Answering a Reader Question #263

Blaire Wrote:

Hey my name is Blaire, im 14, 5,9, 26 inches around the waist and 32 around the hips, and 125 pounds I really want to model but I am really afraid and confused! where do i start! I mean I know I should get a agent and agency but im not stunning and I just dont know if i can do it. How hard will it be to get into an agency? and how hard is it to balance life modeling and for me, school?

Hi, Blaire! Getting into an agency is very difficult because oftentimes there are many girls and guys all competing to get signed. You definitely have the height and you're just at the minimum age requirement most agencies allow to sign on younger models, so you have that going for you. Remember, if you're interested in doing fashion and runway, you don't have to be stunning like VS models--they are a different type of fashion model. Traditional fashion and runway girls often vary in appearance, from exotic to odd, strange or even "alien" lol. But those are good things, according to what agencies look for. So don't worry about being insecure about how you look...chances are they may be an agency that loves the way you look!

The more agencies you submit to in your area, the better your chances will be of possibly getting signed. Don't just limit yourself to the big agencies, either. Send your pictures and attend open calls for both small and large agencies to improve your odds. If you become an in-demand model and get constant work, it can be challenging to balance school with modeling but it's not impossible. Missing school for modeling gigs are excused absences since it's for work purposes and in most cases, agencies will do their best to work around a student's schedule. They work with school-age models all the time so this is not new to them.

Do an online search for modeling agencies according to the city/state you live in and this will narrow down the results and give you the official websites of agencies in your area. Make sure to visit each agency website, which will give you all the information you need about like what pictures to send, if and when they have open casting calls, etc. You'll want to submit yourself to agencies that are no farther than a 2 hour's drive from where you live.

Hope that helps and good luck to you!

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