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Answering a Reader Question #268

Yakkilyn Wrote:

I am currently 22 years old and am borderline 5'7". I am constantly told that I look to be about 17 years old due to my biracial ethnicity. I've always wanted to be a model, but have only just recently grown more comfortable in my skin. I am approximately 120-125 lbs. (my weight tends to fluxuate) and I could stand to lose about 5 lbs. I would just like to know that, once all the weight is lost, would it still be possible for someone like me to become a professional model? 

Hi, Yakkilyn! At your current weight you can become a professional model so you don't have to lose anymore pounds if you are comfortable with your weight as it is--just make sure you don't go over 125 and you'll be fine. At 5'7" and age 22, you're not going to grow any taller so at this point you're not going to be eligible for runway or fashion modeling (even if you appear younger physically, you'd still be lacking that one inch to meet the minimum height requirement for that type of modeling). When it comes to height, there are some exceptions to the rule but that depends on your location/market area and the agency.

So if you want to become a pro model, you're going to want to submit your photos and information to modeling agencies that represent commercial/print/lifestyle/mature models. So any agencies within a 2 hour's drive from where you live that have any or all of these divisions should be the ones to check out. Their official websites will give you all the info you'll need to know about what to send to them and how you can be considered.

Hope that helps and good luck to you!
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Comments

Anonymous said…
Actually, girls continue to grow when they are 22 and they stop at around age 25 or so.
December 20, 2011 at 4:38 PM
Dania Denise said…
I'm not sure what your source is, but according to the medical articles and journals I read, the average woman stops growing at age 18...20 at the latest. While there are some women that continue to grow throughout their lifetime, this is not the norm for the average woman. When it comes to generalizations, I tend to go for the overall, average numbers and not the exceptions to the rule. I do this in order to prevent giving people false hope and to help them put their unique situation into perspective so they have a better idea of their odds.
December 20, 2011 at 4:44 PM
Anonymous said…
Those were old journals and articles but nowadays, most girls stop growing at age 25.
December 21, 2011 at 2:50 PM
Dania Denise said…
The sources I read are from 2008-2010 but being that even medical doctors don't universally agree as to the official age, I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree. However, I won't commit to telling someone they have a shot at growing 2-3 inches while in their early to mid 20s.
December 21, 2011 at 3:16 PM
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