Your Career In Modelling
The glitzy, glamorous world of modelling also involves a lot of hard work, writes our Career counselor
From perfect bodies to flawless skins, from halter slipping to zip splitting — models are always in the limelight. It is the limelight and glamour, which attracts youngsters to the profession of modelling. With fashion shows like Lakme Fashion Week and the Wills Lifestyle bringing in good business, modelling is no longer frowned upon.
Yasheel Jain, business head of Shoot Talent Management (a modelling agency) says, "The scope and demand for models is increasing as many retail outlets, jewellery showrooms, export houses, night clubs, malls and commercials need models to showcase their collection."
With the demand for models increasing, so is supply. However, only a handful of aspirants actually end up walking the ramp or having their faces splashed on TV, glossies and newsprint. The road to the first break in the world of modelling comes after a lot of toil, hardwork, PR and careful manipulation. The foremost challenge is to get noticed. The regimen of making a portfolio, visiting agencies and media houses is just the beginning of the rat race. Some get lucky through beauty pageants and model hunts.
Sanchita Kushari Bose, model co-ordinator and event manager, says that it is important to be in safe hands. "One should only trust agencies which have a proven track record and ensure a good work experience for models alongwith the right pay packet," she adds.
It is not just the physical attributes but also an outgoing personality, a positive attitude and a never-say-die spirit that help an aspiring model. Meyhar Bhasin, a well-known model and entrepreneur, says, "Besides an attractive physique and photogenic face you need to have oodles of confidence, poise, gift of the gab, good communication skills, ability to take criticism and willingness to work hard. Even if you have it all you must be clever, enterprising and should have the ability to carefully manipulate your network to bag assignments."
The world of modelling consists of ramp, print and commercials but due to market demands and competition the thin line of demarcation between them is blurring. In ramp or live modelling, models display clothes and accessories to potential buyers of the designer or the retail owner. The pay package for beginners is quite low. For male models it ranges from Rs 5,000 to 8,000 per show and for female models it is around Rs 10,000.
"It is only after you are an established model that you earn about Rs 25,000 per show," says Rahul Kapoor, director, Meyhar Bhasin Academy. In comparison to ramp modelling, models get a better deal in commercials or when they shoot for magazines, catalogues or TV ads. A model can get anything between Rs 20,000 as starting salary to Rs 2-3 lakhs for a TV campaign.
Though modelling is a glamourous and lucrative career it is also short-lived and risky. "We always advise our students to have an alternate career to fall back upon if they fail to make it big. Hence, we discourage them to leave their formal education for modelling," says Pankhuri Singh, marketing head, Elite School of Modelling. The other career options that a model can opt for are styling, acting, choreography, entrepreneurship, PR, VJ and interior decoration, among others. Says adman Prahlad Kakkar, "Modelling cannot be a mainstay career. Most models use this as an opportunity to get into films. This is perhaps the only profession where women are paid more than men.’’
Career In Fashion Technology
Graduating from France Studying management in France means... particularly in Fashion TEchnology Modelling Paris University International Residencies and Executive Education. post-graduate educational programmes such as Bachelors in International Business, MBAs ........
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