Have you ever watched America’s Next Top Model, Face of Africa, or Project Runway? All the time saying to yourself “I can definitely do it better than that girl!” Do you fantasize about modeling for Michael Kors, Victoria’s Secret, or Louis Vuitton? Are your favourite celebrities InstaModels like Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid, and always trying to get the latest editions of Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Teen Vogue and its ilk? It appears that you have a hunger for high fashion and modeling! So, what should you do?
1. To get started on a modeling career, you will first need to think about what type of modeling you want to do: print, commercial, runway, fitness, plus-size or alternative.
2. Be healthy – eat right by eating lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protein; exercise regularly; drink lots of water and avoid soft drinks even the diet ones. Pay attention to your appearance – wash your face in the morning and at night, exfoliate at least once a week, maintain good oral and body hygiene. Dress right and carry yourself well, because in this business, appearance is EVERYTHING!
3. Many agencies specialize in a particular type of modeling, so you will want to figure out what your statistics are – that is height, weight, waist, bust, etc -, and put together a portfolio that reflects your style. This should include head shots with varied expressions (serious, playful), and full-length shots in different outfits.
4. To find local modeling agencies, use the Internet to Google your town and modeling agency. For example, you could type: List of modeling agencies in Ikoyi Lagos
5. It is a good idea to enlist the help of a parent or trusted adult at this point to help you contact the agencies. There are a lot of scams out there, so you want to be careful if an agency asks for money up front, chances are they are probably not legit.
6. Find out how each agency handles submissions, often via hand mail or open call. Once you have submitted your portfolio, give the agency a month before you follow up with a phone call. In the meantime, you can also look for other modeling opportunities in your community. Perhaps, you live in Surulere, you could also find agencies there while you wait for calls from the Ikoyi outfits.
7. Check with local fashion design schools, department stores like Pep and Mr Price, fashion outfits like Da Viva, and Tiffany Amber to see if they need models for upcoming fashion shows.
8. Modeling is a career that takes a lot of persistence, because there are thousands who have the same aspirations as you, and since it probably wont pay your bills for a while at least, its a good idea to have a backup plan. A lot of aspiring models work part-time while at the university, and supplement their income with another job like ushering.
9. Take notes from some of fashion’s greatest models like Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks, Cindy Crawford, and Gisele Bundchen who were able to turn their passion for modeling into flourishing business enterprises!
10. While you are yet starting small, it’s a smart idea to think about what else you can do to enhance your modeling career, if you will be going to a university – you may enroll for courses like business administration, fashion and textile design, theatre arts or mass communication. This will give you an edge in the professional world, because education pays! With talent, hard work, and great training, the sky is the limit!
Read More: Mastering the Basics of Modeling
