So You Want To Be A Fashion Model?

Let me start that I can only state the following from experiences both as a model and as a cast director for many photo shoots, test, editorials and commercials. So I’m no expert but i have a few tips that i think everyone should know when trying you luck at modeling career.

First things first your appearance. Are you tall enough? If you’re a girl you have to be 5’9 or taller and boys must at least be 6ft tall or taller but not over 6’2.

Girls to you have good bones on your face like an appealing facial shape are you heart-shaped, oval, round, Ect.? Can you be a blank canvas for a makeup artist to turn you into a high-end fashion model, and then the next booking you’re a fresh-faced girl next store type. You must have good skin no blemishes of dark circles under the eyes or mole , birth marks, ect. Freckles are good sometimes but they really only work on Red Heads. Ask your self Honestly an I Pretty or Beautiful cause neither is good enough for the modeling world you have to be Stunning and have something different about you that sets you apart from all the other girls out there. Also the reality of the modeling industry is there is only so much room for ethnic girls, so if your African-American, Asian, Hispanic, or anything that’s not the norm in beauty you are either gonna have to break new ground case you are so stunning or fight your way to get an agent to believe in you. It’s sad to say but it’s still a very racist industry.

Beverly Johnson and Iman brook the good for Black models cause they were so amazing but they had to fight to get every cover and editorial, ad contract, ect. Believe it or not a mixed Polish American Janice Dickinson was the first ethnic Model to make it big and change the minds of the Magazine editor’s around the world paving a new path for models like Gia, and Iman. The next question is are my prepositions good do you have nice long legs, are you a b cup or lower, are your hips the right with, do you have long arms a small rib cage, are you thin enough, cause no matter what Tyra Banks says there will never be a true plus size supermodel and the market for curvy girls is small and not high fashion. If there is anything off about you and you know it as a real reality of who you are unless it’s an interesting thing that sets you apart.  Be honest don’t be yourself up it’s not you who isn’t beautiful it’s the fashion worlds ugly expectations that are sad to say never going to change. Sure, there are always exceptions to the rules but look at the Supermodels of the world and research what is in fashion now. Whats the look and if it’s just not you have two choices go get an education and find another passion or fight the good fight if you think you really have that it factor someone will catch on. So for all you female models before you go for it take a good honest look at yourself and say “Am I the Next Kate Moss” and girls start modeling at 14 now so ask you parents and ask yourself  am I ready to give up my teenage years for my dreams.

Now boys you have it easier it’s simple your either a fit model with a great body and a handsome face. Strong bones, chin, perfect nose, nice lips, ect. Or you are tall skinny and androgen’s  looking beautiful boy but kinda female at the same time. Honestly , male models are paid less and are considered props on most shoots involving females. Just be real are you hot, or not, and if not are you a beautiful “freak”.

So, if you want to be a “Fashion” model do you home work, be honest with yourself, don’t hate yourself just give yourself a reality check. Then it’s a crap shoot if you make it ,or not all I can say is go luck ,  and do let it bring you down.

For the only legit thing I’ve seen out there as far as training to become a model is to visit www.thejanicedickinson.com and see if she has a model book camp coming to your area at least she will be frank and honest about your chances. Any other “Modeling School” I have come across are just scams and you should never have to pay to do test shots for your book. This industry is full of you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours.

Here Is a little History While the term gained popularity in the 1980s, a number of models had become famous in their own right as far back as the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Lauren Hutton, Lisa Fonssagrives, Dorian Leigh, Cathee Dahmen, Suzy Parker, Mary Jane Russell, Susanne Erichsen, Inga Lindgren, and Jean Patchett are considered the world’s first supermodels according to Vogue Magazine. These models were highly paid, from up to $40 an hour. Dorian Leigh earned an annual salary of $300.000.

The 60s were known as the “Swinging London”. The top supermodels were Twiggy, Peggy Moffitt, Naomi Sims, Donyale Luna, Evelyn Kuhn, Colleen Corby, Molly Corby, Jean Shrimpton, Veruschka, Agneta Freiberg, Babette Morand, Linda Morand, Cybill Shephard, Terry Reno, Wilhelmina Cooper, Angela Howard, Sizy Parker, & Penelope Tree. The most iconic of this group was Twiggy, whose look & style became “the face of the yearly”, according to The London Daily Press. Her thin figure has become the fashion model image, even today.

The 70s were a rise the rise of the supermodels including Janice Dickinson, who by many, claim is the “World’s First Supermodel” she has done extensive work including 37 covers of Vogue. More black models broke barriers in the fashion industry. These influential models included Iman and Beverly Johnson. Supermodels in the 70s included Anna Bayle, Bessie Badilla, Janice Dickinson, Rene Russo, Iman Abdulmajid, Gia Marie Carangi, Christie Brinkley, Cheryl Tiegs, and Beverly Johnson.

The high point of the supermodel era was in the 80s and early 90s, with some of the most famous being “The Trinity” of Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, and Christy Turlington.

It was at this time that Cindy Crawford successfully leveraged her modelling fame into hosting her own television show, MTV’s House of Style, creating and promoting many exercise video tapes, and posing in Playboy (she was the first supermodel to do all of these).

These years were known as the “era of the supermodels”. Among these supermodels included Bridget Hall, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Shana Zadrick, Claudia Schiffer, Christy Turlington, Kate Moss, Bridget Hall, Cindy Crawford, Kristen McMenamy, Gail O’Neil, Lisa Taylor, Bonnie Burman, Vera Cox, Robyn Mackintosh, Naomi Campbell, Emma Sjoberg, Louis Vyent, Jerry Hall, Karen Alexander, Valeria Mazza, Ashley Richardson, Rachel Williams, Linda Evangelista, Rene Simonsen, Estelle Hallyday, Claudia Mason, Veronica Webb, Kristen McMenamy, Megan Douglas, Helena Christensen, Shana Zadrick, Paulina Porizkova, Daniela Peštová, Yasmeen Ghauri, Elle Macpherson, Claudia Schiffer, Christy Turlington, Carol Alt, Elaine Irwin Mellencamp, Rachel Hunter, Kate Moss, Carla Bruni, Tatjana Patitz, Kara Young, Patricia Velasquez, Brandi Quinones, Laetitia Casta, Yamila Diaz-Rahi, Niki Taylor, Carolyn Murphy, Shalom Harlow, Nadja Auermann, Elsa Benitez, Beverly Peele, Amber Valletta, Emma Sjöberg, Tyra Banks, Karen Mulder, Michaela Bercu, Eva Herzigova, and Stephanie Seymour.These models were known as the great supermodels of the supermodel era. The most controversial model of the 90s was the slender Kate Moss. She was consistently scrutinized over her slim look and people often speculated that she was anorexic, thus she gave birth to the style of supermodel known as the “waif.” This waif look is now the most common today. It was also around this time that male supermodels came about like Marcus Schenkenberg and Tyson Beckford.

Other supermodels who came out in the late 1990s include Tricia Helfer, Rebecca Romijn, Valeria Mazza, Heidi Klum, Marisa Miller, Veronica Varekova, Alek Wek, Molly Sims, Devon Aoki, Mini Anden, Michelle Alves, Ana Hickmann, Milla Jovovich, and Gisele Bundchen.

In the 2000s, the supermodel popularity faded and actresses started replacing models. On The Tyra Banks Show, Janice Dickinson claims Tyra Banks was the last of the great supermodels. According to some people, the reason why actress and pop stars have become more popular, is because they are more relatable. They don’t look perfect like models, and because of that they’re more relatable. The supermodels of the 2000s include Daria Werbowy, Liya Kebede, Gemma Ward, Karen Elson, Natalia Vodianova, Oluchi Onweagba, Yasmin Warsame, Lisa Cant, Jessica Stam, Adriana Lima, Liya Kebede, Petra Nemcová, Alessandra Ambrosio, Ana Beatriz Barros, Heather Marks, Carmen Kass, Caroline Trentini, Noémie Lenoir, Tiiu Kuik, Lily Cole, Eugenia Volodina, Lily Donaldson, Caroline Winberg, Angela Lindvall, Hana Soukupova, Polina Kouklina, Natasha Poly, Isabeli Fontana, Valerie Celis, and Josie Maran. The popular model look has become alien, baby doll, eyes wide apart, waif models.