Answering a Reader Question #249

Cheyenne Wrote:

Hey Dania! My name is Cheyenne, I have been working at becoming a model for a while now. (I have never been turned down) I have the looks, the body, the size, everything except I am 5'5" :(. My hardest part is all the stretches and exercise I do every day to grow just a little. My question is I live out in Los Angeles and I want to get signed by Ford, I know the ideal spot to move onto VS is Ford Modeling in New York, but just how hard is it to get hired from the one in Los Angeles? Is it nearly imposible or if I work super hard, is it posible?
Thank You!

Hey there, Cheyenne! First, let me say that unfortunately, there are no exercises that will result in you growing significantly taller, especially to do fashion/runway modeling. Human growth and anatomy just doesn't work that way. It's all in the genetics so if height doesn't run in your family and/or if you're already 18 or older and still 5'5", it's 99.9% likely that you're at the height you'll be for the rest of your adult life--even with all the exercising and stretching.

That being said, you won't be able to get signed to Ford in New York in order to do VS work because the minimum height requirement for them in that market is 5'9"--they've actually raised it from the industry minimum standard of 5'8", which puts you even more out of reach, height-wise. Ford in LA probably also maintains the 5'9" minimum height requirement but you'll have to check the Ford website for the LA location to make sure.

You are the right height, however, for commercial/print--I highly recommend submitting yourself to agencies in LA with commercial/print divisions. This is the most realistic route to pursue in order to start a modeling career. I wish you the best of luck!

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...

Male Models & Height

(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...

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