To think that anyone can pass themselves off as a "model" these days?

[JellyDiamond]

Please some correct me if I'm wrong, I don't claim to know an awful lot about the world of modelling, but I used to be addicted to Americas/Britain's/Australia's etc Top Model and my knowledge of the industry comes mainly comes from that. I know that there are different types of modelling, print, commercial, high fashion etc

Anyway back to my point, to me a model is someone who is signed to a professional agency and has a proper portfolio etc. But in the age of the internet it seems that anyone can get dolled up, offer themselves up to an amateur photographer, get some photos done, upload them to the internet and pass themselves off as a "model". You can tell these a mile off as they are usually badly lit, awkwardly posed and the "model" doesn't really know what to do with her face. Hell a lot of the time the "model" isn't even photogenic. Going back to ANTM, and yes I know that Tyra Banks talks of a lot of shit a lot of the time, but she always harped on about "smiling with eyes" and how to tilt your head a certain way. And she's right, proper models just know what to do with their faces and just how to pose at the right time.

I don't believe that anyone can be a model, you NEED to be photogenic first and foremost. Even glamour models need to photograph well. I will never be a model because I look fucking hideous in every single photo of me.

Why do so many girls these days, you see them on Twitter, Instagram etc call themselves models when they are clearly not?

I try to avoid FB, so I wouldn't know about people's descriptions on there. However, I can confirm that during my guilty sojourns to the Daily Heil website, I regularly find perfectly average women, usually between the ages of 18-30, described as 'models'. Now, I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but really? I can only assume that these are the same people you're referring to OP. Unless they're hand models. Or were child models?

Josie Cunningham, anyone?

Well as a model doesn't have to have any particular qualifications etc then anyone could be a model. As JellyD said, there are loads of areas of modelling, and you don't need a portfolio and duck face to be the right match for what the photographer/ company is looking for. Thinks of the anti drug campaign posters

Maybe you are struggling to distinguish between those who claim they have done modelling, and those who have a modelling career?

And it is not illegal to pretend to be a paramedic, although administering emergency aid on someone under this guise could have serious consequences. The only times it is illegal to impersonate a profession is as a doctor, judge or police officer at least that was how it used to be

I kind of understand your point of view. It is very easy to set yourself up as a 'photographers' model... And then l guess say you are one. that isn't a proper model though, and l should know

Where are all these model impersonators? There are absent from my world.

I feel a void.

I'm a model runner!

Well, my picture is the cover photo for my running club on FB.

I think this is a classic #firstworldproblem.