What does a Fashion Model do?

Fashion models represent brands and designers by wearing their clothing and accessories in photo shoots, commercials, and runway shows. This role often requires physical attractiveness and an ability to maintain an elegant and graceful appearance through long exhausting hours. Fashion models receive clothing items from a designer or brand and work with stylists and photographers to take a series of snapshots for use in print or online campaigns. They must carefully listen to direction and work well with others, including other models.

Fashion models also film television commercials and other video advertisements which may add complexity and require longer hours of work or speaking parts in advertisements, which requires memorization of lines or reading of cue cards while still highlighting the items they wear. They participate in runway shows where designers premiere seasonal or new collections and need to walk with poise and convey a particular emotion under the designer’s direction. Most models have a high school diploma or equivalent and a background in fashion, art, merchandising, or other fields.