The Plus size modelling industry
It’s awesome to see that both the modelling industry and the fashion industry as a whole are finally catching up to the idea that plus size models are what people want to see in ads and TV commercials. In fact, diversity in models is often now a major factor impacting how brands choose their models. What this means for you as a potential plus size model is that there are far more opportunities for work now than ever before.
Here at Hunter Talent, we’ve certainly seen an increase not only in the number of briefs for plus size models but also briefs that don’t have specific height or weight requirements. And that’s not going to change. If anything, this trend will continue to grow making this one of the best times ever to consider becoming a plus size model.
So if modelling is something that you would dearly love to get involved in, but concerns about a lack of opportunities for people of your size have prevented you from taking that first step, then this is the guide for you. Here, we’ll go through all the ins and outs of becoming a plus size model and working in the industry. We’ll even give you a few tips that we’ve collected from the plus size models who we have worked with in the past.
To put it simply — this is everything you need to know about plus size modelling and then some. And yes, we’re talking about plus size female models and plus size male models.
What is a plus size model?
Many people assume that a plus size model is simply a model who is overweight, but that’s not the right way to think about it. Plus size models are people who wear larger sized clothing and you’ll never hear us describe any of our models as overweight. For women this typically would start at size 12, but more fashion brands are now pushing that to 14 and up as this is more in line with what the general public believes plus sizes to be. For male models, the industry considers men with a waist of 34” or more to be plus size.
Plus size models will do exactly the same kind of work as all other models. They help brands promote clothing, accessories, and shoes and pretty much anything else that the client requires of a model.
Can anyone be a plus size model?
Once you fall into those larger size categories then yes, anyone can be a plus size model. As we mentioned earlier, the fashion and entertainment industries are embracing diversity in an incredibly positive way and we’re not just talking about size here.
Whether you are an older male model or a model from a cultural background that is considered a minority, brands will want to hire you for their plus size modelling assignments. The same goes for models with disabilities. There’s always an opportunity out there that you are suited for.
Now, while we did say that anyone can be a plus size model, we’ll just add a caveat — you will need to be a hard worker and we’ll talk about that a little later.
Just remember that those plus size thresholds we mentioned in the previous section aren’t set in stone. You could be a male model with a 33” waist but your build might see you considered plus size. The same could be said for female models who are just a little smaller than size 14 or size 12.
What we’re saying here is that if you really want to give plus size modelling a try, then you should go for it.
Is plus size modelling easy?
Show up at the shoot, try on a few outfits, and smile for the camera — what could be so difficult about that, right? Well, quite a lot as it happens. The truth is that all types of modelling, from fitness modelling through to hand modelling, take a lot of hard work. And while the odd modelling assignment might be a quick in and out shoot that is over in the blink of an eye, they are quite rare.
So plus size modelling is certainly not an easy job.
But we don’t tell you this to scare you off. We tell you this so that you’re well prepared for the job.
A typical plus size modelling assignment will run for anything between a couple of hours to an entire day. Some will even run for several days. The assignment will involve a lot of standing around in between shots as the photography crew moves things around. You’ll have your hair and makeup done at least once if not several times while some shoots will require quite a few outfit changes. All of this will be done in a studio which could be either freezing in winter or baking in the summer 🙂
Seriously though, working at a shoot is certainly hard work and that’s before we even talk about the work you need to put in at home to polish up your skills and any travel that’s involved too.
But those aren’t the hardest parts of plus size modelling at all. The thing that makes modelling so difficult is the rejection that you are certain to face throughout your career. This is par for the course in the modelling industry and can be quite difficult to get your head around at the outset. But here’s the thing — for every plus size model assignment, there’s going to be dozens if not hundreds of models vying for the same job. Simple maths tells us that we’re not going to get the gig each and every time. What you need to do is realise that this is just a part of the job and has nothing to do with you personally. After all, a brand may be looking for a model with a certain look that you don’t have. And that’s no big deal.
Apply NowWhat skills do plus size models need?
There’s this idea that modelling is just standing in front of a camera and striking a few poses, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a job that requires certain skills that you’ll need to perfect if you want to stand any chance of being a successful plus size model.
Below, we’ve listed just a few of the most common skills that all models need to have, and that means models for every niche and not just plus size models.
