Chasing the dream of becoming the next supermodel? Do you know what it takes? Nothing comes easy and without discipline. If you don’t stand out, you’ll go unnoticed and long forgotten. In the name of uniqueness, look up to your idol supermodel but never lose the original essence that makes you, YOU! Revealing to you a few musts and breaking a few myths about this not-always-fun industry but is a captivating world on its own. Hit the ramp with your head held high, but first …
1. It's completely OKAY to eat: Do yourself a favor and DON’T give up on your eating habits. Stick to a normal healthy diet. As a matter of fact, it's not about how many calories you intake but how you eat them.Take care while going for a food fusion as it hinders digestion in case you take a wrong combination of proteins & carbohydrates together. Your day needs to start light but should get heavier as the day proceeds i.e. Dinner heavier than lunch heavier than breakfast. If you promise to not overdo it, you can also eat your favorite burger, pizza or chips too..
2. Research beforehand: Unfortunately, this glamour industry is known to be famous for all the wrong reasons. There is no substitute for research and you should collect all the information possible about an agency or any individual you are going to work with. Read thoroughly online and offline before signing a contract. Check for their reputation first because once attached to a bad name, a forever bruised repute. Analyze how deep their roots in the business are and they are here to stay or not because you don’t want to slack with a little or no growth. Then look into what kind of artists they work with and their past records because a lot about the present is in the history.
3. The right attitude minus the “Diva”: The reel world stereotypical “diva” that throws tantrums all over the place doesn’t work well in the real world. Be prepared to work for long hours with people you may not like also. Nobody would like to babysit a bratty model who argues on everything she is asked to do. Be nice to every single person on board and build word of mouth for yourself. Always keep a certain humbleness about the fact that being genetically gifted is what got them in the business.
4. Knowing your angles and knowing them well: While most of it is in the genetics, some elements of being photogenic can be learned too. If you feel uneasy or strained, the camera will capture it even before you know it. Blessed with strong & sharp features, you should know how to balance it also. It needs to look camera-friendly or otherwise good looks – no use. If you feel your left profile makes you look bloated, avoid posing that way. If your right profile enhances your features the best, stick to it. Trust your instincts, nobody knows you better than you.
5. Beauty with Brains: Breaking the most common industry myth, there is no space for bimbos. We agree physical beauty is a natural gift that we have no control over but a lot of it can change the way you carry yourself. The way you dress up elevates your beauty. All is going to be wasted if you don’t have a presence of mind and charm in the way you speak/connect with people. Try working on your personality as a whole and nurture an all-round development. A brain is also a gift to some extent but an unused brain isn’t. Keep yourself aware of things going around you, engage in good conversations and impress people with not just your good looks but take this industry up a notch that needs some smart women.
6. Posture & Poise: A good stance and posture reflect a proper state of mind and vice versa. You can impress the audience with your verbal skills when given a chance, but first, you have to leave an impression with your non-verbal skills that will make them want to listen to you in the first place. A good posture conveys grace, strength and other rosy words that make up a perfect first impression. It's not rocket science, you can learn you stand straight & walk tall, otherwise, the crown may fall.
7. Be You: Nobody does You better than You. They’ll like you for who you are and not what you are trying to portray. This world craves for originality. Even agencies prefer to see models as they are: No or minimum makeup, natural flowing hair and strictly, no double faces. While going to a meeting, ditch something fancy and go for a simple outfit that’s body-hugging and glorifies your body curves.
8. Your smile is the best curve you own: “Don’t smile while posing for the camera!” nobody said that ever. In a world where everyone does the no-smile expression for pictures, add some snapshots of you smiling in your portfolio. Play around with different facial expressions and let your playful side slide in your portfolio very naturally.
9. Psychological makeup: Even prior to your facial makeup. You are so much more than just a pretty face. Only when your mind is healthy, you’ll be ready to cope with the stress that comes hand in hand with the success you are chasing. It's easy to fall prey to destructive influences like alcohol, drugs, late-night partying, and unhealthy dieting regimes. It takes a girl of strong character and unwavering focus to take a decision that’s good for her and far away from such temptations. Learn to embrace rejections and accept it as an important part of the process. Know it, you cannot change everything and as soon as you accept not everything is for you to have, you’ll lead a happy career. Gratitude is the key to satisfaction. Deal with criticism smartly and never take it personally. The less you worry about approval and acceptance, the better off you will be.
10. Practice the art: Where every face is pretty, what differentiates one pretty model from the other is their posing ability and smooth walk. Perfect candid is an illusion. They work hard to create the masterpiece. Select poses you want to create on the stage and practice them. The ones that don’t seem to fit into the idea of your perfect on-stage moment, discard them for now. The oldest trick, practice in front of the mirror. Record yourself while practicing the ramp walk and watch, to find what is going wrong and how can it be made better. The camera sees that even naked eyes don’t. You have to be comfortable not only in front of people but also consider the camera as keen eyes noticing the minutest of details. You need to make camera your best friend and that’s when the awkwardness will fade.
11. The streak of constantly looking better: I cannot really say to not use makeup because that’s something you cannot really do. But stick to minimalism. Hydrate yourself with juices and a lot of water alone. I personally promote the power of natural ingredients like honey, mango, aloe vera, cucumber, tea tree oil, olive oil, turmeric powder, curd, tomato, potato etc and trust me, combinations of these prove to be the best DIY face packs. Own a good makeup remover or wipes and also rinse your face to clean off the leftovers. Your skin needs to breathe, as much as you want to slay.
12. Social media presence: I need not say much about the importance of having a social media following if you are part of this dreamy industry, there are business benefits to it, undoubtedly. But, don’t trap yourself in it. Take out time for yourself and for family & friends. In fact, take some time out of your mobile phones and focus on real things and relations. It’ll help you detox and take you away from the anxiety that’s building.