There are so many model myths out there and it’s hard to keep track of them all. Here are some of the most common misconceptions and stereotypes about models.
You’ll find out whether these myths are true or false.
Photo By Laika Aurange
Something to keep in mind when talking about models is that models are human! I feel like this gets forgotten pretty easily, especially when everything that is posted on social media is all about the luxury lifestyle that models live.
Modeling is also a job. They get hired to do something, they do what they’re told and then everyone sees the end result. Oftentimes, that’s all they see. No one see’s all of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes. Which makes sense; why would models (or anyone) want to post the boring/not so fun things about their job? Of course they want to post the fun parts!
These are the ten most common myths about models.
1. Models are rude/stuck up
“Are the other models mean?” “I always thought models were bitches.” “Are the girls rude?” These are things that models hear ALL THE TIME. It’s simply not true.
I promise, models aren’t mean. They’re actually some of the nicest people you’ll meet.
No matter what industry you’re in, there are going to be people who are mean, but that doesn’t mean that everyone in that industry is mean.
Being a model doesn’t make you rude. If you meet a model and they’re stuck up, that’s just because that’s who they are. If you meet someone who is rude and happens to be a model, please don’t let that influence the way you see the rest of them!
As a model, you’re essentially your own business. People are hiring you because of the way you look. So, of course models put a lot of time and effort into their appearance. Whether that’s working out, eating healthy, taking care of their skin or all of the above, models have to be looking their best because there is a lot of competition in the industry.
When people see how much effort models put into the way they look, it’s easy to call them stuck up, but they’re just doing their job!
2. Models get free designer clothes and products
Yup, we do. But not as often as you think.
Sometimes, we get to keep the products we shoot, but that’s definitely not the case for most shoots. Companies are constantly doing photoshoots, promo videos, etc. for their brand; they can’t always give away their product for free!
Some of the products I’ve received include: clothes, hair curler/dryer, shoes, makeup and more! Usually, smaller brands are more likely to give you their products for free rather than the big name brands.
3. Modeling is easy
This isn’t true. This is a myth that frustrates nearly everyone in the modeling industry. It’s truly surprising that so many people today still have this stereotype about modeling. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Yeah, modeling is fun, unpredictable (at times) and can look effortless, but there are so many challenges that comes with being a model.
Here are a few of the challenges models face:
- Being rejected for 95% of the jobs you’re submitted to
- Having inconsistent jobs/getting paid weeks (sometimes months) later
- Constantly being compared to other models
- Being on set and having to pose in front of every single person on set
- Dealing with critical directors, designers, photographers, etc.
- Always having people touch you. Whether it’s pulling your hair, putting 4 different makeup looks on you or helping you get dressed
- Getting told you don’t have the look they want and having to be mentally strong enough to not take it personally
Those are only a couple challenges models face and I haven’t even mentioned some of the working conditions yet! But don’t worry, that’s coming up.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself if you assume modeling is easy:
Why do so many models quit due to stress, anxiety or mental health related problems from modeling?
If modeling is easy, why are there people who’ve been struggling to become a model for years?
Would you be able to stand in front of a room full of people with a spotlight on you and get thousands of photos taken of you in various angles, positions and outfits for several hours?
Additionally, a large majority of people who hold this idea that “Modeling is easy” aren’t even confident in front of the camera themselves!
4. Glamorous Lifestyle
It’s so simple to see little clips of behind the scenes at fashion shows or photoshoots and assume that this lifestyle is all glitz and glam. Of course, that’s definitely part of it, but it’s not the whole picture.
Models have to deal with harsh conditions, little to no food on sets, not having enough time to even eat on set, 14+ hour days and so much more. Let me remind you that models also expected to not show any of this on their face as they’re shooting!
The lifestyle of a model can include:
- Harsh working conditions
- The conditions that models have to work in can be very difficult. There are countless stories of models getting hypothermia from having to shoot in freezing cold waters or overheating because they have to wear coats and pants in hot whether.
- These things happen more than you think, because clothing companies are shooting for their next seasons clothes to post on social media and their websites! That means that models can get put in bikinis in the winter and warms clothes in the summer.
- Not having food on set/not having time to eat
- For some reason, no matter how prepared everyone on set is, everything is always running behind schedule. Because of this, models sometimes have less than 10 minutes to eat or have to eat little bites of food as they’re changing outfits.
- 14+ hour days. No, this isn’t an exaggeration.
- Everything is last-minute. You’ll find out you have a last minute photoshoot the very next day or even the same day.
- Some sets are questionable and in very sketchy locations.
- Confusion on set! Lack of communication.
- A lot of time, most of the people on set don’t even know what’s happening because there is a lack of communication.
5. Models make money right off the bat
This is a misconception that a lot of new models think! This is far from the truth.
If you’ve just signed to an agency, please don’t think you’re going to be making thousands of dollars as soon as you start. That’s not the case even for models who’ve been signed for years.
If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to book 1 or 2 jobs within the first 3-4 weeks of being signed. As a new model, your agents will be submitting you to easier and smaller jobs so that you’ll learn the basics and learn to be more confident in front of the camera.
It’s true that modeling makes great money. But they don’t make thousands of dollars right away. It can take several years to start making that much and most of the time, people stop modeling by then.
6. Models are dumb
Why is this even a stereotype?
Just because someone is good looking doesn’t mean that their looks are all they have. Again, models are humans. They have hobbies and enjoy learning new things.
As I mentioned before, modeling is super inconsistent for the majority of models. Because of this, a lot of models have more than one job and these jobs don’t care about how you look. They just need someone who is capable of doing the job. Because of this, models are usually very versatile, adaptable and learn many new skills.
Further, the people models meet in the industry and on set are so random and have a variety of different backgrounds. When they’re on set for hours a day they talk to those on set, share stories, learn new things and make new connections.
Modeling is oftentimes the least interesting thing about being a model.
7. Models don’t eat or are on drugs
This is a very understandable myth about modeling and that’s because it used to be true only a couple years ago. Models in the 80’s-90’s were known for being extremely skinny. Some of them used drugs to help them lose weight in order to stay ‘in shape’.
Fortunately, the times are changing (slowly, but surely) and this is not the case anymore! Models are healthy, they eat what they want, they exercise. They do all of this, because they want to.
The industry is expanding and becoming more diverse in significant ways. There are models of different height, weight, ethnicities, etc. I believe there is still a long road ahead for the modeling industry, but the progress that has been made so far is promising.
That being said, there are some models who still feel the need to be super skinny in order to ‘make it’ in the industry. Other models have agents who tell them to lose weight in order to book more jobs. For most models today, this is not the case, but it’s important to acknowledge that this still happens.
It’s very unfair to place such a serious stereotype on models. Eating disorders and drug addiction are common for so many people not in the modeling industry. They are both very sad illnesses and shouldn’t be something that gets thrown in someone’s face, simply because they model.
8. Must look a certain way/ be perfect
You don’t need to have a perfect nose, perfect teeth or a perfectly symmetrical face to model. In fact, there are a lot of top models and top agencies that are looking for people who are unique and don’t look like everyone else. In the modeling world, looking like everyone else is boring.
So many people are insecure about their nose not being ‘cute’ or their lips being too thin or too big. But that very thing you’re insecure about could be the thing that makes you stand out from all the other models.
There are countless models today who don’t fit into today’s beauty standards that are still very successful. Here are 10 supermodels that just made it onto Vogue’s Website as the “10 Breakout Models of Spring 2022”. You can see just how different these models look from one another. They have different face shapes, different body types, different noses and more. If all of these models looked identical, they probably wouldn’t have been mentioned in Vogue!
9. Models have to have perfect skin
This model myth is the one that shocks people the most. Your skin doesn’t need to be flawless in order to model. In fact, even the most famous models today proudly show of their acne and are making it known that models breakout too!
Once again, models are human! They get acne just like everyone else. Of course, they try to take extra care of their skin in order to look their best, but they still have blemishes.
10. You need a professional portfolio to start modeling
Nope, you don’t need to have a professional portfolio or pictures to start modeling!
You can become a model by applying online, going to open calls or getting scouted on social media. There are other ways you can become a model, but these are by far the most common and most likely.
A lot of people think that in order to become a model, you have to hire a photographer and start taking professional pictures before meeting with an agency, but you can just walk into the agency without having any pictures. Even when you apply to agencies online, all you have to do is take pictures of yourself on your phone!
Agencies actually prefer seeing pictures taken on an iPhone rather than heavily edited photos by a professional photographer.
Read this article for tips on how to become a signed model: Modeling Tips: How to Get Signed to a Modeling Agency
Wrap-up
These model myths and stereotypes have been around for as long as I can remember and it’s tiring hearing these same comments. It’s also surprising that people still believe most of them!
What’s true for some models isn’t true for all of them.
Hopefully this post has debunked and cleared up any confusion you had about modeling!
*Feel free to leave any comments or questions down below so I can answer them for you!*
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