A Model is employed for the purpose of displaying and promoting fashion clothing or other products and fashion advertising and promotional purposes. Models are generally not expected to verbally express themselves. Not all models are considered “beautiful”,however, many high fashion models have what could be called 'quirky' attributes and memorably unusual faces. These “unusual faces” are used by high fashion brands as people are likely to remember their brand name and associate it with an interesting face. Types of models include fashion, glamour, fitness, bikini, fine art, and body-part models.
Supermodels are highly paid fashion models. Also, can be known as cover girls, appear on top fashion magazine covers and in fashion shows. A legitimate supermodel should be standing not less than 5 feet 8 and the average weight is supposed to be between 108 and 125 lbs. But it is not absolutely necessary that this the exact weight. It is believed that when you walk on the ramp that the camera adds another 15 lbs. Among the the prerequisites are that the model is long legged and lean. There is also the BMI or Body Mass Index to contend with which is becoming much debate in the fashion world.
During the 80s and 90s, only the so-called “Big Six” were officially recognized and accepted by the fashion world as supermodels: Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista. In the late 90s, as clothes became less flashy, designers turned to models who were less glamorous, so these models wouldn't overpower the clothing. Models imported from Brazil such as Gisele Bundchen, Adrian Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio become very popular after they signed contract with Victoria Secret.
In the Asian market, there are no fixed criteria for any models. In general, most performing artists seem to dominate most of the endorsements. Pan Asians are very popular among agencies and TV ad producers. i.e. Maggie Q. Back in 2007, the Malaysian Government decided to ban “Pan Asian” models to encourage more “Malaysian Looking” models in the local TV ads and print ads to reflect Malaysia. However, there is always a market for Pan-Asians in Malaysia because there is always a demand for Pan Asian in the local modeling industry.
Supermodel wannabes are models who are trying very hard to be accepted as Supermodels. These Supermodel wannabes will try to appear in most of the magazine pages regardless of the status and quality of the magazines and regardless of knowing their own strengths or weaknesses. They just want to be out there to let people perceive that they are popular, they might even go on cost cutting to get more jobs. They just want their faces to appear everywhere. They will at most times party and get drunk until the wee hours of the morning. They hope to do networking and be spotted by talent scouts. Their lack of knowledge and updates of the fashion world do not help either. They will be found doing the supposedly horse strutting move on the runway which is passe. Their misconception is that being a supermodel is all skin and bones and unfortunately suffer from anorexia or bulimia where in actual fact the fashion world in the West is already putting a stop to the skinny models.
Sad to say these supermodel wannabes are the ones who cannot get into the main stream or they do not possess supermodel qualities (eg. the mininum of 5 feet 8 or the “quirky” look) There might be a few supermodel wannabes out there in the market who see themselves as supermodels or vicariously be one, but Malaysia is still lacking a legitimate supermodel for obvious reasons ranging from height and the exposure to the big time and fashion world and the money made. There might be a few popular models in the local modeling industry but we are still searching for a real Supermodel. But certainly not through copycats of reality shows shaped on the original Tyra Bank's Next Top Models. It is becoming a chore watching these ersatz wannabe shows.
