Modeling & Acting 101 - A Model/Actor's Diary

As much as I love educating others about the modeling industry and everything it embodies, I do have to warn you about being so free with your knowledge--especially when you start your agency search. There may be times when what you know can work against you. It may sound strange to read this but modeling agencies get uncomfortable when a model knows "too much." Do they want their models to be dumb? Definitely not but it's very intimidating for them when a model potential knows just as much if not more than they do. Why is that? I'm not exactly sure but it varies from case to case. I recently spoke with a fellow model friend of mine who just got signed to her first agency after being freelance for a while. She's pretty savvy about the business and has her head on straight so she knew no one was going to run any game on her. While talking about contract terms, her agent mentioned a topic (I can't recall what it was though) that was verbally promised to h...

This post will best serve models over 18. Younger models will not have to deal with the following topics due to their age and the law. When it comes to what type of modeling you will or will not do, just know that no one will force you to do anything, especially your agent if you have one. When you get signed to an agency, you will be asked what type of work you will do and what you won't do. This may be a hard copy form with boxes you have to check or you may be asked to do it online for your profile. The modeling you'll be asked about includes but is not limited to: - Alcohol - Cigarettes - Fur - Nude - Glamor/Implied Nudity You will never be submitted for work that you have explicitly stated you will not do. So any worries you may have about turning down work or disappointing your agent will not be an issue in this case. This is one of the rare instances where your own personal/moral/ethical beliefs will be taken into consideration. With that being said, think h...

This is in response to Anonymous, who posted the following comment on my post "The Runway Walk": Anonymous said... Hey I was wondering..I am really young and wanted to get started in the modeling business but doesn't know how?. Also, is there any way you can become a model without spending any money? To answer your first question about how to get started, check out this post I did about the very subject: Where Do You Start? To answer your second question, you can definitely get started in modeling without throwing away a load of money. First, since you are young and inexperienced, agencies will not expect or require you to have a professional portfolio with photos. Just take regular snapshots of yourself according to what photos they ask for. When you sign with an agency that is legit, there are no upfront fees or anything like that so you're still in the clear when it comes to not spending money. However, it is normal for an agency to require you to pay for ...

So it's been a looooong time coming, but I am happy to announce that my professional and official Dania Denise website is now live! I worked with a great graphic designer and I am very happy with the new layout and I'm sure you'll be happy to see newer photos, learn more about myself and enjoy the cool Flash features we've all come to know and love. Check me out at: DaniaDenise.com

So I just wanted to make a quick post to address a few things. For some time now my blog has enjoyed a lot of traffic from devoted readers and those who just happen to come across it. Lately I’ve been in the habit of Googling my blog and related search terms (keywords) to see where it pops up, who has been using the content and who has mentioned it in other websites, forums, etc. While it’s been really fun to see others cite my blog posts in order to pass on my information to others, I have also found that many who mention my blog or myself are putting out statements that aren’t just inaccurate…they’re just plain wrong. I know more than anyone how one person’s statement about you can affect others, whether intentional or not, so to clarify some of the inaccuracies I have seen in regards to myself and my blog, I wanted to get a couple of things straightened out: 1) For the record, I am 5’4”. NOT 5’3” or any other height that I’ve seen people claim I am on the Web. One inch may not seem ...

A common question that I get from model hopefuls has to do with the concept of pursuing a modeling career as well as school. Others worry that their parents won't approve of them doing both and many wonder if it's even possible to do so. So can someone do modeling and still go to school? To keep the answer to this question simple: YES, YES, and YES!!! HIGH SCHOOL While I do strongly encourage education and not putting studies on the back burner, that doesn't mean that the two can't coexist because they can but it's up to you to make it work. There are plenty of high school students who also model part-time. Any modeling agency acknowledges that school is important and they will work around your school schedule. If you're wondering how often you'll need to miss class, that all depends on what type of model you are. Needless to say if you're a fashion/runway model and are always traveling and are high in demand, chances are you'll have to st...