Paris, Milan, London. Europe has a lot to offer when it comes to modeling. The goal of every good model is to one day work in Paris or walk the runway at Milan Fashion Week. Cities such as Istanbul also have a lot to offer due to the many corporate productions that take place there, giving models who live in Istanbul the advantage of being close to the client. However, it is important to be aware that jobs there are not as well paid as in other modeling hotspots.
If you want to become a model in Europe, you need to have the right measurements. Especially in the major markets, standards regarding height and measurements are very strict.
Hide overview
1 Requirements for women in Europe
2 Requirements for men in Europe
3 Do it yourself: bust, waist, hips, and height
4 Competition! Advantages and disadvantages for models in Europe
4.1 Advantages of a large market
4.2 Disadvantages of a large market
4.3 Modeling worldwide: USA to Europe and Asia
Requirements for women in Europe:
Height: 174–180 cm
Bust: 80–94 cm
Waist: 55–65 cm
Hips: 85–93 cm
Slim figure
You must be a distinctive type
Requirements for men in Europe:
Height: 186–190 cm
Slim to athletic build
If you are ready to become a model, apply now!
Do it yourself: bust, waist, hips, and height
These are the key figures for your first application to a modeling agency. Make sure you are absolutely honest.
Competition! Advantages and disadvantages for models in Europe
Advantages of a large market:
You simply won’t have the same level of contact with other potential future employers in a small market. Smaller markets usually only offer commercial modeling opportunities. If you want to make a name for yourself, your only real option is to work in a major market.
Opportunity. This point is fairly intuitive. A larger market has a greater demand for the same services. Working in a big market simply offers more job opportunities overall. The sheer number of advertising, editorial, and other marketing or content production agencies in a major market creates a higher demand for models.
Money. This follows from the previous two points. Keep in mind that at every level and in every market there are many poorly paid modeling jobs. However, due to high demand and the wide reach of platforms, the best-paid jobs are most likely to be found in large markets.
Disadvantages of a large market:
Competition. You are not only competing with more people for the same jobs, but many of them have traveled to the major markets for the same reason you have: better modeling jobs. This means that not only is the number of competitors higher, but the quality of the competition is as well.
Scams. In smaller markets, where there are fewer opportunities for models to find work, there are consequently fewer scams. It is also much harder in a small market to hide the fact that an organization is a scam. Unfortunately, in large markets with so many opportunities, it is easier for scammers to hide in the crowd and target naïve or new aspiring models.
Criteria. Due to the oversupply of potential models, employers in large markets can, so to speak, choose the “biggest catch.” This means that the requirements for potential models continue to rise as competition increases. Someone who is an excellent model candidate in a small market may therefore not have the same chances in a larger market.
