When most people think of female models they automatically think of supermodels Naomi Campbell, Gisele Bundchen, Kate Moss, Heidi Klum, and Tyra Banks. However, there are many other types of models whose names you wouldn't know but who are making a terrific income working behind the scenes as fit or showroom models, and with commercial clients, manufacturers, suppliers, pharmaceutical companies, airlines, automobile manufactures, fitness companies and many more.
Even if you can't be the next supermodel you'll probably fit into one of these categories of female models:
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•Fashion (Editorial) Model
Fashion models, or what we in the modeling business call, "editorial models" are the high fashion models that you see in fashion magazines such as Vogue, Elle, GQ, W, Harper's Bazaar, i-D Magazine and Numero and who work for top fashion designers Giorgio Armani, Prada, Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Valentino and others.
Female editorial models are generally 5' 9" to 6' 0" tall and are very slim. A female editorial models' measurements are usually - bust 33", waist 23", hips 33".
Agencies will always look at the "complete package" that the model presents when determining whether or not to represent them, so don't be discouraged if you don't meet these stats exactly.
•Runway/Catwalk Model
Female runway/catwalk models are a minimum of 5' 9" but 5' 10" - 5' 11" is even better. Runway models must have precise measurements so they are able to fit the clothes that designers are going to be showing to their clients. Their measurements are usually no greater than 34" - 23" 34".
Designers hire models to fit the clothes they have made for their collections, they don't make the clothes to fit the model - well, not unless you're a supermodel like Naomi Campbell or Coco Rocha.
•Commercial Model
Commercial models can be any age, any size and any height. Hooray! Commercial models can do everything that isn't normally associated with high-fashion, such as product ads (housewares, food products, travel industry, tech devices, and the list goes on).
If you think you'd like to become a commercial model one of the best resources is a book titled "How To Become a Successful Commercial Model" by Aaron Marcus. Click here for more info on Aaron Marcus.
•Plus Size Model
The plus model market has become an important part of the fashion and commercial model industry. Several of the top fashion agencies now have plus size divisions and we've seen many plus supermodels over the past few years.
Plus models are generally determined by size rather than exact measurements, such as size 12 and up. In the real world a size 12 is not considered a plus size, but in the modeling industry it can be.
•Petite Model
Petite models are generally 5' 7" and under. While petite models don't generally do runway work, they are often booked for swimsuit, lingerie, and parts modeling. Since petite models usually have smaller shoe sizes they are popular as foot and also hand models.
•Child Model
What do celebrities Brooke Shields, Jodie Foster, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jennifer Connelly, Natalie Portman and CNN's Anderson Cooper have in common? They were all child models!
The age range for a child model is generally 12 years and under and they can be any size and height.
Agents that represent child models are looking for children with lots of personality and who are able to work well on set and around strangers.
The type of bookings for child models are usually more commercial in nature such print work in catalogs, flyers, and magazine ads. However, there are several top designers with child clothing lines where child models are frequently booked such as Calvin Klein, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Guess.
•Swimsuit/Lingerie Model
Swimsuit and lingerie models are curvier and more voluptuous than editorial models.
There are many opportunities for swimsuit models other than just modeling bikinis. Swimsuit models can model lingerie, undergarments, sleepwear, summer wear, and can also be showroom and fit models, petite models or work as specialty models such as hand, legs and feet models.
•Glamour Model
Glamour models are generally more curvy and voluptuous than editorial fashion models. Glamour models often work as swimsuit and lingerie models as well.
Glamour modeling generally refers to the type of posing the model is doing in her photographs. Glamour modeling is usually more sexually suggestive or alluring than what a fashion model would do and typically geared toward male audiences rather than female. Pinup models and girls who appear in magazines such as Playboy are considered glamour models.
•Fitness Model
Fitness models are models who are very athletic, fit and toned. Many fitness models started out as athletes or trainers and have added fitness modeling to their resumes. In addition to working for fitness companies, supplement manufacturers and athletic wear companies, fitness models are often commercial models as well.•Fit Model
Not to be confused with fitness models, Fit Models are models who work behind the scenes in fashion houses and with garment manufacturers to make sure that sizing and fit are maintained in the clothing manufacturing process.
Garment manufactures require a variety of shapes and sizes of fit models in order to fit their garments properly before they are shipped to the consumer.
You may not have the look that a print model needs or the height of a runway model, but if you can consistently maintain your measurements then a career in fit modeling may be for you.