Answering a Reader Question #791

Anonymous Wrote:

hi, dania! thank you for this blog, it's helpful for us, inexperienced models. anyways, i'm going to ask a few questions. firstly, what does 'the exception' means? like what happened to kate moss. secondly, do models need to have a clear skin? lastly, what do you think in the fashion world will happen in a few years? that's all, thanks! hope you're having a great day. xx

Hi there, Anonymous!

You are super welcome, I continue to be thrilled and motivated that my blog has been of such help to everyone who has come across it!

Great questions, let's see if I can get you some answers. :-)

"Exceptions to the rule" like Kate Moss are rare instances where an individual is embraced by the modeling industry, despite not meeting certain physical requirements that are applied to the norm. In Kate Moss's case, it was her height that made her the exception to the rule, since we all know that the "ideal" fashion/runway model is at least 5'8" - 5'9" in height.

Looking back at the situation now, though, I realize that her height wasn't that big of a deal because at age 14, many fashion agencies lower the height requirement for younger models because they know there's a realistic chance that the model will grow taller as she gets older. But it seems in Kate's case, she didn't get any taller BUT what helped propel her to supermodel status despite her height is the fact that she was discovered by the founder of one of the most reputable and popular modeling agencies in the UK, Sarah Doukas of Storm Model Management.

When you've got someone like that who plucks you out of obscurity and pulls all the strings to get you shoots with famous photographers and onto the covers of huge publications, it's pretty easy to see why the modeling world fell in love with Kate and why she continued to lead a thriving fashion modeling career even though she didn't end up growing to standard runway height.

 Additionally, what Kate Moss possesses that contributes to the "exception to the rule" is that she had the "IT" factor. If she sucked as a model, I doubt her career would have gone any farther--this happens a lot. A model can have a great look but if they're not good at what they do, if they just don't "get it," or if they don't have that "IT" factor that makes people want to pay attention to them, there isn't anything that can be done to fix that. Kate is clearly a force in front of the camera and on the runway, which, love her or loathe her, made her a prominent figure in the industry. You can't teach someone that "IT" factor, some people have it and others don't.

This applies to non-models as well. You know those people who everyone just seems to naturally gravitate to? It might be their looks, with for others it might be their personality, their infectious sense of humor or the way they connect with people. Those are all examples of "IT" factors and Kate had the kind that it takes to be successful in what is known as a difficult industry to achieve long lasting success in.

To answer your second question, a clear and healthy complexion is ideal for models of all categories. This doesn't translate to you needing to have "perfect" skin, however. Models have skin issues like acne, breakouts, pimples, stretch marks, etc. These are the norm for models and non-models alike and agencies and clients know that this is a common thing. But because a model's face is his/her money maker, that means being diligent about skin care and developing a regimen that has your complexion at its best, as well as knowing what to do when it's not having such a great day. I know of models who suffered from acne but took the steps needed to improve their skin and have been able to continue modeling as a result. Take care of your skin and it will improve your modeling odds greatly. I always recommend getting your skin at its best before submitting to agencies or attending open calls, that way you feel genuinely confident going in.

For the last question, that's a bit of a toughie. The height issue will always continue to be an issue and I don't think we'll be seeing a huge wave of petite models on the runways in the same way as their taller counterparts anytime soon. But I do see many models learning to become their own brands and venture out to dominate other aspects of the entertainment world, which I think is fantastic. They'e like mini moguls and many are every day, working models like myself.

The fashion world is all about tradition and they've worked hard to keep things from changing dramatically so I honestly don't see much of a big wave of change hitting that arena. Unless the people at the top suddenly shift their views, or until they get replaced by people who have a different perspective, I think we're going to see more of the same. There will continue to be great designers and amazing fashions but I don't think there will be a big change in the status quo as far as models go, especially in terms of height and ethnic diversity. I try to be optimistic about being wrong but the proof is in the pudding so I'll believe in the change when I see it on a consistent basis, to the point where it's no longer considered "breaking news" when the fashion world reflects diversity and it instead becomes a completely normal part of the industry. One can hope, right?