Ask a model anything

[Nerfertiti]

On the topic of social media, I’m more interested in hearing the perspectives of VIPs (models and insiders) re: how they view social media and the role it plays in the modelling/fashion industry. Particularly those of you who have been working in the industry prior to the point when social media became so important. I’ve read about how all modelling agencies now require models to have an Instagram account, girls now apparently get scouted on Instagram, and a model with a big social media following is more likely to book jobs than one with a small following. Is all this in fact true? And how do you feel about it? For those that have been in the industry for a while, how has your job changed (model or insider) since social media became such a big deal? And for those VIPs that are somewhat new to the industry, how do you feel about social media and it’s significance? Do you feel pressure to increase the number of your followers? Do you think your social media following impacts the number of jobs models book?

How would you differentiate between models who get signed because of their Instagram and Instagram models? By that, I mean girls who don’t fit the industry standard but still get jobs due to popularity. Then again, I know Lily-Rose is short, but still well-known. Maybe it’s a case by case thing?

 

[Tinyportia]

How would you differentiate between models who get signed because of their Instagram and Instagram models? By that, I mean girls who don’t fit the industry standard but still get jobs due to popularity. Then again, I know Lily-Rose is short, but still well-known. Maybe it’s a case by case thing?

As a general rule I don’t really count Instagram models as real models lol. Lily Rose Depp is pretty and all but she’s not a model...celebrity/daughter of a famous couple is the best way to describe her (and I don’t mean that as an insult - just a statement of fact). Personally I’m interested in ACTUAL models who are already signed and the extent to which the number of social media followers they have influences the kind/number of jobs they book. So girls who fit the industry standard I guess but their social media “boosts” their career?

 

[Cokezeroovercocaine]

• Do any of the VIP’s wish to share their follower count?
• Do you have tips for managing the aesthetic/theme for the account? Do you even bother with that?
• Personal pet peeves/things you hate when people do on IG?
• When did you notice a significant increase in followers? What prompted it?
• What apps do you use to edit photos/do you edit photos?
• Does it matter in the industry? Are you likely to get jobs/network if you’ve got a “popular” IG?
• (Bonus question) Weirdest message you’ve ever received in your DM’s? The standard “so sexy bb let me look after you goddess so sexy I like it hmmmmm” doesn’t count.

I'm not particularly good at the whole instagram thing, I've never had the mental energy to devote to following a theme or anything. My biggest pet peeve is when you're out with someone and everything is instagrammed and redone till its perfect. Yes we need content, I'd also like to eat my acai bowl before it melts. Also hate it when I cant even recognize the person from their instagram to reall life. And people who make fools of themselves for tiktoks or instagram stories. I was at a show with a bunch of influencers attending and they kept getting up on the stage and doing weird dances for tik tok.

As for weird dms, I've gotten a few people from home trying to say we should hang out even though they literally never spoke to me in high school. A lot of weird photographers trying to set up shoots and this concerning offer to get paid to fly overseas to meet this prince of somewhere and get paid a crap ton if he wanted to see me.

On the topic of social media, I’m more interested in hearing the perspectives of VIPs (models and insiders) re: how they view social media and the role it plays in the modelling/fashion industry. Particularly those of you who have been working in the industry prior to the point when social media became so important. I’ve read about how all modelling agencies now require models to have an Instagram account, girls now apparently get scouted on Instagram, and a model with a big social media following is more likely to book jobs than one with a small following. Is all this in fact true? And how do you feel about it? For those that have been in the industry for a while, how has your job changed (model or insider) since social media became such a big deal? And for those VIPs that are somewhat new to the industry, how do you feel about social media and its significance? Do you feel pressure to increase the number of your followers? Do you think your social media following impacts the number of jobs models book?

Sigh... instagram definitely plays a bigger role than I personally think it should (Ideally I'd like to not have a public account at all). I've only been full time for less than two years, so it's always been like that to a certain degree, but it seems to be getting worse. As for how important social media is, it depends on what city you're in. LA is particularly brutal, you often need 10-20k to get in the door (or so girls claim). For the most part New York and most of my clients don't seem to care as much, especially for day to day shows/ lookbooks/ecomm, it doesnt make a huge difference whether the girl has a ton of followers. I know girls who have been YSL or Celine exclusives, booked crazy campaigns and have under 2000 followers. That being said, its become common to be asked for your social media handle at castings. I suppose from a clients perspective, it makes sense not only from a how much "influence" does this model have but also does she represent our brand well, especially now when even the smallest detail can get a brand in huge trouble. I'm also seeing a lot more models who arent that pretty or skinny or particularly notable in any way, doing pretty well because they have enough of a following which, while I try not to be too bitter about, kinda pisses me off.

 

[ghost]

Something that I've always wondered about and heard speculation over was the top 50 model ranking on models.com.

Is it true that some agencies pay for their models to be listed there? If so, why? Is it to increase the pay rate for the models?
(I.e. marketing them to a smaller brand and telling them that they're getting a ~top 50~ model to be the face of it).

 

[Skinnybitch]

Something that I've always wondered about and heard speculation over was the top 50 model ranking on models.com.

Is it true that some agencies pay for their models to be listed there? If so, why? Is it to increase the pay rate for the models?
(I.e. marketing them to a smaller brand and telling them that they're getting a ~top 50~ model to be the face of it).

Yes, it is. You're absolutely right. To increase the rate. For example, they've included Evie Harris to the hot list, I've just checked her agencies and surprise! She's with DNA.
Models com ranking is just a joke. They don't consider Vlada Roslyakova as an icon but they included Adwoa Aboah to ''The icons''.

 

[proseccoprincess]

How many days before a big shoot do you stop doing intense workouts (to reduce muscle swelling and water retention)?

 

[Prada Slut]

I've always wondered how models maintain their weight while frequently traveling or going on vacations. Do you bring a scale with you and weigh yourself every morning and then go about the rest of your day? Do you just focus on portions when eating out (which would be frequent since you wouldn't be having your usual every day meals)? Do you avoid drinking to the point of getting drunk by having one drink only? I struggle with this, but I know there's a way around it since many models manage to do it.

 

[daintease]

I've always wondered how models maintain their weight while frequently traveling or going on vacations. Do you bring a scale with you and weigh yourself every morning and then go about the rest of your day? Do you just focus on portions when eating out (which would be frequent since you wouldn't be having your usual every day meals)? Do you avoid drinking to the point of getting drunk by having one drink only? I struggle with this, but I know there's a way around it since many models manage to do it.

Weight isn’t necessarily the primary focus of most models, rather your measurements are what matter. A measuring tape is really easy to bring traveling so that’s a nonissue. Can’t really speak for the rest of the questions since I’m not a model