What does a promotional model do?

What are the requirements to become a model?

• Hi I'm 12 and I'm a girl. Would a 12 year old be able to become a model? This is what I look like: I'm half Japanese, quarter welsh and quarter Australian. I have dark brown hair with unnatural caramel streaks. My eyes are dark brown and my skin is olive. Do you think I would be pretty enough to become a model? Also I'm 1m 50cm and 32B in bra size so you can image the size of my busts cause I don't know my bust size any way. Would that fit the requirements of being a model? And what are the requirements of being a model? So to sum it up these are my questions: 1. Is 12 ok to start modeling at? 2. Am I pretty enough to model? 3. Does my height, bust etc fit the requirements of being a model? 4. What are the requirements of being a model? Thanks :) sorry about all the questions.

• Answer:

  If you're serious about modeling you should look for places that offer lessons in modeling because they will know what type of modeling you are suited for (if any). They can also help you to get modeling jobs and introduce you to agencies. Now to answer your questions... 1. Companies need models of all ages. Look at a department store's website. You will see babies modeling baby clothes and women in their 50's modeling clothing designed for older women. If you're talking runway: at age 12 you could walk the runway for children's clothing lines but not big name designers like Chanel, Christian Dior, etc. 2. One person's idea of pretty can be very different from others. Also, there are many successful models who aren't your standard idea of "pretty". It doesn't matter whether or not you're society's definition of pretty because you'll have the look that someone if looking for. Your race also doesn't matter because companies use models of all races to advertise their products. I would suggest getting rid of the unnatural caramel steaks. People/companies hiring child models want them to have a very natural look. Dye your hair your natural color to cover the highlights(this is your choice of course, but it's what any modeling coach or agent will tell you to do.) 3. I tried to convert your height to feet and it looks like you're just under 5 feet tall. If you're average height for someone your age then your height is ok for child modeling. Unfortunately, at 12 years old and 5 feet tall I highly doubt you'll ever be tall enough to model as an adult. You'll likely only grow a few more inches. The standard minimum height for runway is 5'8". Catalog modeling allows you to be a bit shorter but probably a minimum if 5'6" or 5'7". The only potential problem I see for you modeling right now is your bust size. I believe most girls your age are an A cup, not a B cup. Having larger breasts is generally considered a good thing in daily life but not so much in modeling. Especially with child modeling, the company you're modeling for wants you to look very average and not have anything about your body(like large breasts) stand out. If modeling is your dream I would still pursue it, though. 4. There is no set list of requirements for modeling(other than height and sizing requirements that apply more to modeling as an adult). The most important thing is to know what to do with yourself. I mean knowing what angles make you look best, how to express emotion with your face, etc. I hope you know that becoming a model isn't as easy as just wanting it. If you're very serious about this I suggest looking for places near you that offer classes in modeling. Try looking for acting schools as they usually offer modeling programs. Good luck and I hope you succeed.