The Model's Handbook

So you want to be a model?

I've lived and breathed the modelling industry for over thirty years, and have always loved it and the wonderful opportunities it offers. My career as a model began in the seventies; I was fortunate that it was a long and successful one, preparing me well for my subsequent career running Giant Management, one of Melbourne's top model agencies. I've been stimulated, disappointed and frustrated at times, but also richly rewarded by the friends I've made and the excitement of travelling to beautiful locations.

Before you go any further, ask yourself why you want to be a model. Is it the glamour, the recognition, the huge amounts of money you imagine you'll make?

Well, here's the reality. It isn't really glamorous – it's hard work. A fashion model has to model summer clothes in winter, posing at the end of a pier in light summer clothes with an arctic chill whipping around him or her. Holding poses for a long time with the cold creeping into your bones definitely isn't fun – and no amount of hot drinks and long hot showers seems to thaw you out. You might have to lie on cold, wet sand on a beach in swimwear, waiting for the sun to rise so the photographer can capture the beautiful dawn light, all the while expressing warmth and sensuality. Some models prefer that, however, to modelling winter clothes in summer – wearing heavy layers on a 40°C day, gasping for air, sweat pouring off them, make-up melting down their faces and stinging their eyes. There's a definite buzz to runway work, television commercials and location shoots, but if you thought it was going to be easy, think again.

As for recognition, well, everyone wants to attain that: I've met many girls and boys who want to be supermodels. But take a minute to consider how many models there are in the world. The number who achieve supermodel status is tiny. A successful and fulfilling modelling career may result in very little or no fame at all.

The really big money, too, is made by a few models at the top of the game – though lesser mortals can undoubtedly make a great living if they work hard.

Modelling is a complex, multi-layered and interesting business. You have to be physically fit to handle the taxing demands on your body, and mentally strong enough to handle the regular rejection you'll face. You can't let it get you down when someone else lands the job you thought you were perfect for. You must also constantly hone your skills, learn new techniques and reinvent yourself.

So, you still want to be a model? Let's look briefly at the basic requirements.