- Liliane Ferrarezi
How to Become a Model: The Complete Beginner’s Guide
Do you dream of becoming a fashion model?
Maybe you picture runway shows, global campaigns, financial independence, traveling the world, and living a life filled with unique experiences. That dream is legitimate. Over many years in the fashion industry, I’ve seen hundreds of careers begin exactly this way.
But there is something essential I learned, both as an international model and as the founder of a mother agency:
Modeling is a profession.
And like any profession, it requires preparation, strategy, emotional discipline, and smart decisions from the very beginning.
In this complete guide, you’ll understand the myths surrounding the industry, learn what you can start doing today to prepare yourself, discover the different modeling markets, avoid common scams, and take your first step safely.
This is not just an informational article.
It’s a practical roadmap for anyone who wants to start the right way.
What You’ll Learn in This Guide:
- What it really takes to become a model.
- How to train at home before contacting an agency
- The main modeling. markets and what each one requires.
- How to take simple photos that actually work.
- The difference between an agency, a mother agency, and a scout.
- How to avoid common beginner scams.
- How to take your first step with safety and strategy.
What Does It Really Take to Become a Model? (Myths vs. Reality)
Before making any decisions, it’s essential to align expectations. The fashion industry is still surrounded by myths, and those myths often push real talent away or put young people in risky situations.
Becoming a model is not about fitting into a single beauty standard. It’s not about fast money. And it’s not about instant fame.
It’s about potential, long-term development, and making the right choices early on.
Let’s break down some common misconceptions:
Myth | Reality |
You have to be tall for every type of modeling. | The commercial market accepts a wide range of heights. |
You must look like a traditional “cover model.” | The industry looks for real, unique, striking, and charismatic profiles. |
Modeling is easy, quick money. | It’s a career that demands patience, consistency, and strategic positioning. |
You have to pay to join an agency. | Reputable agencies do not charge application or representation fees. |
Understanding this from the beginning prevents frustration and helps you enter the industry with clarity and protection.
Practical Preparation: What You Can Do Today — For Free
Before speaking with any agency, there are simple steps that help you prepare and better understand your own potential.
Mirror Practice
Take time to observe your face carefully. Try neutral expressions, soft smiles, and different angles. Discover your strongest features.
This exercise builds facial awareness and helps you feel more natural in front of a camera.
Ask Someone to Take Simple Photos
Have a friend or family member take photos using a smartphone.
- Use natural light (near a window)
- Choose a neutral background
- Wear simple, fitted clothing
- Avoid heavy makeup
- No filters or editing
This is not about production. It’s about authenticity.
Clean Digital Presence
Instagram is not mandatory, but it represents you.
Review older posts that may be overly sensual or no longer reflect who you are today. Think of your profile as a clean, honest portfolio preview.
These steps do not replace professional evaluation. But they help you approach it more prepared and self-aware.
The 4 Main Modeling Markets
Many people say, “I want to become a model,” without understanding that there are very different segments within the industry.
Knowing these categories is essential so you don’t try to enter through the wrong door.
Fashion Model (Runway & Editorial)
This is high fashion: runway shows, fashion weeks, editorial spreads, etc.
In international markets, height expectations are generally:
- Women: around 5’9″ (175 cm) and above
- Men: around 6’1″ (185 cm) and above
There are exceptions, but these numbers serve as general references.
This segment is highly competitive and concept-driven. It prioritizes visual language, proportions, and the ability to represent design vision.
There are fewer jobs compared to commercial modeling, but strong image positioning and prestige.
It’s best suited for profiles that naturally align with these physical standards and are interested in fashion-focused work.
Commercial & Advertising Model
This is the broadest and most accessible segment of modeling.
It includes:
- TV commercials
- E-commerce
- Catalogs
- Social media campaigns
- Corporate and lifestyle advertising
Height is more flexible.
What matters most:
- Photogenic presence
- Charisma
- Facial expression
- Emotional range
- Connection with the camera
This segment offers more consistent work opportunities and often greater financial stability over time. For many beginners, it becomes the most realistic entry point.
Plus Size (Curve) Model
The plus size market is one of the fastest-growing globally.
It values:
- Confidence
- Strong presence
- Body awareness
- Authenticity
It operates across fashion, swimwear, lingerie, and lifestyle campaigns.
Professionalism, posture, and image care remain essential, just as in any other segment. What has changed is the industry’s openness to real representation.
Kids & Teen Model
This market requires special attention.
Beyond natural charm and personality, the most important factor is family support. Parents or guardians must actively participate in decisions, schedules, and emotional guidance.
At Linea, we follow one principle: School First.
Education always comes before modeling.
Children and teens grow quickly, so their materials must be updated frequently. Outdated photos can harm opportunities.
When properly guided, this market can be a healthy and positive experience.
Modeling Materials: Digitals, Portfolio, and Composite Card
Understanding modeling materials is one of the most important parts of starting correctly.
Many unnecessary expenses and scams happen due to confusion here.
Digitals (Polaroids)
Digitals are simple photos taken at home, without production.
They are not meant to impress. They are meant to reveal your real self, your potential.
How to take proper digitals:
- Natural light near a window
- Plain background
- Fitted neutral clothing
- No makeup or very minimal
- No filters
- Front, profile, and full-length shots
- Relaxed posture and natural expression
At Linea, we do not evaluate overly produced photos. They hide proportions and real features.
Professional Portfolio (Book)
Your portfolio, or more commonly known as book, is the professional image collection of your most important jobs, best tests, etc.
But here is an essential point:
You should not invest in a portfolio before being evaluated.
The right moment to build one is when:
- Your profile has been approved
- There is a clear market direction
- The agency guides the type of images needed
Building a portfolio without a strategy often results in beautiful photos that do not serve your market.
Composite Card
Your professional business card.
It includes:
- Updated photos
- Height and measurements
- Age
- Basic location information
Agencies and clients use composite cards for quick casting decisions.
Alert: No legitimate agency requires you to pay for expensive photos before evaluating your profile or presenting a clear career plan. Scams usually begin with urgency and financial pressure.
How to Enter the Modeling Industry
There are different paths into modeling, but not all offer the same level of safety and strategy.
Direct Applications (The Solo Path)
You independently research agencies and submit your materials.
Without guidance:
- Profiles may be sent to the wrong markets
- Materials may not meet expectations
- Rejection can happen prematurely
- Emotional burnout occurs early
This path isn’t wrong, but it requires industry knowledge most beginners don’t yet have.
Being Discovered by a Scouter
A model scouter (often just called a “scouter”) is a professional whose job is to identify potential new faces and connect them with the right agency. Think of scouts as a bridge between a promising talent and an agency that can represent them.
Scouts may find talent in different places and channels, such as:
- Social media
- Shopping centers and public spaces
- Events
- Referrals and recommendations
It’s important to know that there are different types of scouts:
- Independent scouters, who may collaborate with multiple agencies
- Agency-affiliated scouters, who work directly for (or represent) a specific agency
What matters most: professionalism and safety
A legitimate scouter:
- Never asks for upfront money
- Never requests intimate or inappropriate photos
- Clearly identifies themselves and explains who they represent
- Doesn’t pressure you into immediate decisions or payments
- Is comfortable with you verifying their connection to the agency they claim to represent
If you’re unsure, it’s completely reasonable to confirm directly with the agency: Does this person actually represent you? That one step alone prevents most early-career scams.
The Mother Agency Strategy (The Linea Model)
This is the most structured and protective path for beginners.
At Linea, we don’t just discover talent. We manage careers.
That means:
- Evaluating real potential
- Guiding materials
- Defining the right market
- Using our network to present profiles to appropriate booking agencies
- Monitoring long-term development
Instead of knocking on random doors, you enter the industry with strategy and guidance.
That is the role of a mother agency.
The Role of an Agency vs. a Mother Agency
A booking agency focuses on securing jobs in a specific market.
A mother agency focuses on long-term career direction, defining timing, markets, and overseeing development globally.
Key advantages of a mother agency:
- Early career planning
- Strategic market entry
- Talent protection and guidance
- International connections
- Ongoing development oversight
To understand in depth how a mother agency works and why it plays such a crucial role in building an international modeling career, read our complete guide on mother agencies.
How to Prepare for a Modeling Casting (What Works Anywhere)
Regardless of the agency or market, the logic behind a casting is always the same: to evaluate the model’s real potential, not their level of production.
For that reason, the simpler and more honest your presentation is, the better.
Casting is not about showing up with elaborate styling, heavy makeup, or trying to “impress” the room. Agencies are trained to look beyond production. What they want to see is your natural proportions, your presence, and your ability to take direction.
Understanding this changes everything.
What Agencies Observe
Before thinking about clothing or makeup, it’s important to understand what is actually being evaluated:
- Body proportions
- Natural facial features
- Posture and presence
- Ability to listen and follow instructions
- Professional attitude
Casting is not about impressing. It’s about revealing who you are.
Universal Casting Checklist
These guidelines apply to virtually any professional agency, whether in the United States, Europe, or elsewhere. The goal is consistency and clarity. Agencies want to evaluate you. Not distractions.
Clothing
Keep it simple and fitted so your proportions are visible.
- Basic jeans or fitted pants (no rips, embellishments, or oversized cuts)
- A white, black, or neutral t-shirt or tank top
- Clothing that follows your body shape without being tight or revealing
- No prints, logos, patterns, or bright colors
The purpose is to allow the agency to clearly see your natural silhouette and body proportions.
Makeup
Less is more. And sometimes, none is best.
- Ideally, no makeup
- If needed, only very light concealer to even out skin tone
- No heavy foundation
- No contouring or highlight
- No false lashes or dramatic eye makeup
Agencies need to see your real skin texture and natural facial structure.
Hair
Your hair should look clean and natural.
- Washed and dry
- Worn down
- No elaborate styling
- No heavy products
They want to see its natural texture and volume.
Behavior
Professionalism begins before you walk into the room.
- Arrive on time (preferably 10–15 minutes early)
- Be polite and respectful
- Listen carefully to instructions
- Avoid interrupting or over-explaining
Casting directors often observe attitude as much as appearance.
Attitude
Your presence communicates more than you think.
- Stand with an upright posture
- Maintain calm, confident eye contact
- Stay relaxed but attentive
- Show confidence without arrogance
Remember: agencies are not looking for someone who acts like a celebrity. They are looking for someone who is coachable, grounded, and capable of growth.
Casting is not about impressing, even though sometimes that might eventually work. It’s mostly about showing who you are: clearly, honestly, and professionally.
What We Specifically Evaluate at Linea Models
At Linea, we follow the same professional casting principles, but with special attention to beginners.
We look for:
- Natural presence
- Development capacity
- Emotional maturity
- Family alignment (for minors)
- Openness to guidance
We don’t expect perfection.
We look for potential.
The casting is not the end of the process.
It’s the beginning of a conversation.
And when that conversation starts with transparency, everything flows better.
How to Start Your Modeling Career the Right Way
After understanding how modeling truly works, one thing becomes clear:
Modeling is not luck.
It’s direction.
Most talents lose opportunities not because they lack potential, but because they lack guidance early on.
At Linea Models, our role is to prevent that. We evaluate every profile carefully, with transparency and long-term vision, respecting each talent’s stage of life and the family’s role when minors are involved.
If you’ve made it this far, you’ve already taken the most important step: seeking quality information.
The next step is simple, free, and without obligation.
👉 Submit your photos to Linea Models by clicking the button below and discover your potential with professional guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
I’m shy. Can I still become a model?
Yes. Many successful models started out shy. Confidence and presence develop with experience and guidance. What matters most is openness to learning.
Do I have to pay to join a modeling agency?
No. Reputable agencies do not charge application or representation fees. They earn commission from the work they book for you. Upfront payment requests are a red flag.
Do models make good money at the beginning?
It depends. Income varies by market and strategy. Modeling is built over time. It’s not instant money, but a career developed with consistency and positioning.
Is Instagram required to become a model?
No. It’s not mandatory, but a clean and professional digital presence can support your profile, especially in commercial modeling.
Liliane Ferrarezi is an international model and co-founder of Linea Models. With a career spanning global campaigns and renowned runways, she now dedicates her experience to guiding new talents in the fashion industry.
