Modeling 101 - Answering Reader Questions

Anonymous Wrote: Hi Dania, how soon after signing with an agency can one expect to go on castings. I'm curious because I'm a new model and I signed with an agency in NYC 3 months ago and materials like pics started coming in this month and my online portfolio is done, and I'm waiting on the pics for two pictures in my hard copy portfolio to be done. Also my comp cards should be here in a month. I'm just wondering I'm also signed to their commercial/lifestyle and acting division. I'm curious what's the normal waiting period and what is too long where I should be concerned about them putting an effort to really market me:) Hey, Anonymous! The sooner a model's marketing materials (headshot, comp card, portfolio, etc.) is in place, that sooner the agency can begin submitting them to open calls and castings because the whole package would be in place. In your case, it seems it's taking a while for those materials to get set up, which is

Anonymous Wrote: Hi! I'm 18 years old and i have white stretch marks.I'm not even overweight.I would like to know is it possible that stretch marks get less visible if i work out?If i use oil and if i do some exercises how much can stretch marks disappear in procents? Hi, Anonymous! Sadly, treating stretch marks doesn't work that way. If your stretch marks are white in color, that means they're older and have been there for a couple of years. Working out and using oils won't make much of an impact on their appearance because in order to affect the stretch marks, action would have to occur in the middle layer of the skin called the dermis, which is where stretch marks live. At best you can try being diligent about applying products like cocoa butter on a daily basis so that you can prevent any new ones from appearing in the area.

Anonymous Wrote: i have 16 years and my height is 175cm, weight 54kg and i have white stretch marks...i think i got them like 3 or 4 years ago and they weren't noticeable till now..i have them on my butt and i have some on my knee but they don't have any color they are like lines.. now i started to use some products for stratch marks ..and i want to know is it possible to disappear??? i will try everything it doesn't matter how it cost . please help me! Hey there, Anonymous! Stretch marks never (sadly) just disappear 100%. As a beauty and healthcare writer, I've written and researched this topic a lot over the years. At most, the best you can do is treat the stretch marks to make them appear less noticeable. Trust me, if there was a way to make them completely disappear, I would have mentioned that info in my blog post about the subject. Topical products like the kind you mentioned don't make them disappear...they merely cause them to lighten or fa

Anonymous Wrote: I'm 13 almost 14, I'm getting braces soon never really thought about modeling but people say I have great potenial.. I think it would be awesome to model.. I have contacts and have medium brown hair and brown eyes I'm about 5'2' or so and I weigh about 110.. do you think I've got a chance? Hi, Anonymous! I don't know what you actually look like based off your brief description and I'm not an agent so I technically can't tell you if you have a shot. However, what I can tell you is that at your age and height you'll want to look into agencies that represent teen models. Even though not all agencies will sign a model with braces, the fact that you're still young and are about to get your braces could work in you favor. This is because when it comes to braces, agencies don't want to represent a model who is about to have their braces removed because it means redoing the headshots and building a new portfolio to re

Erik T Wrote: Hello I was just wondering what the average female and male model makes when they are not particularly famous. Also what how much does a model really get paid when they go and do a commercial/print, and runway show. Thank You -Erik T Hey, Erik T! According to labor studies done on the subject, the average working model makes about $30,000 - $40,000/year. So basically the equivalent of working a traditional full-time job. However, unless a model is able to book consistently paying work, that actual amount is probably a lot less...more like $17,000. The pay rates for print shoots varies from client to client and budget to budget. Same goes for runway shows. There are no set rates that everyone goes by. It's not an ideal answer to this frequently asked question but that's the reality of it. The more reputable/well known the client is, the bigger the budget will typically be but that's not always the case. For example, I've attended castings for p

Anonymous Wrote: DANIA!!!! I was wondering if you could help me with learning to have good male runway walk. Maybe a video. Thanks! -Thom BTW- You have been a HUGE help! Hey there, Anonymous! I love your enthusiasm, lol. :-D Finding credible video tutorials for male models to help them with their runway walk is hard to find but below is a blog post I did with a video embedded that shows a top fashion show with male models: Helpful Tutorial for Learning the Runway Walk (ignore the first link in the post...that's a tutorial for female models, you'll want to pay attention to the video in the body of the actual post). Here is also a link to a more recent 2010 Versace show that is better quality and clearly shows the ways that the different male models walk on the runway: Versace Colección Hombre Primavera Verano 2010 A few notes about the male model runway walk:  Unlike female models, you'll be walking with your feet side by side and spaced ap

Anonymous Wrote: Hi Dania, I have a question. I'm really frustrated with my body. I'm thin/toned everywhere but my back. It's like my body won't release the fat there. It's like I have small pockets of fat behind my breast on my upper back. My arms are thin. Anyway it's annoying because I exercise and try to eat healthy most of the time. Plus I'm not over weight and my measurements are small. I'm 5'4'' 124lbs and 31d,25,35 and I wear size small shirts. I also do exercises that focus on my back as well. I realize I'm a commercial print model so it won't matter too much but my back fat really bothers me. I'm nervous too because my agency requires all models regardless of division to bring bikini's to castings and I would feel super self conscious if I had to show my back to a casting director. I'm just irritated with my body.  Hi, Anonymous! I'm sorry that you're having those kind of body

Shayla Wrote: Hey Dania! I recently came across your blog looking for tips for an open call and you can be sure I'll be looking on this blog daily, it's great! Okay, so I have a few questions plus I'll tell you a bit about myself: I'm 19, between 5''7 and 5''8, African American Irish and Portuguese, I have naturally green eyes, I am naturally very skinny (very fast metabolism haha) my measurements are 34C, 24, 34 and I currently live in New Jersey on the shore, but if I get signed to an agency I have a place already set up in NY that I can live with a family member. Oh, and tomorrow (the 12th) Wilhelmina is holding an open call that I am going to, which is why I'm asking even though you won't answer in time. And my main goal is to be a Victoria Secret model haha. Okay, so my questions: -for future reference since i won't be able to use it at this casting call: i have short black hair but i have worn wigs for a few years now a

Matthew Wrote: Dania, I am looking to become a male model. I just graduated from high school and I am 18 years old. I know I have all the specs to be a male model, including the brains and mindset. I live in the medium sized city of Tallahassee in North Florida. I don't think there are any model agencies here, but I was just wondering were should I start. Also I am starting college in the fall. Also do you think it would be possible to have a part time job go to school and be a model? Thanks! -Matthew  Hi, Matthew, thanks for the questions! Are you planning on attending college in Tallahassee or another part of Florida? Unfortunately, there aren't really any legit/reputable agencies within a 2 hour's drive from where you live. The main hot spot for that market is the Miami/Miami Beach area. It's only advisable to submit to agencies in those areas if you're willing to relocate. Being too far away lessens your chance of gaining interest from an

Anonymous Wrote: Hi Dania, I'm not sure if the answer is written somewhere already, but I'm curious to know who represents you now, or are you freelance? Also, what agencies have represented you in the past? Thanks! Hi there, Anonymous! I have shared this information in previous blog posts but I have so many that I don't blame you for asking instead of spending who knows how long trying to find the answer yourself, lol. I have always been agency represented in my career and am currently signed to Scout Management in San Francisco, California. However, I also freelance. Below are the names of the agencies in the past that used to represent me for modeling and acting work: - Talent Plus (my first agent when I was 15) - Generations Model & Talent - Ford Models - Models, Inc. (my last agent before the one I'm currently with now)

Erik T Wrote: Dear Dania, I am an inspiring male model. When I was younger I got into a skiing accident and ended up breaking my right clavicle. After it healed the clavicle bone was slightly poking out, not totally noticible. My question for you is if you think this affect my future career? Thank you -Erik T Hey, Erik! Ouch...I can't even imagine how much that injury must have hurt! The good news is that if the clavicle bone is not obviously noticeable (i.e. if you have to point it out to people in order for them to notice it), I don't believe it would hinder your future modeling career in the slightest. :-)

Thompson Wrote: Dania, I have few questions. First my nostrils are different sizes, would that have a bad affect? Because I hope to be a model. Also I have a couple moles on my face, their not gross, hairy ones, just darkish freckles that I have always thought would help me because of one being in between my right eye and eyebrow, and another in the center of my right cheek. Also, what about body moles? Thank You Hi, Thompson! I would think having different size nostrils would be difficult in terms of modeling, especially if it's really noticeable. As a model, your face is undoubtedly going to be the most photographed part of your whole body and the measures it would take to retouch the nostril size difference in Photoshop would be a bit more time consuming, compared to airbrushing out a pimple or something of that nature. Again, that's only IF it's super noticeable to the average person. If the actual difference is small, you could get away with no one being