Steps You Can Take to Become a Fashion Model

So you want to be a model? The cool clothing, creative posing, hair and makeup styling—we don’t blame you. But modeling is a job, and it requires professionalism, patience, perseverance and a positive attitude.

Photo by Michael McDaniel

How can you get your foot in the door to score fashion modeling jobs?

1. Believe In Yourself

A good model has confidence—lots of it. It shines through in photographs with natural posing and a genuine smile. Having confidence means feeling good in your own skin and being proud of the individual you are. This self-assurance allows you to get excited about modeling everything from cocktail dresses to bikinis.

2. Embrace Who You Are

One nice thing about 2020? Long overdue, the modeling industry is finally embracing diversity like never before—hallelujah! Now we’re seeing models of all different body shapes, skin colors, ages, abilities—even heights! That means you don’t have to look like Gisele Bündchen’s twin sister to make a career out of modeling. Dream big and it can happen.

3. Set Up Styling Sessions

To an outsider, it may seem like modeling is just about looking good, but it takes talent. Models are used to sell products and to try to evoke a feeling through their pose, voice, strut, etc. Models may be asked to use props or pose on their own and showcase everything from swimwear to denim to make it look luxurious, sexy, fun to wear, feminine, etc.

Before you get professional experience, set up some camera time with friends—or a real photographer. Learn what positions and expressions look good and how you can move your body in a way that best displays what you’re wearing.  When you do attend castings, agents will be impressed with how in-tune you are with your body and how you’ve worked on polishing your poses.

4. Put Your Name Out There

You might hear “No” a discouraging number of times before you start to hear “Yes.” But don’t give up! That doesn’t mean you can’t take control of your own fashion modeling path.

Set up at least three social channels—Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are good options.

Build your social personality and turn creating content into a second job. If it’s something you commit to and something you’re good at, you’ll start gaining followers, sponsored content opportunities and—cha-ching!—money.

The experience will also lead you to one of the following happy endings:

1. You’ll find you actually don’t like showing off and taking selfies as much as you thought and rule out a modeling path, creating time to find something you’re more passionate about.
2. You decide modeling would be awesome and pursue it while building connections along the way.
3. Or you settle on an in-between and increase your social media activity while working as your own “agent.”

Either way it’s a dream-chasing win-win!