Expert: Kitty Kavey - 8/5/2009

Question
mam wer going to create a composition about on our ambition sumbody..for me i want to enter the modelling career..so i jaz want to ask if wat are the characteristics that are possible for being a good model that i can include in my composition..what are also the benefits i can get on this..

Answer
It depends on what part of the world you plan to model in, and what type of modeling you plan to do.  Generally speaking, fashion is the most well-known of the types of modeling.  One should be quite tall, with most parts of the world having a minimum height for women of 5'7 to 5'9, and 6'0 for men.

One should also have symmetrical features, few or no scars or blemishes, great teeth and skin, and have a long, lean build.  Of course the most important thing is that one is photogenic.  

If you fit the sizes and measurements to become a fashion model, you could submit your information to fashion agencies.  If they like your look, they will represent you and find you work opportunities.  The way an agency earns their income, is by taking a percentage off of what a model earns working through them - usually they take 10-20% off of what the model earns.

The model would then just go out on modeling jobs or go-sees, most likely traveling quite a bit around the world, and if they were quite successful they would be able to work for years longer than most fashion models, who tend to have a rather short career.  Very few fashion modeling agencies will consider a new (female) model who is older than age 22, although if you are working already by that age, then it's quite possible to work throughout your twenties, and there are supermodels even older than that.

Wikipedia.org has a list of supermodels that details their history, how they started, and what they are each most known for, as well as photo samples that you might find helpful.

Good luck to you with your composition,
~Kitty