Answering a Reader Question #206

Jessika Wrote:

Dania,
Hello.. My name is Jessika, I'm from Florida and I have always dreamed of being a Victoria Secret Model. I'm going to be 21 in four months and I'm like inbetween 5'8 and 5'9. I have been in a size 00, 0, & 1 since like 9th grade. Lol. To my understanding, I have to try to get signed with Elite or Ford modeling company? I tried John Robert Powers or Robert John Powers a few years ago and they wanted me. They were going to pay for me. That's what is supposed to happen, correct? I didn't do it because they wouldn't pay for my cousin, but now I know that that was a huge mistake. Or is JRP not a well enough known agency? Everyone that I work with keeps telling me that I need to be a VS Model. What else could I do to possibly even get considered for a casting?

Hi, Jessika! Thank you for asking a question that isn't already answered in the Victoria's Secret post itself! LOL. You are correct, to have the best shot at being a VS model, you'd have to be signed to either Ford or Elite in New York OR another top fashion agency in the NYC area. It is important that you understand that New York is where VS does its business with recruiting models--not just any Ford or Elite location qualifies.

The first thing to know is that JRP is NOT a modeling agency--they are a modeling school. Whether they want to cover your training fees or charge you, they are not an agency and cannot guarantee that you will get signed to an actual one or be successful. Period. Their success stories are strictly on a case-by-case basis and are not the typical results a person who attends their school experiences. So you did not make a mistake in that respect. Companies like Victoria's Secret do NOT deal with companies like JRP.

The process for being considered as a VS model is pretty much set in stone for those that are not already known models in the industry. You'll have to visit the Elite and Ford agency websites and follow their instructions for submitting your photos and info or travel there to attend an open casting call in the hopes of getting signed to either one. As far as my research shows, only by doing that and successfully getting agency representation in the NYC market, can you have a shot at being submitted by your agency for any VS castings.

Comments

Want to Be a Victoria's Secret Model?

(*Due to the number of comments and questions I get from aspiring models about working for VS, please be sure to read my post on this very carefully. If you don't meet all of these requirements then you cannot become a model for VS. If you are not tall enough, if you are not signed to a top agency, your chances are not good. If you don't meet the requirements, please don't be too upset about it. Find another field of modeling you may be good for. There are plenty of other modeling opportunities for models outside of being a VS angel. They may not be as good or as well-known as VS but it's better than nothing.) I know I’d jump at the chance to be offered a gig modeling for Victoria’s Secret (although I think they’d be irritated by Photoshopping my stretch marks HAHA, yeah, I said it, I’ve got stretch marks!). All silliness aside, the gals of Victoria’s Secret are probably the inspiration for a majority of aspiring models out there. Not only do they get to wear the s...

Modeling & Pay Rates: How Much Should You Charge?

(This post is more targeted towards freelance models and not those with agency representation, although it may apply to those that have an agent but continue to find their own work.) A part of being a successful model is making money from the jobs that you book. However, being a freelance model comes with many challenges--figuring out what you should charge is one of them. I will say upfront that there are no established black and white rules when it comes to pay rates. Each modeling job is different, each client is different and budgets vary. Ultimately the factors that should influence what you charge should be the amount of experience you have, the strength of the images in your portfolio and the client's budget/needs. Not every client is going to pay what you want to charge. There may be times when you will be skipped over for charging too much or taken advantage of for charging too little. It's going to happen so be prepared for it and do not take it personally. It...

How Old is Too Old to Model?

It’s no secret that the media has made a big deal out of youth. Think about it: how many people have you heard say, “Gosh, I can’t wait to get wrinkles!” Worldwide, selling the idea of youth has made many companies billions of dollars. Without the models, however, they wouldn’t get very far. So that’s the obvious stuff but what about the question of age and being older in the modeling industry? Well, for starters, if you plan on being in the fashion and runway field, the younger you are the better. The longevity for this type of modeling is extremely short for the majority of models involved. Agencies sign girls as young as 13 years old and tend to hesitate if a model is over 18. This topic, like the height issue, is a reality of the industry that you don’t have to agree with but you will have to accept or at least get used to. It’s just a plain fact that agencies and their clients can get more work out of youthful models than those who already show the signs of aging. Sadly, this...

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

Search This Blog