This must be the most frequently asked question of all: “Do you think I could be a model?” Girls send me snapshots and statistics, descriptions of their faces, how much they think they might grow by their sixteenth birthday; there’s only one real way to find out if you could be a model, and that’s to approach a model agency.

Model agencies (reputable ones) have certain times of the week when you can just pop in – like an open casting call – and they’ll give you the once over. Model agents have usually been doing their job for years and they can spot a potential model from a mile off – sometimes they’ll get it wrong and an amazing girl will slip through the net, but generally they will be able to give you a big old ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

If this all sounds far too harsh and real, then prepare yourselves: that’s what it’s like! There’s no point hanging on to a dream with modelling – if you’re not going to work then there’s no point doing it. Unless of course you have a huge trust fund and you don’t need to make a living – in which case, lucky you!

You have to be extremely realistic if you want to be a model, it’s very competitive; new girls come in all the time and very few girls keep on working for years and years. If you go and see three or four agencies and they politely tell you that you’re just not right, then it’s best to take a bit of expert advice: you’re probably just not right. As I mentioned, girls do slip through the net and agents later admit that they hadn’t quite picked up on the ‘star quality’ that a girl had, but more often than not they know what they’re talking about.

So, sorry to start on a rather disheartening subject, but rather than obsessing over your measurements or whether your nose is too curved or your eyes look too startled – why not just go and see? You have nothing to lose – there are plenty of agencies out there to try, and the worst that can happen is that they say no. If they say no and you want desperately to be a model, then consider that ‘no’ to be your first practice rejection, because modelling is all about rejection and you have to be really thick-skinned!

Now onto the more positive note (not that this has so far been negative – it’s just very realistic!) – there are thousands of girls modelling, and each agency might have a slightly different market. Some may take very editorial-looking girls (quirky, edgy, strong features) and some may prefer commercial girls (classically beautiful or simply ‘pretty girl next door’). Until you try a few agencies, you won’t know where you fit in, so make sure that you do try a few! A nice booker will tell you where you may be best off going to next, but my advice would be to stick to agencies who are part of the AMA (Association of Model Agencies). These agencies abide by certain codes of conduct and I really would give these ones a try for an honest answer and good, solid advice.

Click here for a list of AMA Member agencies – you’ll see that all the top ones are members, Storm, FM, Models 1, Select and so on.

I shall be back with another post about how to act, dress, groom and prepare yourself for an agency visit as well as a post with a list of ‘features’ generally perceived to be the physical requirements of a model.

XXX