Size requirements for fashion models:
Female fashion models are generally tall and thin, between 5'7" and 6'0" tall with hips no larger than 36", have long necks and full lips. Male fashion models are trim and athletic, between 5'11" and 6'2" tall and wear a 40 through 42 jacket. A full head of healthy hair and good teeth are essential. Commercial models come in a wide range of sizes. It mostly depends on your "look" rather than your size. Body and parts models can be any size, as it is proportions that count.
Child and Teen modeling:
Children and teens can work in many types of modeling: fashion shows, editorial, catalogue, commercials. Teen models are referred to as "Junior Models" and must be between 5’4" and 5’8" in height, 12 through 17 years of age with youthful look. Children can be any size.
Fashion Model Beauty:
If many people suggest that you should consider modeling because of your beauty, perhaps you should. But first you have to understand what modeling is all about. Any client who is using a model's services does so because the model can help to promote and sell their product. That is the only reason why they hire models. Just to be a beautiful is not enough to be a good model. Look through fashion magazines and you will see many not so beautiful but very successful models. Please understand that all agencies and clients are looking for models with a very interesting and unique look. The demand for certain distinctive facial features is an on-and-off feature, so it's not surprising that expectations and fashion modeling requirements tend to constantly change as far as facial looks are concerned.
Commercial Print:
The typical belief among short aspiring models is that, since they can’t be a fashion model, they ought to be a commercial print model. It’s pretty common to hear that “height does not matter” in commercial print. The motivation is understandable, and there is some truth behind the advice. But it’s every bit as wrong as it is right. Here’s the truth: The criteria are different than they are for fashion, and not as firm. But height does matter in commercial print.
For the most part, very tall and very short models (for women, 5’11” and above, 5’4” and below, for men 6’3” and above, 5’8” and below) are not what the print industry is looking for. Yes, there are exceptions, and commercial agencies tend to have some models who will work in those exceptional cases. But for the most part, commercial work goes to those who are of “middle height”. (Yes, 5’4” is close to the median in the “real world”, and 5’4” girls really are not “short”. But the terms and criteria used here are based on the norms of the modeling industry, not “real life”.) The average female commercial print model is 5’6 ½” tall, the average male 5’11 ½” tall.
Here are some general guidelines-
- Short minorities are more likely to get hired than short Caucasians. That is especially true of Asians.
- Short older models (over 40) are much more likely to be hired than short younger ones. There is too much competition among the 5’6” and above group for a young, shorter girl to compete.
- Again, this is for classic “commercial print” work, not specialties like glamour, promotional or fitness modeling, where height doesn’t seem to matter as much.
The bottom line is this: Except for Asians, the market for young female models under 5’5” is vanishingly small, much less than 1% of the market. With rare exception, a taller girl can do pretty much any print job; a shorter girl is limited to a very small subset.
Agencies know that, at least to a rough approximation. And that is why it is so difficult for a short model to attract the attention of a commercial print agency.
Promotional:
There is a preference for taller models in promotional modeling (taller people are easier to see in a crowd, and attract more attention), but it’s far from a requirement. Many promotional models who are well under “modeling” height have had excellent careers.
Glamour and Art:
There is no general height requirements for glamour and art models.
