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

Category: Etiquette For: Male & Female Models This may make me seem like a stickler but as I always say, it's in the details! I personally and professionally do not like chewing gum--mainly because it becomes such a bad habit that most people forget they're doing it...namely when attending castings, go-sees and shoots. It just looks so unprofessional (I can't help but think of cows chewing grass whenever I see someone actively smacking on their gum). I can't tell you the number of times I've seen models called out on this habit by clients...pretty embarrassing. I got out of gum chewing a long time ago and highly favor mints (Tic Tacs are my drug of choice, lol). They're small and I can easily chew and swallow it at the last minute while still having fresh breath. So my advice, carry a tin of mints with you when going to modeling gigs if you're concerned about your breath. If you just have to chew gum, only do so afterwards when business is taken ...

Anonymous Wrote: hey dania im feeling insecure about my back i work out like crazy and diet but the fat on my back won't budge im losing inches every where else im really frustrated and i dont know what to do. in regards to a bikini i look OK from the front what do i do because i want my small pockets of back fat gone. im 5'4'' measurements are 31.5 D, 26.5 and 36.5 im african american i dont know if that will help but im really frustrated with my body please help me  Hi, Anonymous! I can definitely hear the frustration in your words and am sorry you have to deal with such an issue. It's good that you are physically active and watch what you eat. Are you performing exercises that are designed to workout the back area where your pockets of fat are? General exercise alone won't be enough. Check out the link below from the site LiveStrong.com, which lists specific exercises for getting rid of back fat: How to Get Rid of Back Fat Rolls With Exercise Genetic...

Anonymous Wrote: If I get signed with Ford or Elite, do I have to move to NYC? What if I can't afford to live there, but get signed with them? Also, if it doesn't work out, is Wilhelmina of PA and other "branch" agencies a scam? Or is it a safe starting point as a model? I have looked at their models and I am much skinnier and taller than a lot of them, which concerns me...aren't all fashion models generally around the same size? Finally, I am concerned about having dance experience...I saw an interview and apparently Adriana, Candice, and Lindsay were all very talented dancers before they began modeling. Thanks!  Hi, Anonymous! Let's jump into your questions! Ford and Elite have offices all over the country. Whichever city/state you apply to is the city/state where you will work. So if you send in your pictures or attend a casting for Ford or Elite in NYC and get signed by either, then you will have to work in that market. Oftentimes models that get sig...

Blackberry Confessions Wrote: I know this is an old post however, I stumbled upon your page and thought maybe you have answered a question I’ve asked everyone I’ve come across. Last year May 17th I got into a car accident and now I have a noticeable scar on my upper left forehead. It’s been a year and I’ve done quite a few shows, some with my scar covered and a few with it out.. I’m 5'8-5'9 (I get told different all the time) 120 lbs love Runway. I returned to nyc in hopes of trying to eliminate free shows from my roster and start only taking on paid assignments. Now I consistently question if I even have a fighting chance? what do you think ?  Hi, Blackberry Confessions (great name, btw)! I think you're psyching yourself out and analyzing your situation too much, which can throw you off your game. From what you've written, it sounds like you have more than a fighting chance and have already established yourself as a working runway model. Even though you have the ...

Anonymous Wrote: Hey- I'm 5'6, have good curves (34C, 26" waist, 35" hips) natural blonde hair and blue eyes. I was looking into Victorias Secret but I am too short. Do you know of any fields that demand models with curves (probably swimsuit) but the height requirement is lower? I'm also 21 and have never modeled before, just kinda curious. Thanks!  Hi, Anonymous! In general, swimwear, lingerie and glamor modeling has open height requirements so you should definitely look into any of those. There are some agencies that specialize in swimwear and fitness modeling but these are not divisions that all agencies represent. In many instances, models that pursue swimwear, lingerie and glamor do it freelance, which means they act as their own agent and find their own work. This also means the need to have a professional portfolio put together in order to submit yourself to gigs. It's a more challenging route but if you can manage to find an agency with the rig...

Anonymous Wrote: Hi there :) I'm a new reader to your blog so I'm catching up on your posts. I apologize if something similar has already been posted. I have been interested in modeling for years, however I always prioritized my academics so I've graduated from high school and graduated from college, afterwards I got pregnant (whoops) and now that my daughter is over a year old (and I am going to be 25 in a couple months) I have really been looking into modeling. I want to pursue my dream before it really is too late. It seems like so many girls start before they're even out of high school nowadays. Do you think 25 years old is too late to start a modeling career? And do you have any advice for someone getting "late start"?  Hi, Anonymous! No problem...I've got a lot of posts so it can be difficult to find exactly what you're looking for. :-) 25 isn't too old to start modeling if you pursue commercial/print. Fashion agency models u...

Anonymous Wrote: Hi I have stretchmarks in my lower back, hips and breasts. They are pretty noticeable. I saw that you mentioned you also had stretchmarks so I wanted to know what you do to cover them up. Especially for fittings and fashion shows? I live in Miami where most of the work is bikini. Thx Hi, Anonymous, and thanks for the question! The fastest solutions include body makeup and spray tanning. Sometimes getting a spray tan can help but it won't make the stretch marks completely disappear, although it helps create a more uniform skin color. So those are your two main options. Dermablend is one of the most widely used brands of body makeup that you can find online and in certain stores. Get a sample and see what kind of coverage it offers for the areas you want to hide your stretchmarks. Hope that helps and good luck!

I was very happy to get a big envelope in the mail today from the company Omnicell, which is a medical supply business that I did a shoot for a little while ago (see my post, "Latest Shoot: Omnicell Product Shoot" ). I'm sure you've heard me talk about how hard it is to get copies of photos from photographers sometimes--nonetheless tearsheets from clients--so receiving these tearsheets definitely made my day! The images from the shoot I did were used for Omnicell's marketing material, brochures and fliers. I believe they may also appear on the company website, but that's not for sure. Below are the actual marketing materials my photos are in, which I scanned. I have the hard copies resting comfortably in my portfolio book. :-)

Anonymous Wrote: Any tips for having white teeth in photos all the time? thanks for all the advice!!  Hi, Anonymous! You're very welcome! The easy answer to your question is: Photoshop. LOL. Not all models have perfectly brilliant and white teeth. Before any professional image is published, the photographer or whoever is in charge of retouching the selected images uses Photoshop to make the model's teeth appear whiter or whatever other changes need to be made. So you don't really have to worry about that. The more involved answer is to simply turn to any of the at-home teeth whitening products that can be purchased at your local drugstore. Of course using these products too much can be more harmful than helpful so whichever type of teeth whitening kit you end up buying, make sure to follow the instructions and only use it for the amount of time suggested.

Anonymous Wrote: Hi Dania! Next summer I am going to be in New York for a school program. I thought that I would be able to go to open calls during my free days. Do you know which NY agencies have open calls? Thanks!  Hey there, Anonymous! Below are the agencies in NY that have open calls...all the others request email, regular mail or electronic form submissions: BMG Models http://www.bmgmodels.com Open call for our New York office is every Thursday between 3pm – 3:30pm. Please call the New York office for more details at 212.279.6800 Ford Models New York http://www.fordmodels.com Monday - Friday 2pm - 4pm Specifications: Age 13 and Up Women: 5’8” - 5’11” Men: 6' - 6'2" Fusion Model Management http://www.fusionnyc.com Open Calls are Friday's from 3-4pm MSA Models http://www.modelserviceagency.com Open Call: Held every Tuesday between 10:00-10:30 a.m. Request Model Management http://www.requestmodels.com Open call: Wednesdays (11am-12p...

Anonymous Wrote: How long does it usually take to get a response? Will I get one even if it's a no? Hey, Anonymous! It varies but typically it takes anywhere from 2-6 weeks to hear back, if not sooner. Unfortunately, because agencies are very busy and get many submissions, they do not have the time to go through and reply back to every single submission they get. So if an agency isn't interested, you simply won't hear back from them. However, in most cases, you're allowed to resubmit your information after six months to one year to see if your look is in demand at that point in time.

Anonymous Wrote: Hi! This is anna again! You said i had potential and they might be willing to overlook the slight height issue; I am currently filling out info for Ford and Elite, my question is, what kind of pose should i do for the pictures? It asks for a 3/4 profile shot, shoulder up, waist up, and full length. Should I be smiling, or attempting to appear like a professional model? Also, would it be bad to send in for both at the same time, or should I just do one, see what happens, then try the second? Finally, if it doesn't work out, which agency would you suggest as a backup plan? Thanks again so much for your help!! You are honestly the help I needed to pursue this dream! Hi, Anna! If you're filling out the info for the model submission on Ford's website, there is actually a part of the application that shows photo examples of what kind of pictures they want. There is also this link on the site that goes into more detail about how your pictures should look: F...

Anonymous Wrote: Hi Dania! I had a question about model searches. When the people interviewing you ask you to just "tell us about yourself", what kind of information are they looking for? Thanks so much!  Hi, Anonymous! Your question is actually very similar to one I already answered recently. Check out this other Reader Question post for your answer: Answering a Reader Question #171

Anonymous Wrote: Hi dania can you do a post about sunscreen. I have oily skin and I'm having trouble finding sunscreen for my skin. Also could you include how to re-apply sunscreen when you have makeup on according to the sunscreen bottle it has to be applied every 80min how do you do that with foundation and powder on. I'm curious when looking at someone are you able to tell if they were sunscreen or not like can you tell if the environment/lifestyle has affected their skin. thank you Hi, Anonymous! Great questions, especially since summer is in full swing. I would recommend using a separate sunscreen product for your face and body. It'll be more challenging to find the right product for your complexion compared to your body, though since the skin on our faces is much more sensitive in general compared to the rest of our body. When shopping for sunscreen for your face, make sure you look for a product that specifically states on the label that it's formula...

Anonymous Wrote: great photos i have to say. but i had a question. i hope you dont take this offensively but i needed to ask just in case it happens to me because i have always been scared that the same issue will affect me. i noticed in picture of you in the blue dress that your breasts look, and again excuse me for saying this, almost flat and kind of flappy. now i know as we get older gravity takes toll on womens breast and it is so unattractive-how do we prevent this "flappy" look. because even though the picture is gorgeous, in reality it was the first thing i noticed Hey, Anonymous! Don't worry, no offense taken...in fact, I actually laughed out loud when I read your comment. To be honest, this isn't an issue with designers, nor should it be something that you should worry about when it comes to your breasts. I am a 34B, which is considered fairly small-breasted and when it comes to fashion, specifically runway shows, the smaller the bust, the better....

I can't help but be tickled by the emails I receive from aspiring models sometimes. There's two extremes that I typically come across: the first are those that are so passionate, hyped up, intense and definitely driven to jump right into the modeling industry and take on the world. The second extreme group of individuals share the same excited feelings but are very worried, overwhelmed and even appear to suffer from anxiety attacks just thinking about what pursuing modeling will be like and all the territory that comes with it. I can totally read it in their words. Emails flooded with questions such as, "What do I do if [x, y, z] happens?" "What if I run out of poses?" "What'll happen if I'm walking down the runway and I bust out laughing?" "What if I don't do a good enough job?" Sometimes I just want to reach out, give them a hug and tell them it's going to be okay. :-) To all the anxiety-ridden questions I will s...

Category: Posing For: Male & Female Models Models, be mindful when using your eyes to look sideways in a pose. Looking too far off to the side will photograph as if you have no pupils (i.e. demonic, lol). When you feel the need to look off to the side for a particular shot, pick a spot to look at that's a few inches (left or right) away from where the camera is instead of looking at it straight on.

Another day, another shoot! My latest project was for a national hair campaign for a company called NSG, which makes high end hair extensions...and it's the good stuff! LOL. The shoot took place at the photographer's studio in Oakland, CA. My call time for makeup and hair was 9:30am. There were three models total, including myself and the cool thing was that each of us got our own hair stylist to put in the extensions. There was one makeup artist and I loved how she did my makeup. I got that done first then I was sent to get my hair prepped. The company's rep, who was also the person that chose us for the shoot, was there in the role of Creative Director. She basically worked with the photographer, Curtis Jermany, to make sure that he captured the images NSG wanted for its website, marketing materials and other printed items for showcasing the product. I had to get most of my hair braided into cornrows for them to attach the extensions and the lady who did the braid...

Emilie Rose Wrote: Hi, do you know of any reputable agencies in the Pittsburgh or nearby areas?  Hi, Emilie! Below are agencies in the PA area that you'll want to check out: PITTSBURGH, PA Docherty Model & Talent Agency http://www.dochertyagency.com The Talent Group http://www.talentgroup.com PHILADELPHIA, PA Expressions Modeling and Talent Agency, Inc. http://www.expressionsmodels.com Reinhard Model & Talent Agency http://www.reinhardagency.com

This is my first official video reply and for some reason the audio is out of sync. As I get more familiar with the whole vlogging thing, I'll make sure to work out the kinks so bear with me!

Remember that blog post I did where I mentioned I'd be sharing some fun videos that were shot during one of my shoots? Well, here you go! These were two completely impromptu, unscripted interviews by the owner/photographer of T.I.L. Darling - The Online Boutique. This was his first time working with a model for his store and he's pretty fascinated by my profession and whether us models really do fit the stereotypes, LOL! Just some fun stuff and a nice break in between shooting that day. We're actually in early pre-production for a short web series that deals with the search for the next face of T.I.L. Should everything turn out according to plan, I'll make sure to give you guys the dish on that project. Until then, check out my videos and enjoy!

Category: Makeup For: Female Models & Male Models (Occasionally) Never assume the makeup artist at your shoot has your foundation color. To save time and effort, bring your foundation with you and ask the makeup artist if they want to use it. If you don't already have your own foundation, buy some! Male and female models alike have to wear makeup for shoots so don't take the chance of sporting a shade that doesn't quite match and make sure you've got the color that you know works. For the best results, have a professional makeup artist at the store match your shade for you--never just buy a color off the counter or at the drugstore. While drugstore foundation brands are great for daily wear, you'll want to invest in the good stuff for your professional modeling jobs.

Anonymous Wrote: The question is. Do you have a YouTube account?  Hi, Anonymous! The answer is "yes." I have a YouTube account and even my own channel! Below is the link: Dania Denise's YouTube Channel

FutureModel Wrote: Hello dania! quick question. how would having naturally kinky hair effect my image in modeling?  Hi, FutureModel! The "natural" look is actually very "in" for models--obviously for those that are models of color especially. So in a sense, your current hairstyle wouldn't have a negative effect on your image overall and could actually put you ahead of other models because you're sporting a look that is in demand. However, you may have to deal with having your hair straightened or styled in different ways for certain shoots, shows or projects. So be aware of that possibility. In most cases you'll be asked if you are comfortable with such changes to your hair. If not, they'll work within your comfort zone or they may simply not book you because they're looking for someone that doesn't mind changing things up with their hair. It varies from gig to gig.