How to Become a Successful Model

A modelling career begins when you sign a contract with a mother agency, but a signature on a contract is not enough to become a successful model. Results only come when the model and the agency work together, put in the effort, stay motivated and keep communicating.
When scouting new faces, model agencies often stress what kind of models they are looking for: it is not only about looks and measurements, but also about the personal qualities that will help a model reach the top of their career.

If you do not want to read the whole article, you can jump straight to the summary of the key things we recommend following to build a successful modelling career.

Motivation

To become a successful model, you need to keep up with what is happening in the fashion world: follow designers' latest work, the models who inspire you, the international agencies you dream of working with in the future, and fashion trends. When you genuinely understand the field you want to work in, it is much easier to make the right decisions.

Being able to combine other commitments with modelling makes the whole career much easier. Today there are excellent opportunities to study remotely. Many models attend university, prepare for school tests and exams, and keep up their favourite hobbies while travelling for work.

Models have to look after their appearance at all times. A model's figure has to meet the industry's standards, so make friends with your body and find a sport you enjoy that helps you stay in good shape. It could be dancing, running, long walks or cycling – anything that keeps your body moving a lot without loading it with extra weights. It is also important to find food that suits you and is rich in nutrients, that does not make you bloated and does not cause breakouts. Models who start working and travelling young have to take care of their own diet. We are not talking about dieting here, but about balanced nutrition and meals you cook yourself, so before a trip it is worth browsing nutrition and cooking blogs, so that once you are away you do not end up living on ready meals or fast food and wearing your body down.

In this industry you need to be able to take "no" for an answer. Remember that clients and agencies look for different types and looks for different jobs. So never take a "no" personally or as an insult – there will be plenty of jobs in the future that call for exactly your type.

Investing in Yourself

First impressions matter enormously in the fashion industry. At castings, clients quickly form an opinion of a model from the way they communicate and the way they look. So it is important not only to radiate good energy, but also to present yourself as a professional model. Perhaps you can say hello in the language of the country you are in? Are you familiar with its designers' work or its culture? Invest your time in broadening your knowledge.
Come to castings in stylish, fashionable clothes. Although the casting "uniform" is dark, fitted clothing, you can liven it up with stylish touches – accessories, a handbag, fashionable shoes, headwear or a coat. This shows that you genuinely care about fashion.

A model is represented by their work – their photographs. To show how well you pose and how good you look on camera, you need several test shoots in different styles. It is only worth spending money on the work of a professional photographer. If you cannot afford several test shoots yet, follow fashion photographers and join model and photographer communities on social media, where offers to shoot on a TFP basis come up regularly. If you want to know more about test shoots, read Photoshoot vs Test Shoot: The Key Differences

Practice

Nobody is born knowing how to pose or walk in high heels. But without those skills you will not become a successful model, so the only way is to practise a lot. Learn to pose in front of a mirror or your phone camera. Look for posing inspiration in fashion magazines and on photographers' and models' accounts. Browse YouTube to learn how to relax during a shoot and how to find the angles of your face and body that work best for the camera.

We advise girls to buy a pair of comfortable high heels, ideally with a heel higher than 7 cm, and practise walking in them at home until they feel comfortable and confident. Material on how to walk the runway properly, for both girls and boys, can be found on YouTube, and your mother agency can also give you advice.

It is important not only to develop your professional modelling skills, but also to discover and develop your own personal talents. Grow in the areas that reflect who you are. Self-confidence only grows as your personality takes shape, and that is extremely important in the modelling world.

Social Media

Name recognition will help you become a successful model. Social media is a great platform for promoting your name, your work and your personality as a model. Model agencies encourage models to promote themselves, catch people's attention and draw them in with interesting content. Behind-the-scenes glimpses of modelling are fascinating to people who have nothing to do with the industry but are interested in fashion. Your work, fashion shows, their backstage moments and your stories can attract fans, international model agencies and clients.

For working models, Instagram can also serve as their model book (What is a model portfolio/book?) and as an excellent way to present themselves, because many international agencies now ask to see your social media and even take your follower count into account. So we recommend showing an active life – if not as a person, then at least as a model.

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Finally, it is important to understand that a modelling career does not happen overnight. Getting results takes a long and patient journey, so patience, consistency and the optimism to believe you will succeed are essential.

So, the key things we recommend following to build a successful modelling career:

• Keep up with what is happening in the fashion world;
• Learn to combine your studies or hobbies with modelling work;
• Take care of your appearance at all times – eat healthily, stay physically active, look after your skin and keep your hair healthy;
• Invest in how you present yourself as a model – test shoots, style, knowledge;
• Practise posing and keep discovering new poses, practise walking in high heels and find your own catwalk walk;
• Build self-confidence and patience as you pursue your modelling career;
• Be active on social media, post content related to your modelling work, and promote and represent your name as a model.