ROSIE LONDON

Women: female models, elite women models, famous female models

girls, girl models

Female models are all over the world. THere are hundreds and thousands of beautiful, even gorgeous women who believe they can be a model; many can. A lot can't. and some are limited to certain areas. For instance, if the model is over 5' 10" tall, it is a good chance she will be able to cater for some catwalk and run way work. If she is less than 5' 10, she may still be able to do runway in department stores and fashion shows where all the models are shorter, but usually her catwalk work will be limited, therefore catwalk supermodel status is unlikely. She can, however achieve supermodel status in print and commercial work. Many of today's Hollywood stars and super celebrities are very petite and diminutive. When on camera, if there is no point of reference (ie everyone is the same height or shorter), they look a normal or tall height, and are accepted as such; everything is relative on screen and inside the camera. it may only be upon meeting the individual that you realize just how petite they are; though they often have a big personality or talent to compensate!

Modelling was originally a boring job, where the person stood around in outfits for wealthy women to decide what fashions they would like to buy It was not glamorous; the model was suppose to be the typical women, miss average, so women could see the clothes on. A clothes horse, a mannequin, a 36-24-36. Somewhere along the way, the idea became that the more beautiful the model, the more the women would by, seeing themselves reflected in the sight of the model. then they moved onto size - the thin Twiggy look came into style, and the race was on. The race to be the thinnest, richest, youngest. Leading into the 80's and the era of excess and the super model. Millions of little girls dreamed of being a glamorous model someday, with the stick insect figure and the face full of flawless make up, hair as high as an elephant's eye! Eating disorders skyrocketted and everyone wanted to be a 'model'. But what is life as a model like?

Most people think modelling is looking beautiful, being noticed, being famous, going to parties, drinking champagne and having a gay old time. Quite the opposite. A good model avoids parties and lots of drinking if she wants her career to last and improve. A model will often have to fly to another city at a moment's notice, then stand under hot lights all day in an uncomfortable pose, often changing in and out of clothes all day. She will be subject to intense criticism as every designer, casting agent, client and agency picks her flaws to pieces. "Her nose is too big, her hair is not shiny enough, her eyes look bulgy, she's too fat, too thin, too tall, too short, too white, too dark, too ugly, too normal, too tarty, too prudish, she's buck toothed, bow legged, top heavy, short assed, she's the worst choice, she has no personality, she's too boistrous, she's totally wrong.." the list goes on. A model learns to understand they are talking bout her look, and that she as a person is still ok - models need great levels of confidence, self esteem and self worth. She will often be forced to change her hair to a colour or style she hates, for the job. What the client wants the client gets. You're a prop piece. She will be poked, prodded, ordered around, often having to deal with the hateful or bitchy stares of other less confident models in competition with her. Often there is no time for lunch, and on an empty stomach, sun in her eyes, in freezing water, she has to smile and look relaxed and sexy. Sometimes she will be in an awkward position for hours, till her back is aching; she must keep that sweet, angelic, relaxed look on her face.

Photographers may become upset with her if she cannot portray the look he is after, she must cope with this pressure. She is expected to be in a good mood at all times, do as she's told and ask no questions, otherwise she will be considered 'difficult', and will get less work. Unless doing big billboard campaigns or major haute couture work, (high fashion), the pay is not great, and all that effort and work can be just to pay your rent. Sure it looks glamorous to your friends who see you in a magazine and say 'o that's my friend', but they don't know the hell she went through to make that shot. Many models come home and collapse in tears from exhaustion or emotional upset. It is certainly not all fashion celebrities and champagne.. So be sure you want to put yourself though that before you begin - most models start at the bottom and work their way up, 'earning' their names and their careers. others only ever reach a certain level, and that's as high as they will ever go.

And some lucky girls are 5' 11" by the time they are 16, and they are shipped off to Europe as a top fashion model, making huge amounts of money at a young age, strutting the catwalks of Milan, Paris and New York in designer fashions for the masses. This is rare, and getting a name in modeling is even rarer; one must be determined to succeed and push. However there comes a point in every woman's life where she must re-evaluate things, and if she can finally accept she will never really be a huge model, and that's all she wants, then she must let her dream go and move onto something more substantial than modelling. Many girls simply model to put themselves through university or college, then give up, knowing it is a fleeting industry fraught with shallow depths and limited time. These are the smart ones, and occasionally, if she's lucky, she'll become something big. Usually, if you star young and have not been whooshed into the international stream by 28-30, let it go. There is a market for mature models, of course, but if your dream is of a big name, it ain't gonna happen after 20-something. If you're happy to earn an average to modes wage modeling for whatever commercial needs are required, part time, then you could have a long and enjoyable local modeling career.