Skip to main content

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!

Comments

Anonymous said…
Actually, girls continue to grow when they are 22 and they stop at around age 25 or so.
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.
Anonymous said…
Those were old journals and articles but nowadays, most girls stop growing at age 25.
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.

Popular posts from this blog

Modeling & Pay Rates: How Much Should You Charge?

(This post is more targeted towards freelance models and not those with agency representation, although it may apply to those that have an agent but continue to find their own work.) A part of being a successful model is making money from the jobs that you book. However, being a freelance model comes with many challenges--figuring out what you should charge is one of them. I will say upfront that there are no established black and white rules when it comes to pay rates. Each modeling job is different, each client is different and budgets vary. Ultimately the factors that should influence what you charge should be the amount of experience you have, the strength of the images in your portfolio and the client's budget/needs. Not every client is going to pay what you want to charge. There may be times when you will be skipped over for charging too much or taken advantage of for charging too little. It's going to happen so be prepared for it and do not take it personally. It

What Are Male Models Supposed to Look Like?

The modeling world is filled with women. That's never been a secret and sadly, that often means male models fall by the wayside. There are successful male models in all categories across the industry but the fact that the modeling business revolves around women can make it challenging for newbies to figure out how to pursue their goals of male modeling. It is important to know that because there are different types of modeling categories out there, that means there are also different types of male models. They aren't all supposed to look alike and what ends up being in demand does change every year. Let's break down the common attributes that come with male modeling in various popular categories, shall we? THE MALE FASHION/RUNWAY/EDITORIAL MODEL These are the typical types of models most of us tend to think of when it comes to men in modeling. What is important to know and understand if you're an aspiring male model is that agencies have all different looks

Modeling and Weight

One of the first things I hear potential models ask is what the weight requirement for modeling is. Sometimes that is the main issue they worry about when it comes to pursuing modeling. Let me tell you right now that weight should NOT be one of those concerns. Obviously, the height requirement reigns supreme when measuring up to the modeling standards sought out by agencies. If you meet the height requirements--whether it's for fashion and runway or commercial/print--that is the first step towards starting on the path to modeling. How much you weigh shouldn't be your biggest fear. It is rare that anyone can look at someone and say, "Oh, my gosh, he/she looks like they are 5 pounds over our weight requirement!" It just isn't realistic. If you look at many modeling agency websites, they clearly list the age and height requirements--rarely, if at all do they list any weight restrictions. The general rule of thumb when it comes to weight is that for models who