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

First thing's first: let's be realistic here. It is totally possible to age gracefully and my focus with this article is about how to maintain the best looking YOU at whatever age you are. This post is not about how to turn back the clock and try to pursue anti-aging miracle solutions. The most confident models are the ones that embrace their age and understand the steps necessary to keep themselves in the best possible physical condition when it comes to skin care. This goes for both female and male models. I'll do my best to keep this post from being too lengthy but want to target general age groups, as well as share basic tips for tackling Father Time as it relates to your money maker. TEENS TO YOUNG ADULTS Don't take your youthful complexions for granted, young models! While we all wish for the days when our faces were completely free of wrinkles and fine lines, don't think that just because you're young, that leaves you off the hook with skin care...

Makeup is an art and as a model you want to put your best face forward when it comes to shoots for your portfolio, fashion shows and booked assignments. If you've never worked with a professional makeup artist before or if you have but are still learning the ropes of the industry in general, it doesn't hurt to know some helpful tips to keep every makeup artist you work with happy and showcase you as the professional you are. BOOKED GIGS When you've been hired for a job, either through your agent or on your own via freelance modeling, and there is a makeup artist onset, it is a dream come true. That means less work on your end but there are still important things to keep in mind to ensure each experience with a makeup artist is a positive one. Arrive With a Freshly Cleaned & Moisturized Face--That Means No Makeup! I know this sounds like common sense but you'd be surprised by the stories I've heard from makeup artists who have worked with models that ...

Getting booked for a lot of modeling work is fantastic but it can also do a number on the skin, namely the face. Maintaining a healthy complexion is one of the biggest priorities for female and male models. After all, it's the money maker! From time to time, I'll come across certain products that I really like...so much so, that I want to share it with my blog readers. So here is another post about one of my "Favorite Finds." I love the beauty section of Target, there's so many different types of skin care and beauty items of all brands and types. One day while randomly browsing through this part of the store, I came across the Que Bella line of face masks. Aside from the colorful and visually appealing packaging, I saw that this brand contains all natural ingredients, which are always a plus when it comes to skin care. Although I have a pretty solid skin care routine, all of the makeup that gets caked onto my face from doing lots of modeling eventually m...

In the dating world, there certainly is debate as to whether body hair on a man is sexy or not. In the modeling world, however, it's a different ball game. Fellas, if you're interested in getting into modeling but are concerned about the amount of body hair you have, there are options. First, let me say that you don't necessarily have to be completely shaved in order to make it as a male model (unless you've got crazy body hair on your back and shoulders...in such a situation, yeah, take all of that off!). The chest is the one area where I believe all male models should be well groomed. Got hairy arms and legs? You can leave those areas alone for now--submit your snapshots or attend open casting calls and find out if the agencies think you should change it. If not, you'll be in the clear. Actually, if you'd rather get feedback about your body hair situation overall before going down the manscaping route, that's totally fine, too. But if your body hai...

Male models often get a tough rap because they have to do things to maintain their look that's sometimes considered "feminine" or even "gay." But if you've read my post, "Real Male Models Wear Makeup!" then you already understand what comes with the territory. Being well groomed from head to toe is a big aspect of a male model's career. Whether you're sporting the manly, rugged look or a more baby-faced one, there are steps you may need to take in order to maintain your appearance. Sure, Photoshop does a lot to make models look picture perfect but when it comes to attending castings and go-sees, you have to sell your look upfront and "as is" in order to book the gig. This means paying attention to the small stuff like your fingernails and toenails. Depending on your lifestyle, you may or may not have a need to do anything to groom your fingernails and toenails. However, as a male model of any experience level, you'll wa...

In order to look picture perfect or appear flawless on the runway, it is crucial that male and female models make it a point to develop and maintain a good, daily skin care routine. One of the most important aspects that some of you may not know about or could be failing to include in your routine is the act of exfoliating. Believe it or not, this seemingly little thing can make a big difference in the appearance and health of your skin--both on your face and the rest of your body. Below is a crash course into what exfoliation is all about, how it can promote model skin and the other benefits that come with it. The Definition of Exfoliation Exfoliation is the practice of removing layers of dead skin from your face and body. While that may sound painful, it really isn't. If you currently have a facial or body scrub as part of your collection of toiletry items, guess what? You're exfoliating! What It Matters The human body is a wondrous thing, especially when it com...

This post is for both freelance and agency represented models. Whether you're attending a go-see, shoot or fashion show, there may be instances where a professional MUA (that's industry shorthand for "makeup artist") won't be available. I highly recommend that ALL models learn how to do their own makeup--it will come in handy and save you a lot of hassle! When it comes to beauty and makeup tips, I always stress that the information shared--either on this blog or elsewhere--is designated for certain skin types. No two people have exactly the same skin so always use caution when trying new products or beauty regimens/suggestions. For those of you that don't already know, my skin type is combination (dry cheeks and oily T-zone, which describes the forehead, nose and chin area) with ezcema and slight discoloration/hyperpigmentation on my upper lip. Yeah, I've got a lot going on with my complexion lol. In my time modeling, I've definitely had to l...

While I'm adamant about stating that there is no such thing as "perfect" skin, I will say that having "good" skin is a huge requirement for the industry. Acne is a troublesome skin problem that teens and adults alike suffer from. If you want to model but have acne, this could definitely be something that will work against you. However, it all depends on the type of acne you have, how severe your breakouts are and a couple of other factors. That being said, it is completely okay to have a pimple every now and then. Heck, whenever I have a beauty shoot in particular, I'll always wake up that morning with one lone pimple somewhere on my forehead where it can't be hidden--go figure (thank my stars for Photoshop)! But there is a big difference between a pimple or two and a full-on acne breakout. For those that are aspiring models with acne, I would suggest taking care of your skin first and getting your skin condition under control before attending any ...

(I actually can't remember if I've already done a post about this topic and didn't find anything when I did a search on my blog. But if for some reason this is the second time you're reading this, you can disregard it and chalk it up to me getting old and forgetful hahahahah) Okay, so I'm pretty sure you're thinking, "Dania, you have a 'natural' tan, why on Earth would you need one sprayed on?!" LOL. In the beginning I never even gave spray tanning a thought since I was already pleasantly brown but a few months ago I decided to give it a try. For those of you that don't already know, I have eczema--the genetic kind so it's not like it's just going to go away, unfortunately--and I have always had to deal with large areas of discoloration. For the past few years the hyperpigmentation has made itself right at home on my stomach/midsection area. It's been a nuisance to say the least and my one dream has been to have a unifor...

For those of you that are all about skin care products and taking care of your complexion, I thought it would be fun to update you on what products I'm currently using to keep my skin in top shape. Please note that I have eczema with a combination skin type (dry cheeks, oily T-zone) so shop according to your particular skin type when looking for new items to try out. CLEANSER(S) I use this for most mornings when I'm on the go: I use this to take off my makeup...even though it's not really a makeup remover, it works for me. I also use it on days when my skin is more sensitive than usual: TONER Toner is awesome for taking care of my oily T-zone. But in the Fall and Winter my complexion tends to dry out more than usual so I skip out on the toner: COTTON PADS To apply my toner I use generic-brand, 100% cotton pads (the rounded kind). You can buy them from any drugstore for really cheap and they come in a good size quantity that'll last you a while (80-...

I decided to do a quick post to address female models of color in regards to hairstyles and the modeling industry. There are no hard and fast rules but there are some things I want to point out that you as an aspiring or established model should keep in mind as you pursue your modeling career. Black hair is unique and can't be treated like any other. There are various styles and ways women of color wear their hair and in modeling it all depends on what you feel most comfortable with. As far as I know there aren't any strict rules as to hairstyle preferences according to the different types of modeling. But what I think is most important is sporting a style that you feel represents you. Never try to alter your hair dramatically to fit a look that may not suit you. As I've pointed out in past posts, if an agency falls in love with you as you are, then chances are you don't have to change a thing. I've seen models of color sport different styles in all types of m...

Stretch marks...ugh. No one likes them and if you are a model or want to become one, this may seem like a huge setback to your goals. However, if you know about stretch marks and how to handle them, having these unsightly marks doesn't have to be detrimental to your modeling career. Unfortunately, there are many myths and so-called "miracle treatments" that promise to get rid of your stretch marks forever. Before you invest any time or money, it's important to know the real deal. You don't have to be overweight or pregnant to get stretch marks: This is a common misconception. The skinniest of people can still develop stretch marks and it affects both men and women, although women are more likely to suffer from it than their male counterparts. Stretch marks occur when the skin is stretched over time. This happens not only during pregnancy (which results in stretch marks on the stomach and breasts), but also during growth spurts and even weight lifters that bu...

I'm pretty excited because I recently updated my makeup arsenal from MAC. And I learned some great application techniques that allowed me to do my makeup myself for my test shoot with Joy O Designs. I thought it'd be fun to let you know how I did my makeup and what products I used. You know, a little insider stuff...what female model doesn't want to know about makeup? LOL. Mind you, I don't wear makeup on a daily basis and only for when I have shoots and castings but the girl in me can't help but be interested in makeup for what it's worth! My skin type is combination (dry cheeks and oily T-zone--forehead, nose, and chin) and I have eczema so my complexion is naturally slightly discolored. I got lucky and had the manager of the MAC store advising me that day so she totally filled me in on what I would need and showed me how to apply everything. This is a picture of me the day of my test shoot (ah, the perks of having a photographer for a boyfriend!). The ...

…well, in addition to Photoshop and food. Haha. Man, it has been a tough week. Last week I had a hectic schedule between castings and I picked up a video acting project (I do TV/Film/Commercial acting as well as modeling) so I had to juggle the shooting schedule with my office job. Last week I worked the following: - Monday : No shoot, just the office job from 9am-6pm - Tuesday : Shoot all day from 9am-11pm - Wednesday : Work at the office job from 8am-5:30pm (went to a casting in San Francisco during my lunch break), then off to my shoot from 6pm-12:30am - Thursday : Day off from the office job and the shoot got pushed back to Monday…free day spent doing stuff though so no sleeping in. Boo! - Friday : Work at the office job from 9am-6pm, then off to my shoot from 6pm-1:15am - Monday : Work at the office job from 9am-6pm, then off to my shoot from 6pm-12:30am You can bet I was exhausted! I’m still trying to catch up on my sleep this week. The challenge about being an a...

Unless you’re doing a parts gig or modeling jewelry, the condition of your hands is often forgotten. For any photoshoot, you can expect your hands to make an appearance or two so it helps to actually make sure your hands and fingernails are camera-ready as well as your face, hair, and the rest of your body. Nothing looks worse than a great shot with gross looking fingernails and/or hands. You should make sure your hands are properly moisturized. Use a good quality hand cream or lotion. Carry a small tube in your purse so you’re always ready. If you get your nails done regularly, make sure they are appropriate for your shoot. Be mindful whether your acrylic covered fingernails are going to complement or clash with the theme of your upcoming shoot. Unless specified, keep your fingernails clear and free of color and fancy designs. If you want to wear nail polish, choose a color that works with the outfits you’ll be wearing. Even if you don’t get manicures, there are ways to take ca...

My eyebrows are probably one of the things I fuss the most about. I have unruly eyebrows that are actually very curly so it’s not just a matter of getting them shaped and clean…it’s also about taming the hairs with trimming. I started waxing some years ago and while it provided some relief, I still had to deal with my curly hairs and a lot of missed strays—even after the woman doing the waxing did some extra tweezing. About a year or two ago I wrote an article about the art of eyebrow threading, which is an ancient practice that’s been done by Middle Eastern women for centuries. This practice was becoming very popular here in the U.S. but at the time I hadn’t thought about trying it. After managing to find a beautician who waxed my eyebrows perfectly, I thought I was in the clear. Well, she moved away and again I was left without many options until one of her old coworkers referred me to a salon down the street that did eyebrow threading. I figured I knew about it so why not? ...