[Bella]

i think many teen girls dream about being a model. this job seems like a lot of fun and a lot of glitz and glamour. i've never tried my hand at modeling because of some objective reasons but some of my friends have tried and they failed. though i know a girl, now a pretty well known European fashion model who kicked off her career with the local beauty contest. but her way to success is more of an exception than a rule.

this is for those of you who are considering becoming a model

Pros and Cons of being a model

PROS

- Elevated Status – Once a woman becomes a top model, her status is elevated to that of royalty or celebrity. She is provided preferential treatment making all the right connections and mingling with all the right people.

- Lucrative Contracts – Have you heard the expression by many female actresses and models who state “I don’t get out of bed for anything under $10,000”? Earning the position of top model status provides a very healthy bank account. Top models are paid large sums of money for their work and can earn millions of dollars for their faces and bodies.

- Luxurious Lifestyle – Top models tend to live a life of luxury buying fancy cars, expensive clothes and mansions (at least that's what wesee in media)

- Beautiful Location Shoots.

- Opened Door to Other Opportunities and Endorsements - Modeling provides exposure for other opportunities. Companies may request a model to endorse their products, producers may want the model in their movies (Gisele Bundchne, Doutzen Krous, Cindy Crawford), or the model might even be given her own talk show or reality show (Tyra Banks).

- Confidence boost - Modelling can be a great boost to your confidence. Seeing finished photos within the covers of a magazine is an incredible experience. Most people don't realise how glamorous they can look until they've participated in a professional shoot.

- You can be the first to wear fabulous designer clothes, shoes, and accessories.

- You can get a personal trainer and dietician to help you keep in shape.
- (And finally) You get to do something that you love as your career.

[Bella]

Pros and Cons of being a model

CONS

- Porn Movies and Websites – Should a woman legitimately decide to become a porn star, that is her business. The problem is many young women are lured and forced into the business with the promise of moving on to modeling. Many ads are placed advertising for models when in fact, once the girls arrive they are expected to participate in adult movies.

- Anorexia and Obsession with Weight

- Poor Role Models – Models in many instances are poor role models for young girls. Skinny models that do not eat present bad images to impressionable girls. In addition, it is unrealistic for girls to think that anybody and everybody can be a model.

- Body and Age Enemies – Traditionally a model’s greatest enemies have been her body and her age. Many models are “thrown away” when their bodies mature. One trend, though, that seems to be making some progress is the use of older models for long established companies promoting the older age bracket.

- Money Scams – Scam artists pretending to be agents, brokers for modeling agencies and certain “glamour shot” operators pry on young girls and women taking their money with the promise of making them a model or finding them agents.

- Hectic Schedules – Location shoots, traveling to work usually by plane, early mornings preparing for the shoot and late nights make it difficult for models to properly rest.

- Career vs. Motherhood – Because of the hectic schedules, the “thin is great” philosophy and the fact that pregnant models are not readily in demand, many women struggle with the career versus motherhood dilemma. Unless she wants to instantly give up her modeling contract, becoming pregnant is almost impossible (though victoria's Secret models prove me wrong )

- Bad Treatment - As a model you are considered a product not a person. (Especially in the beginning when you are still an unknown.) As such people tend to talk AT you not TO you. Sometimes agents and photographers will talk about you as if you are not standing in the same room. For anyone lacking confidence in themselves this can be very disconcerting and upsetting. Usually there will be comments about your physical appearance.

-Drugs & alcohol - Another dark side to the modelling business is the rampant drug use. Models are given and have free access to all manner of illicit substances. Sometimes these are used to keep weight off. Sometimes they are used to stay awake and alert for shoots or shows that occur at all times of the day and night. Sometimes it is the social pressure to party and fit in that causes young models to try these things.

- As a beginner you may not have work for a few weeks which will also reduce your finances dramatically.

- You must also make sure you exercise which is negative if you hate exercising.

(via jobmoney.com, professionalmodeling.net)

[Mary]

who could have imagined that there are even more cons of being a model than pros

[Butterfly]

every job has pros and cons, it's normal. Being a model is hard, too.