In the fashion industry, there is an interesting exception to the rule: men often earn significantly less than their female counterparts as models. According to a recent Forbes magazine ranking, the income of the highest-paid male models worldwide is only a fraction of what female models earn. Between September 2012 and September 2013, the ten highest-earning male models together made around $8 million – compared to $83 million for the ten leading female models.
At the top of the male models was Sean O'Pry, who achieved great success with campaigns for Versace, H&M, Hugo Boss, and Giorgio Armani. Despite his success, his income was relatively low compared to supermodel Gisele Bündchen. O'Pry, however, emphasized that he was satisfied with his career and recognized the success of female models.
David Gandy, another prominent male model, earned $1.4 million during the same period, while Miranda Kerr, as a top female model, earned $7.2 million. Industry experts explain the difference partly by the greater attention female fashion models receive in public. Women follow modeling trends more closely, engage more in couture, and generate higher revenues for model agencies worldwide.
The top tier of women’s fashion reaches billion-dollar values, while male models are often booked primarily for photo shoots. Despite these differences, successful male models show that modeling is worthwhile for them too – especially when model agencies place them with the right campaigns and brands.
David Gandy emphasizes that male models may often be less well-known but work just as hard for their success. Films like Zoolander have humorously portrayed male modeling, while reality shows that male models in a heavily female-dominated industry must carve their own paths.
