Model Job Profile

Find out the typical duties requirements and opportunities of a fashion model… 

Job Description 

A model is a person who is employed for the purpose of displaying and promoting fashion clothing or other products and for advertising or promotional purposes. As a model you could display catwalk, editorial, or commercial fashion. The job involves travelling all over the world to events, shoots and shows. A career as a commercial or fashion catwalk model tends to focus on the young, and there is usually an age limit set for aspiring catwalk models as well as commercial fashion models. Girls who aspire to become catwalk models, usually start around 15 – 24, while the typical age range for boys is between 18 – 25. There are also a number of specialist modelling opportunities such as hand, feet, leg, hair and beauty models. Over the last decade there has been more emphasis on inclusion and a growing number of classic (models of all ages), plus size, fit models (models of all sizes that try on items to support the production process) and unique/specialist models.

Typical Duties 

• Attending numerous castings for shows, photo shoots
• Presenting collections on the catwalk
• Representing a brand or campaign
• Skills and interest in fashion/style/movement
• You need to be willing to wear what ever you are given
• Have the ability to create a certain image for a designer by bringing personality to each pose
• You must have a strong passion and be dedicated
• Be confident and present an individual style/look which separates you from other models
• Able to travel where ever you may be needed
• You have to be comfortable in front of the camera and work well with others
• You need to be able to take rejection well, not every job will be for you

Job requirements

You need no educational qualifications to be a fashion model but, you must have the right image, be the right size and height, as well as show enthusiasm and be relaxed when on the catwalk or in front of a photographer. Your height is a very crucial factor if you are considering the high fashion industry. Top agencies such as Elite and Ford require a girl’s height to be between 5’8″ to 6’. For guy’s 5’11” to 6’3″. Other typical measurement requirements for high fashion female models are: Bust: 32-35″ Waist: 22-25″ Hips: 33-36“. If you don’t have the height, but have a knack for selling, commercial modelling may be an option. You will need to practice poses and looks that will help sell a product. If you are fortunate to have a flawless complexion you may be a good fit as a beauty model. For those that have a great body and don’t mind showing it off, glamour, swimwear and underwear modelling could be an option. Height is not an issue as a glamour model, but you must have a toned body with 34″ B Bust, 22-24″ Waist and 34″ Hips. If you are none of the above but still fancy a shot at it, try character modelling and extra work for advertising, there are no specific requirements for this.

Opportunities

You will meet lots of new people, and maybe even celebrities. You will be given the opportunity to travel and will have your images published online and in magazines. The average model doesn’t earn a great deal of money with a select few in the high earning category. Print models may work for manufacturers, stores, brands, etc, experienced print models can make between £125- £400 per hour. Some print models do not work with an agent, however to get a consistent flow of castings and work an agent is advisable. Models that work with an agent must allocate 15 – 20 % commission of the total fee to the agent. The British Fashion Models Agents Association offers a members list of reputable agents in the UK.

Top image by JoJo Iles