Different
modeling categories means different requirements,
so if you may not be able to work in one, you may
be right for another.
Supermodels
The largest amount of money goes to the very rare
SUPERMODELS. A supermodel is a model whose name
is a household word, like Cindy Crawford, Claudia
Schiffer, Kate Moss,
Iman, and about a dozen others. These women can
make a generous living off modeling alone. For every
million girls who attempt to model, one will achieve
supermodel status. Supermodels are at least 5'9.
High
Fashion
The most glamourous jobs. High Fashion models are
generally 5'9" to 6' tall (in USA) and are a very
thin size 4-6. They have 32-35" busts, 22-25" waists
and 33-36" hips. Male
fashion models are normally 6' to 6'2" tall and
wear a size 40 regular jacket.
The fashion pages of ELLE, VOGUE, COSMO, etc. are
filled with high fashion models. Campaigns like
those of Calvin Klein and other famous designers
have skyrocketed these faces and bodies to unprecedented
heights.
The
high fashion area has the highest visibility. We
are surrounded by these men and women every day
on billboards, magazine covers, and television commercials.
The pay is high. It is not unusual for a single
campaign to pay a million dollars plus. This money
is not as high as supermodel pay but high enough
to make it extremely competitive.
Children
and Teens
They can find work in many different types of modelling
including fashion shows and commercials. Teen models
are generally called Junior models. Junior models
must be 5'6" to 5'8" tall and 12 to 17 years old
with very youthful looks. They usually have 32-34"
busts, 21-25" waists and 32-34" hips.
Print
and Calalog Modeling
This refers to photography for magazines and in
catalogues and sell everyday products to average
people. This work is very eagerly sought after by
models because of the exposure it provides. For
this reason you can expect to work long and hard
for $100-$150 a day but you will get tear sheets
for your portfolio that will help you get work.
Major catalogs pay $10,000 to $15,000 a day for
top models
Requirements
for print and catalog models are the same. Girls
should be at least 5'8 and a size 6. Ethnicity is
not as much of an issue as it used to be, but a
clear complexion is still a must. Guys tend to be
around 6 feet tall and wear a 40 regular sport coat.
The average age in the US for a male catalog model
is 29.
Commercial
Print Modeling
Refers to when models are photographed to promote
a product on billboards, buses, magazines and newspapers.
This type of modelling can categorized as Fashion
Advertising and Product Advertising.
Commercial
models, need only to have the ability to look like
a real person. In commercial modeling people of
all heights, weights, sizes, ages, and races are
hired. Its not all true that commercial models are
only tall, thin, glamorous men and women appear
in ads for designer clothes are commercial models.
Many successful commercial models look just
like everyday people. The individual who has the
greatest chance of being chosen to appear in an
ad is the one who can believably look like a mom,
doctor, business person, plumber, student, grandparent,
teacher, dad, etc.
The
pay for commercial print, however, may not be enough
to make a living off of, but it still could be fun.
Runway
Modeling
The most effective way to gain exposure. It is also
the most glamorous type of live modelling. It requires
a lot of confidence and grace. The model must make
the audience think that she loves the outfit she
is wearing. She must look comfortable and make even
the dullest outfit look attractive. There is a minimum
height requirement of 5'9" for runway work. Rates
of pay are negotiated according to the status and
experience of the model, but range from $500 to
$5000 per show.
Petite
Models
There is a category for people of average height,
but the market is extremely small. There may not
even be legitimate agencies in your area that handle
petite models. You should be between the height
of 5'3 and 5'6 and weigh between 100 and 110 pounds.
Most of the work you will obtain will be print work.
You could also look into Television commercials.
Plus
Size Models
One third of the women in the US wear a size 16
or larger. Thus the plus size modeling market is
huge and the modeling opportunities keep growing.
There are agencies that deal specifically with plus
sizes, most of which are in New York and Chicago.
Plus size requirements vary, but size 13 is the
most widely used size.
