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

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...

Just wanted to share two of the photos I was able to get from Mocha Bride Magazine. These are from the second shoot we did. I can't wait to see the rest!

Jam Wrote: Hello! I too was interested in submitting a photo to Jet Magazine for Beauty of the week. Do you have to use a famous photographer? My hair is natural, would it be a good idea to keep it that way for the photos I submit? Thanks and congrats for your photo shoot with Jet! Hey, Jam, and thanks for the kind words, very much appreciated! To answer your question, no, you do not have to work with a famous photographer in order to be considered for Beauty of the Week. As long as you work with a professional photographer that knows what he/she is doing, you will be good to go. If you love your hair natural and can rock it, then by all means, do so! JET likes to showcase different types of women and wants them all to have their own style so if you know you look good with your natural hair, then definitely wear it that way in your photo. Good luck and let me know if you make it--I always love to hear success stories from others! =)

So it was sometime around 7:30AM last Monday when I got a phone call from a number I didn’t recognize. Being the businesswoman I am, I decided to take the call. It turned out to be Sandra, one of the cool folks from Mocha Bride Magazine . As I struggled to remain awake (haha), she told me that a model cancelled on their shoot last minute and wanted to know if it was possible for me to fill in for her. When I asked what time I needed to be there, she replied, “As soon as you can get here.” Needless to say, I took the quickest shower of my life! But it was a welcome change to most Monday mornings. I got ready, grabbed what I could (I was visiting my parents so I wasn’t at home with all my stuff), got directions and headed to Oakland for another bridal shoot. When I pulled up I couldn’t believe my eyes…the mansion was amazing. I don’t even want to call it a mansion—it was more like an estate or something! There was a huge gate and I let myself in through a side glass door that was p...

deep beneath the tides wrote: Hey, I also tried out for this cycle. I'm a model mentor and started out as a goth/fetish model. Cheers to the little girls ^_~ Anyhow, do you know when they are casting this thing? I haven't heard a thing from the show as of yet, and at least a "no" would even be better than just not knowing. Keep up all the awesome work! i love your blog. xoxo Joy p.s. Good luck! Hey, Joy! I definitely wish you luck as well! From what I know, they will be making the callbacks sometime in late April. According to the rules and regs, people will be contacted for either the semi-final or final rounds (it is up to the producers whether they want to have semi-finals and then finals or if they will just cast right away and do a finals round), one week before being required to be on the show and move into the model house. That should put production for the new cycle around early May and should last until June or early July. While it's probably too much to ...

Anonymous Wrote: Thanks so much for answering my question! I'm sorry one more please (sorry I'm being a bother), when does a model's shoe size become a problem? When she exceeds a size 9, 10, or 11? The thing about being tall is that usually the shoe size is big as well. While this may be inconvenient, it isn't so detrimental to the point where it would really negatively affect your modeling career. Almost all tall models have larger feet, so this is something that agencies and clients are already accustomed to dealing with. But if you happen to have an out of the ordinary shoe size, this is something you would talk about to your agent. If you are searching for an agency, then don't bring so much attention to it. List your shoe size honestly and leave it up to the agency to decide whether it's something that can be worked around or not. There are many agencies out there so chances are you'll find at least one that won't mind your big feet. Just know that...

Anonymous Wrote: so why is it that fit models can't be tall. I am 5'11" and have never been able to do fit modeling because of my height. Isn't there somewhere that needs tall people to try on clothes? The thing about this type of fit modeling is that the clothes that are being tried on are for regular consumer sale in stores, and are not tailored for runway models or the runway itself. Fit models are used for the purpose of trying on clothes that will ultimately end up on an actual, average person. The sample sizes tend to be different and more realistic than those of garments used by high fashion designers. While fashion and runway models with your height and measurements tend to try on garments made by high fashion designers, fit models are wearing clothes from companies such as Old Navy, Gap, and Banana Republic. Needless to say, the two types of clothing are completely different and targeted towards a different audience. I'm sure there are some clients that ma...

Anonymous Wrote: Thanks for this... I hope people learn, I went through this when I was seven. Got contacted by a smaller agency, but never heard from them afterward. My mom and I have learned definitely. I have a question, that coincidentally relates to the video in a way. When you send pictures to agencies online, some (for example Ford, Elite and IMG) have a "message box" separate from entering your measurements, height, etc. What do you suggest you type in there to catch their attention? And if you don't mind, could you provide an example. Any help is great! And thanks again for the video, though my mom probably wishes she would've seen it eight years ago lol. Hey, and thanks for the question! I'm sorry to hear that you've experienced what I'm sure many others have. I hope that I am able to tune in to the full episode when it airs...I'm sure it will go pretty in depth and really show people what to be on the lookout for and what to avoid. As for yo...

Hey, readers! I came across this video post in a forum and after watching it, felt I had to share it with you. This is a video report from MSNBC, which takes a quick insider look at modeling conventions...namely, IMTA, which I'm sure many of you model hopefuls have come across in your search for how to make it in the modeling industry. I highly encourage you to watch this video as well as your parents--especially your parents! They state plainly why these conventions are not such a good idea if you want to pursue modeling or acting. I've stated that modeling does not have to cost you a fortune and is as simple as sending in pictures for free or attending open casting calls for free. I've said this until I've been blue in the face and I think this video report illustrates beautifully what I've been saying all along. Even the head of Elite Model Management is interviewed and he says the same thing I'm saying. I think the next time I get a question asking about...

So the wonderful people I worked with at the Mocha Bride shoot just told me that I am on their website! Pretty cool! It is still being worked on but the overall layout and everything is in place. Go ahead and check out the official Mocha Bride website and you'll see a familiar face on there. =) Of course it isn't just about me, I'm really excited about this publication coming out and if you or anyone you know is located in the Bay Area (Northern California) and has wedding plans, definitely have them check out Mocha Bride when it comes out. I believe the first issue is set to come out sometime in June or July of this year so only a little while longer to go! But the website looks great and I can't wait to see the final, polished product! I'm all about supporting local businesses and Mocha Bride will definitely be one that I will help to promote!

As glamorous as the modeling industry seems, I'm sure you're all pretty aware by now that it has just as many downsides as upsides. I feel this is particularly true for male models. Sure, picturing yourself as a male model may seem really amazing at first. I mean, what guy wouldn't want to strut his stuff down the runway or be photographed in a steamy pose with some of the world's most beautiful women? But if you look past the glitz, you'll be pretty surprised by the fact that male models are often overlooked by the public in general and in some cases even their own industry. Think about it: how many countless times have we seen the faces and bodies of top female supermodels in all forms of the media? Probably too many to count. Now what about the male models in the industry? Unless you're a super fan of the modeling industry or stay on top of the fashion world and the players in it, chances are you can't really name a list of top male models with t...

(This particular post is in reference to male models seeking to do fashion and runway modeling only, not commercial/print.) So I realize that many of my posts are directed at female models because, well, there are so many of them out there! But I do acknowledge and recognize the male models out there, too, and believe me I do my best to try and squeeze in posts that relate to you guys as well. While I will say that much of the information I provide (casting calls, submitting to agencies, etc.) can be applied to male modeling as well, I don't want anyone to get confused or feel they have to sort out exactly what applies to females and what applies to males so I decided to start trying to do more posts for male models or those aspiring to be one. The height factor is not just an issue with female models but male models as well. Unfortunately, there are even less "exceptions to the rule" when it comes to male models than female models. There are definitely the Ka...

Joanna Wrote: hi !i'm joanna and i m from greece.well, i m 18 ,1.72 heigh(34-23.5-34).what do u think,can i be a model??? thanks :) Hey, Joanna and thanks for the question! While your measurements are ideal, your height falls a tad bit short (no pun intended!) of the requirements for fashion/runway modeling. However, you are the ideal height for commercial/print modeling. So if you want to pursue that type of modeling, you'll want to find modeling agencies in your country that represent commercial/print models. To help you out, here are modeling agencies in Greece and their websites. Because the modeling market in Greece may be very different from modeling here in the USA, it couldn't hurt to still submit yourself even if you are a bit shorter. If you have a great look, they may make an exception for you: NBP www.nbpeople.net Ace Models www.acemodels.gr Action Management www.action-management.com D'Model Agency www.dmodelagency.com