Model requirements: parameters, age and personal qualities

It’s high time to get rid of the image of the “perfect 178+, 45 kg, waist-length model” in modeling. The industry has truly changed. Now, it’s not just high fashion “reed” models that are in demand, but also petite, tall, plus-size, commercial, mid-size models, Asian and dark-skinned people, and unique faces—in short, anything that captures brands’ attention with its individuality. So if you’re looking at the runways and thinking, “This definitely isn’t me,” don’t be so quick. Your type might just be trending right now.

Who can become a model?

The answer is simple. Almost any girl, if her type is in demand. Currently, the following girls are working:

• • height 165–170 cm,

• • height 182–185 cm,

• • plus size (L–XXL),

• • M-size with hips 98–105,

• • with short haircuts (pixie is generally the top in Europe),

• • with Asian appearance,

• • dark-skinned models – and they are paid even more due to the shortage in the CIS.

So, the “176-178 cm and skinny” standard is long gone. And that’s a good thing: brands need faces, not copy-pasta.

Basic requirements for female models

Now – professional specifics.

Height

High fashion around the world still favors 170+ heights, with the ideal being 176–180. But for the past couple of years, fashion shows have been graced by women 168, sometimes even 165, if the vibe suits the designer. Commercial work, catalogs, and Instagram brands—the height isn’t critical at all.

Model parameters

The real market now looks like this:

• • chest – it doesn’t matter, 78 or 88, this is not a key parameter;

• • waist – up to 60 is considered normal, but 62–64 are acceptable if the proportions are harmonious;

• • Hips are key! The norm for fashion is 88–90–92. In Turkey, they easily work with 94–95, in India – even wider.

Types

There is a growing demand for non-standard features: short hair, unusual features, “editorial faces”, ethnic faces, plus-size models, M-size girls.

Snaps (polaroids)

The basics of the presentation: Natural light, minimal posing, a swimsuit or solid-color clothing, no makeup. No photo booklet required—the agency will create one later.

Personal qualities that agencies value

This is what really decides:

• • discipline – modeling is not about “looking good”, but about clear deadlines, discipline, castings, flights, early shoots, self-confidence;

• • stress resistance – wild competition;

• • the ability to work with the body and angle – petite models often “pull” the frame better than tall ones;

• • communication skills are work with hands, face and character;

• • Adequacy – agencies avoid girls who “drain” bookers or send mailings to 50 agencies in a row.

And yes: what’s valued now is the online image – what happens on your Instagram.

Age and experience

You can start working from 13 or 14, but honestly, that’s too early. The optimal time to start is 17 or 18, when you can go on contracts for 2-3 months.
Important: If you’re not prepared for long trips, don’t bother agencies. Modeling is a mobile profession.
No experience required. No one needs your professional book at the start. Don’t waste money on studios and “modeling courses” that promise mountains of gold. School is a section, not tickets to Milan.

How to prepare for a casting call at a talent agency

The algorithm is extremely simple:

• • Take snaps at home – nice, clean, natural light.

• • Write to one (!) agency. Not spam.

• • Specify your height, parameters, age, city.

• • Wait for the answer – yes or no.

• • If refused, move on to the next agency.

• • Agencies like the “right” approach: short, to the point, no drama.

• • And remember: if one motherboard fails, it’s not a death sentence. Often, it’s simply a matter of bad snapshots or the wrong market. With a different motherboard, things could go wrong, as in the example above.

Why is it important to work through an agency?

There’s one rule in modeling that, for some reason, isn’t yet clear to everyone. Without a parent agency (MA), you can’t have a successful career. While there are rare exceptions, in practice, the MA is the one that holds everything together.

A parent agency is your point of support, your management, and your “grown-up” side in the industry. In professional circles, it’s often abbreviated as “MA,” “mother agency,” or “mother agency.”

The most important thing: a model always has one parent agency. It’s not a collection of agencies “just in case.” It’s a dedicated support team that:

• • guides your career,

• • builds a strategy,

• • selects suitable countries and markets,

• • is looking for foreign contracts,

• • negotiates with host agencies (Europe, Asia, USA),

• • is responsible for your reputation, safety and results.

And it doesn’t matter whether the MA is located in your country or not. The motherboard could be in Ukraine, Poland, Georgia, or, for example, a neighboring country, but it could still fully manage the model through all stages.

What Prestige Model Agency is responsible for – in simple terms

The agency has many tasks, all of them critical:

• • Career management. The motherboard decides where it really makes sense for you to go: Milan, Seoul, Athens, Istanbul.

• • Search and verification of modeling contracts. MA refers you only to reliable agencies.

• • Knocking out guarantees if the market allows: fixed salary, guaranteed filming, living conditions.

• • Legal security. Contracts, visas, work permits, health insurance—it’s all in the MA zone.

• • 24/7 support. Housing, flight, and payment delays are all handled by Motherboard.

Model form control. Yes, this is important: foreign agencies don’t want surprises like “perfect skin in the photo, severe acne in person” or “stated height 176, arrived 172.” MA is responsible for ensuring that the parameters correspond to reality.

Simply put: a motherboard is like a mother, only in industry. It’s responsible for ensuring you don’t get screwed, sent to trashy contracts, or forced to work in inhumane conditions.

Why foreign agencies don’t work with singles

While it was possible to “get in directly” somewhere before, the situation now is this:

• • 90% of foreign agencies do not take models without a parent agency.

• • Even if they liked your appearance, they will say: “Find yourself an MA.”

For them, the motherboard is a guarantee that the model will arrive in good shape, with up-to-date parameters, adequate training, and a normal level of responsibility.

They don’t want to take risks:

• • so that the stated 88 on the hips does not turn into 94;

• • so that you don’t arrive with skin that has fallen apart within a month;

• • so that you don’t break the contract because you don’t have a visa, insurance or documents.

The parent agency is responsible for the model’s performance to the receiving party. Therefore, reliable agencies prefer to work exclusively through the parent agency.