Am I good enough to be a model or would I get laughed at if I approached an agency?

[PlatinumBlondeBarbie]

I’ve always wanted to model but always felt not good enough. I’m now in my early 30s so not sure if I’d be too old for it. I’m a curvy slim build so not sure if I’d be smooth or skinny enough for them. I’m decently pretty but I would need Botox done to smooth out my wrinkles to make myself look even younger (I do look young for my age)

I know that’s vain but modelling can be a very vain and hard industry to get into but I would love to give it a go. Have any of yous done it?

And it’s not perfectly reasonable to expect a stranger on the internet to click through 3000 images to ‘prove it’ when they already know it exists.

I know they featured this model, I don’t care if you believe me or not – end of discussion.

The two aren’t mutually exclusive and baby modelling can build up quite a nest egg for the child.

Modelling is a broad sector, so you'd need to aim at a part of it that was at least a reasonable fit for you. If you think you'd need tweaks to your appearance to look younger, then forget that, as there would be too much competition from people who actually were younger. There is literally no point in a pretty 'shapely' older woman trying to get into a market with a demand for 6 foot 18 year old 'interesting looking' women, so you need to find out where the demand is for people who look like you and consider whether you met the criteria in terms of height, body shape and so on. My friend is in her 50s and models. You wouldn't describe her as 'pretty' or 'shapely' and she doesn't try to look younger, as she is a model for the age she is. She is very photogenic with great hair, skin and teeth and regular features. She is very slim but looks glowing with health, the things considered desirable to sell products to her age group.

I recognise this poster as she has posted repeatedly. She appears to have serious mental health issues and needs counselling, not encouragement to go into modelling or put her DC into baby modelling. The baby that she wanted to give up if he was born differently abled a few months ag

No harm in trying!

There's a market out there for all sorts of bodies/ages.

Your catwalk "high fashion" days have probably long since gone, but shops, catalogues etc always have a range of ages portrayed.

This is a frightening thread.

The baby that she wanted to give up if he was born differently abled a few months ago

Or put into occasional foster care when she needed a good night's sleep.

No-one can tell you if you are able to be a model without seeing what you look like.

Obviously older people are always needed to be models but, without seeing what you look like (in particular - your face, skin and hair) no-one would be able to advise you. Have you asked people who you are close to?

That is very unrealistic.
They aren't going to take someone and use Photoshop/ai to bring them up to modelling standard.

There are billions of people in the world.
They're going to choose people who don't need that.

And then do it anyway of course. 🙄

But you have to think logically here. Modelling agencies don't take people they can't use without lots of digital reworking.

You're either good enough or you're not.

Maybe I should have done it younger then like I should have got the opportunity with a lot of things but didn’t as they were taken away from me

You say this in all your threads, @PlatinumBlondeBarbie

Can you elaborate a bit?

I think some pps are being rude...

A runway model/cover of Vogue/ Victoria's Secret etc...yes most likely that ship has sailed.

But I know some friends who were in local Beauty competitions and did promo work (Grid girls etc) in the 00s but who never got to the level they wanted and who after becoming mums were surprised to discover that doing a bit of modelling on the side turned out to be more of a success for them in their 30s and 40s than it ever had been when they were late teens and 20s.

They've had catalogue/clothes website work, ads and commercials both on TV and in magazines for things like DWP info for tax credits, washing powder/cleaning products, formula milk and nappies, Tesco type adverts where the whole family is involved. One of them is one of the most recogniseable plus size models in the world now and spends her life between NYC, California and the Far East...modelling for companies like ASOS, Bravissimo, Lululemon as well as small companies, wellness brands and, occasionally, big designers/runway work. She's 40 and a size 16 but utterly stunning...face like Natalie Portman, blonde, tanned. You'd not know her name but you'd absolutely know her face.

All of them were classically very pretty, some of them have had a bit of Botox but no more than that. They fit the "pretty, kind, Mum" sterotype now and companies like Fairy, John Lewis, Dove and Prima Magazine are always looking for that sort of woman. Most of them are size 10/12, have taken care of themselves, shiny long/mid hair, good white teeth, good skin but no fake fillers/boobs etc. Being fabulous with babies and children on photo/advert shoots has also got them a long way even if they don't have kids. Think the sort of woman you'd see in a Pampers commercial or modelling Skechers sportswear. Look good glammed up or dressed down in jeans and trainers.

Most of them also occasionally do TV Extra work or supporting roles - I've seen a few of them on soaps when there is a parent and toddler group or child's party or on a hen night storyline. Sometimes they model clothes on programmes like Lorraine or This Morning.

I don't by any means meet this description but I don't sneer at women that do,
They make good money from it as a "side hustle" and still get to remain anonymous and have a normal life.

The OP has a sight disability, is long term unemployed and was let go from her supported unpaid work.

She has previously posted very unusual things like that she will put her baby into care if she and her partner argue. She has been encouraged to access support in real life but doesn't.

Encouraging her that she might find a niche in modelling when she's got so much else in her life that she clearly needs help with, isn't very kind or helpful.

OP please seek real life support for your real life issues instead of chasing validation on your looks.

I knew nothing of her previous history, I was just going by the info in the OP and providing an answer based on her questions about being too old or not skinny enough.

That's a very odd and disturbing back story but my advice was in no way unkind and it still might be helpful for other women who fancy having a go at modelling but feel that ship has sailed. Questions like these pop up on Google searches, after all.

No, I agree that your advice wasn't unkind.

Unfortunately though, this OP has name changed, and posts a lot of threads where she obsesses about her looks, about liposuction, about getting a smooth body, about fake tans.......... it goes on and on.

She had never posted about her son since his birth in March, though. This is the only thread where she's even mentioned him, and disturbingly, it's only to say that she wants him to be a baby model.

It sounds as though the OP is either seriously unwell, or playing MN like a fiddle.

Either way I think MNHQ should look into them.

Sure 😆

lol. Do you think photoshopping and AI is going to help? I’m an ex model so I know the industry. To even be considered by a proper reputable modelling agency, you need to send them unedited pictures of yourself. One being a close up of your face. If you edit your pictures, use AI or have Botox they will simply disregard your application. Models have to look as natural as possible- so no Botox, no lip fillers, no false lashes and no lipo suction - if you feel you need all these enhancements then you’re not cut out to be a model. I also wouldn’t advise trying to get into modelling to ‘feel pretty’ or have a confidence boost - the modelling industry is highly competitive and you get rejected for way more jobs than you get booked for. You are also up against lots of other pretty models with more experience than you. So it will give you the opposite of a confidence boost. Not everyone can be a model unfortunately and unless we can see pictures of you then we are unable to advise but I would say if you feel that you need AI and photoshop along with Botox, fillers etc then modelling is not for you.

Completely agree with this. A lot of these mums who push their babies and children into modelling think it’s going to be all glitz and glam. It isn’t. You have to travel with a small baby/ child to go to castings - these castings are rarely local unless you’re lucky enough to live in London or Manchester. The castings are usually at very short notice (24 hours notice) so you have to plan how you’re going to get there and how you’re going to do this with a baby/ child. At the castings there are probably going to be another 100 or so babies/ children all wanting the same job so you will be placed in a queue and there is usually a long wait to be seen by the casting director. The child will get bored/ need feeding/ changing/ entertaining/ probably start crying. The chances are, you probably will not get the job so all that travelling was for nothing and you don’t get your travel costs covered for castings either. If you do get the job, it’s generally not very well paid for babies/ children. You will probably also have to travel miles for the job and will be there at least a few hours. Again the child will most likely get bored. You have to have thick skin to be a model so rejection after rejection for modelling jobs will take its toll and can knock your child’s confidence and self esteem.
But that’s all okay because you’ll be living the life you always wanted through your child! 🙄

BTW adult model castings work in the same way. So again it’s not all glitz and glam and Botox and AI/ photoshop! It’s damned hard work. Would you seriously want to put that sort of strain on your child?

I agree with all of this. Lots of people think 'Everyone says I'm pretty/have a good figure so perhaps I can be a model.'

Being what most people would consider pretty is quite low down the list of requirements actually. Lots of very successful models are quite unusual looking, and not necessarily pretty at all.