the fact that many models are far younger than the age of consent, they become sex objects in the eyes of consumers and the people who are working with them on a daily basis. These girls are usually very tall, wearing makeup and made to look older than they are. Nearly every model has a story of sexual abuse. These depressing circumstances were enough for 20-year-old Russian model Ruslana Korshunova to commit suicide. She moved to New York to model when she was just 15.[4]
6. Required Surgeries
In South Korea, double eyelid surgery to make their eyes appear more Western-looking is an actual requirement for celebrities and models. Girls learn about plastic surgery as young as elementary school, and it becomes a very normal part of everyday life for people to change the faces they were born with. Even for non-models, these surgeries have become so common that it has become normal for Korean employers to expect their employees to be “beautiful enough” to get any job at all.
Anyone who has ever seen Keeping Up with the Kardashians knows that sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner have both had plastic surgery, and they are two of the most popular celebrities who young girls look up to at the moment. Kendall got the highly coveted job as a Victoria’s Secret Angel. While many models try to keep it a secret, nose jobs, tummy tucks, and other surgeries are commonplace.
5. Fickle Tastes
Fashion changes constantly, and a model’s natural-born look may become quickly outdated as trends change. At the moment this article was written, androgynous models are all the rage. Just a few years ago, these people would have struggled finding work.
In the 1980s and 1990s, white women with blonde hair and blue eyes were extremely sought-after in Tokyo-based magazines. A Canadian model named Taylor Richard interviewed the head of her modeling agency in Japan and uploaded the video to YouTube just before she left to move to Hong Kong. According to Richard and her agent, Sachiko, it was possible for a girl to live in Japan for just two months and earn enough money to return home to Canada or the United States and invest in some real estate. Today, however, that is no longer the case. At the moment, biracial, or hafu, models are all the rage in Japan, and they get the most work.
In 2015, a biracial woman named Ariana Miyamoto became the first biracial Miss Universe contestant from Japan. Despite the fact that Miyamoto is celebrated for her beauty, she is still not accepted by people around her as truly being Japanese.
4. Drug Abuse
There is a stereotype that models snort cocaine to help them stay thin. Unfortunately, that’s pretty accurate to the truth. Fashion shows almost always have raging after-parties. Imagine being 16, living alone in New York City, and you are invited to a party or a nightclub filled with beautiful people. It’s like peer pressure times 1,000, and almost no one can resist. According to Vice, drug dealers know to hang around during Fashion Week because they can make a fortune from models looking to buy.
One Calvin Klein model, Kayley Chabot, began her career at just 13 years old. The agency told her that she needed to lose 2.5 inches from her hips. Hearing this at such a young age encouraged her to stop eating. She eventually had to quit her career when she was just 17 because the lifestyle had caused her to become a drug addict, and she’d developed a severe eating disorder.
3. Scams And Labor Abuse
Many women who attempt to become models are easy targets to get kidnapped and forced into sex trafficking. A former police officer in Miami ran an online scam where he would post an advertisement for a model casting and wait for beautiful young women to show up to the location. Once they arrived, the women were knocked unconscious and raped on camera. The men who were responsible for this particular case were arrested, but similar scams are extremely common, especially with “casting calls” posted on Craigslist.
Even when models find a real agency to work with, they are still being exploited. Models are considered to be independent contractors, despite the fact that they are forced to sign contracts that only allow them to work for one agency, which is given carte blanche to take fees as needed. This leads to agencies taking arbitrary expenses from models’ pay without any rational explanation. Their contractor status means that they do not receive the same workers’ rights and protections from the government as a full-time employee at a company.
2. Every Inch Matters
When people say models have “body issues,” they really aren’t kidding. Getting a little tight in the jeans could mean losing their job. Since they have to wear perfectly tailored clothes down the runway, models are required to maintain their exact body measurements during the entire time they are working with a client. If a model loses or gains even a fraction of an inch, she could lose her job. This will ruin her reputation, and she can’t use that designer as a reference. This pressure leads models to do crazy things to lose weight, like taking laxatives, vomiting, or eating cotton balls.
This practice is not because designers are cruel; it’s just part of the business. Hundreds of models show up to an audition, and only a handful get picked. Since deadlines are tight, and girls are eager to work, it is much easier for a designer to call in a backup model with the correct measurements than it would be to do last-minute sewing.
Keep in mind that some women bloat, gain a few pounds, and break out with acne when it’s their “time of the month,” every single month, even if their diet has not changed. Many models work so hard to prevent this bloating that they’ve stopped having their periods all together. If that continues long-term, it can permanently damage their bodies and their chances to have kids someday. Considering that most models start working in their early teens, they truly do have a warped sense of what is “normal” and often do damage to their bodies through eating disorders.
1. The Expiration Date
Considering that the fashion industry hires extremely young girls, there comes a time when a model is too old to continue working. Unfortunately, many of these girls gave up their high school or college educations in exchange for the model life, and by the time they hit their mid-twenties, it suddenly dawns on them that they have very few real-world skills outside of modeling. While there are some older models out there, their opportunities are few and far between. As they reach their thirties, models have a difficult time finding other forms of work. There are opportunities for older women, but once a girl hits age 30, she is considered to be a “classic” model, which is just a polite way of saying “old.”
A 50-year-old former model named Karen Dobres retired from modeling at 25 but contacted an agency which encourages older women to try to audition. They charged her a fee of over $100 for the photographs, only to reject her over the phone when she inquired about job opportunities.
Sources: theartcareerproject , listverse