Model advertisements regularly pop up to entice young new faces to apply. There are many things to consider. You should not apply straight away out of eagerness and desperation. Stay safe and act with caution.

Models Wanted in the UK

The United Kingdom is very attractive in the industry for a range of reasons. To you, it may have been your home for numerous years and wish for sunnier, more exotic climes. However, there are new jobs right on your doorstep that you should not dismiss so easily.

Central London is one of the fashion capitals of the world. A lot of top brands will be looking to hire people from this area, given their proximity to key events and shoots. Plus, us Londoners are often renowned for understanding fashion in a way that simply cannot be learned. So, when those at the top are asking for male and female models, they’re often actually asking for a style and natural ability, which is typically associated with England – but they’re also thinking on a practical level, too. Other large cities outside of London such as Birmingham will have opportunities for photoshoots yet not on the same scale.

The UK is a highly diverse country with people of a range of different ethnicities, backgrounds, shapes and sizes. All fill a very different niche depending on what an agency or casting director is looking for at any one given time.

The UK has a lot of connections with other international fashion capitals, and the world’s best media, photographers, celebrities and others in the know. It’s highly connected and cosmopolitan, so you may be based at one of the modelling agencies in the UK but are asked to fly to Europe and beyond for modelling opportunities such as a location photoshoot or fashion show.

What You Need to Know…

• Whilst the model callout can seem like an attractive concept, there are still requirements that you need to fit. The kind of agency willing to accept anyone from the UK isn’t likely to have the same kind of modelling opportunities available for its models as those who are pickier. It’s all very well and good to be a model in general, but you’re unlikely to see success for a while.
• When you see ‘Models Wanted UK’ in an advert, do your research. Sometimes people get overly excited that their dreams might be about to come true, but unless you understand the requirements and/or what’s being promised of the modelling job, you don’t know if this is really what you’re looking for.
• If you do make it big, being from the UK doesn’t necessarily mean anything. You’ll most likely be required to travel the world for fashion shoots. This is a highly exciting perk of the job, but remember – it’s a job. If you miss home, you can’t just hop back on a plane. There are contracts and all kinds in place, so don’t be a liability!
• Remember that the fashion industry is very unpredictable. It is not a typical 9-5 structure. It works with flexible hours and on a part time basis. You may get more job alerts at certain time of the year and have a busy period, which may calm down. Therefore, you need to constantly be on the look out for open castings advertised by high street brands if you’re in the commercial sector.

Are You the Right Person for the Job?

You may be super excited when you are asked to attend a casting or see a modelling job advert. However, make sure that you have all the requirements needed. It is important to balance an eagerness for the role with a sensible approach. An easy example is, if they are looking for a male model and you are female, there is literally no chance in you getting it. Make sure you read the ad. Also, if they are looking for a glamour model but you do not feel comfortable posing in this way, simply don’t feel as though you have to attend absolutely everything.

Another point to look out for is the age restriction, which will be most likely be stated on the advert or in the job title. For example, if mature models is in the description, they will be looking for a male or female model of an older generation. Teen models usually fits within the age restriction of 12-17 years old.

Of course, it is good to go to a lot of different castings for various roles within your niche to keep your options open and to gain valuable experience in auditions such as these. The best way to go about securing castings is to be signed to an agency that can use their connections to find you suitable roles. It takes the pressure off you searching for modelling jobs however; if you are successful they will take a percentage of your hourly rate for their part in getting you the job. Make sure you are signed to a trustworthy agency to ensure the castings you are invited to attend are legit. Agencies are usually looking for attractive confident models.

Don’t Trust Everything You See on the Internet

As we’ve mentioned time and time again, models need to be wary of scam artists on the internet. Unfortunately, sometimes it is not a place of trust and predators try to prey on naïve teens who are eager to become a model. If an appealing job advert lands in your inbox or social media private messages, please be skeptical. It is extremely unlikely to be truthful and could be luring you into a trap. Becoming a model is not so easy. They are most likely trying to scam a large sum of money, get nude/topless images of you or put your in a very dangerous situation. If you do receive a message, email or comment inviting you for a model job please do the following:

The Steps to Follow….

• Firstly, do not hide the message from your parents. Please be open and honest as acting secretively could potentially put you in a dangerous situation.
• Remember that agencies rarely send a Facebook or Instagram message. Yes, it has become slightly more acceptable to scout models on Instagram. If the handle is from a well-known company, ring them to find out for sure. Do not use the number they provide but search for it yourself. They may be giving you a false number and pretend to be an agent.
• Scan the text for inappropriate language such as ‘hunny’, ‘gorgeous’, ‘sexy.’ Agents and trustworthy companies will not use terminology such as these as they are much more professional .
• Research the job in question and the company they claim to be from.
• Never meet them or agree to the opportunity unless you are 100% certain it is legit.
• Do not send nude pictures or undress on a video chat such as Skype. They may claim they need to see your figure but this is untrue in an attempt to trick you.
• If you see an advert on social media stating ‘models wanted for commercial modelling’ it may not be legit. Always do thorough research as this could easily be a scam. 

So it’s true, you may see model advertisements across the web and other sources. However, you can’t just walk into a dream modelling career 99% of the time. It takes a lot of dedication, common sense and caution! It is great to come up with a social media strategy that will boost your followers but please do be cautious with those that message you.