Tips on How to Be a Successful Model

By Kaki West

Modeling isn’t easy, especially if you’re just starting out. The fashion and beauty industries are challenging, often requiring models to work long hours without proper breaks and mealtimes in between. Another challenge many new models face is competition. It seems every girl wants to be a model these days, including professional women with day jobs. Whether you’re new to modeling or have been getting paid gigs for years, here are three tips on how to be successful in such a challenging industry.

Eat a healthy diet. Gone are the days when models survived on coffee and cigarettes. In fact, there’s a new wave of models that treat their bodies right, starting with eating a healthy diet. There are many reasons why eating a healthy diet can help you become a successful model: it will give you the energy and nutrients you need to work long hours; it will nourish your body from the inside out, which means you will have great skin; and you will feel good about making the right choices, which will boost your self-esteem. My diet consists of whole foods, including plenty of whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

Be yourself. If it’s one thing I can encourage new models to do is to be true to themselves. While it’s important to be who you are on the inside, this also means not being afraid of who you are on the outside. In other words, don’t try to change what you look like simply because you don’t have the same bust or booty as your favorite model. If you have curves, flaunt them, if you don’t, don’t fret. It’s hard to predict why an agency or designer might sign a deal with you, so the best thing you can do for yourself is be proud of who you are and have fun.

Stay true to your goals. The world of modeling can get discouraging. Dealing with rejection after rejection can be disheartening, but it’s important to stay focused on your goals. Remember why you want to do what you do. You can stay focused on your goals using a variety of techniques, from simply writing them down on paper and carrying them with you at all times, creating a vision board, or taking an hour each day to meditate on them. It’s also important to remind yourself that modeling might not be your end goal. For example, some people want to enter modeling as stepping stone to other careers, such as acting or hosting. Staying focused on your goals will provide you with the joy and energy you need to get through the hard times.