Model measurements: height, waist, hips and more

The fashion world attracts many people, but wanting to be a professional model is not enough on its own. Professional models are held to very strict beauty standards which, unfortunately, not every attractive girl or boy meets. Models are judged on a range of criteria that can vary slightly depending on the region and market in which they work. The main focus is on the model's age, height, weight and bust, waist and hip measurements.

Height requirements for models

Girls can start thinking about a modelling career from the age of 13, provided they are at least 168 cm tall. In this case a model agency can predict that the girl will grow a little more in the near future and will be tall enough by the time she reaches working age. Girls can become fully fledged models from a height of 170 cm, which is perfectly suitable for work in some Asian countries. In the European and US markets, however, this height is usually too short.

Typically, girls between 170 and 179 cm are in demand in Asian markets, while girls between 175 and 183 cm can work in the major European and US markets. The most versatile and ideal height for a model is between 175 cm and 179 cm. Girls of this height have the greatest and widest opportunities to establish themselves in the modelling world.

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, and you can find successful working models who are shorter than 170 cm or taller than 183 cm. Our agency has a model who is 168 cm tall and works very successfully in the Asian market! However, exceptions to the rule are extremely rare.

Depending on their height and bust, waist and hip measurements, standard-size models showcase clothing in sizes 32, 34 and 36.

Weight requirements for models

Once people learn about the height standards for models, the next question is usually about weight requirements. A model's weight is not the measure used to decide whether a girl or boy is suitable for modelling work. What matters is the bust, waist and hip measurements, which do not necessarily have to fit a particular height-to-weight ratio.

Model bust, waist and hip measurements

There is a stereotype that the ideal model measurements are 90-60-90, but this is not true. In recent years, a 90 cm bust has come to be seen as too large, and priority is given to girls with a bust of between 80 and 86 cm.

Professional model agents do not even measure the bust at the first selection. This measurement becomes important later on, when choosing clothes for the model. In general, bust size has no decisive influence on whether a model is selected. The only exception is a bust that is too large, which usually means the end of a modelling career.

This is because most clothes are designed for girls with a slim, lean build, and a large bust changes the way a garment falls and its shape. Many designers therefore avoid it and prefer a proportionally slim figure.

A far more important measurement is the waist. Here the widely accepted standard of 60 cm is correct, but this measurement can also vary. For example, a 65 cm waist may be fine for a girl who is 180 cm tall, but it would be too large for a girl who is 170 cm tall. In the modelling world there is no absolute truth, and what suits one model may not suit another. The most important rule, however, is that no model is allowed any "winter reserves".

The most important and strictest measurement for a model is the hips. Hip measurements may not exceed 92 cm, and ideally they should be between 87 and 90 cm. That one centimetre really matters!

Male model measurements

Men work successfully as models at a height of 186-192 cm. The same standard applies to boys as to girls: shorter boys can work in Asia, while taller ones work in Europe and the US. The ideal height for male models is between 186 and 189 cm. Men should have an athletic build, but not be overly muscular.

The main rule for model measurements is that the model must look proportionate. Many people find such an abstract measure hard to grasp, but to an experienced model agent's eye everything is immediately clear: the model should look as though there is nothing you would want to add or take away. The body must be toned and the skin firm.

If you meet the measurement requirements for models, we look forward to hearing from you! The Supermodels model agency welcomes girls aged 13 and over who are at least 170 cm tall, and boys aged 16 and over who are at least 186 cm tall. Don't hesitate: become a model!