It’s More Than Just Selfies: What It Takes To Become A Successful Model
We perhaps all perceive ourselves a models behind our selfie cameras, I think it’s true to say - it takes a lot more than a mean pout to conquer the modelling world these days.
With the likes of Gigi Hadid and Cara Delevingne dominating not only the beauty and fashion industry, but winning over the public with their social media networks (a combined 41 million followers on their Instagrams). Modelling has become less about ‘the look’ and more about the online persona.
Reflecting upon the concept of modelling and it’s social media influence, I decided to contact my friend Charlotte Gergahty.
Lottie Gergahty
Lottie is essentially a super-model, she has appeared in campaigns for Jerome Russell and Ann Taylor, as well as being the face of numerous clothing companies and appearing in music videos worldwide. She is also writing her own well-being blog called The Lucky Leo - which provides insight not only into her own world, but into creating positivity.
“I was sick of the constant Tennis match of hate against women, mainly caused by the society we’ve grown up in that pins us against each other. I was sick of my beautiful girlfriends lacking confidence in themselves” says Charlotte.
Lottie who is signed to Named and Gingersnap, has been modelling since childhood, “I began modelling when I was 5.”
Charlotte added: “I went to drama school, and continued acting and modelling until I hit puberty and got chubby - and luckily, really into school. I went to uni, and got scouted by a high end agency when I was 19 or 20”
Despite this, it wasn’t all straight forward: “I went into the agency a few days later, where they said I was too short for them, but I should try commercial work.”
This didn’t stop Lottie though, “They gave me a number, and it just went from there really. I wanted to do it mainly for the extra money while at uni!” - well it’s slightly more fun than working weekends in a cafe.
However, of course, with the current climate of social media not only being a way to access the lives of models, but scout them, what does that make for models who have gone through the processes of castings and agencies for years?
“Anyone on Instagram can be a model now,” Charlotte explains.
“This makes for a lot more competition, and less money to be earned due to other girls willing to do more for less.”
[Photo: Getty]
A recent reflection of the power of social media on the modelling industry was shown when Justin Bieber scouted 17-year-old Cindy Kimberly - who since Bieber’s scouting has jumped from a £3-an-hour babysitter to an exclusive debut at Madrid fashion week. With Cindy’s social media sites now followed by upwards of 600,000 followers, the influence of a social media following is being sized upon by global brands.
“Followers are becoming more important,” Charlotte divulges, “followers are becoming important in getting jobs. I’ve been told to post more selfies and job photos.”
“Strangely enough I don’t really like posting job photos on there; but I don’t mind the odd selfie. Although the concept of the selfie freaks me out!”
[Photo: Getty]
Strange perhaps, that a model can declare selfies being weird (considering they are in front of a camera most days). Yet, this maybe due to the personal nature of the image as apposed to professional image models take.
It also shows the neglect of modelling being about creating something aspirational, apposed to questionable vanity. However, whichever way it’s all perceived, we are definitely seeing more ‘real’ models in the industry.
Of course, I couldn’t finish my conversation with Lottie without asking her what’s a little secret she can send out to all of us aspiring models out there (even if we are just girls with our phones and a mirror).
“My biggest beauty secret is all in the mind - pure confidence and happiness within yourself. All other ‘secrets’ are completely useless without this. There is no singular product that will make you beautiful, it’s within you.”
