There are fashion shows and then there are Fashion Shows. If we’re talking about New York Fashion Week shows, which are wrapping up on Thursday, then there are FASHION SHOWS too.

Karoline Kurkova

You are unlikely to walk out of your house in Middle America, into the local modeling agency, and onto a runway in New York Fashion Week a month later (though I’m sure it has happened once or twice!). You may, however, walk into your agency in Kansas City or Denver, and then onto the catwalk in a department store the following week. From there, if your career blossoms and you hit a bigger market, you may work your way into a less competitive Fashion Week—like Miami’s, or if you’re in Europe, Dusseldorf‘s rather than Milan’s.

The castings for the big Fashion Weeks—New York, Paris, Milan—are extremely competitive. Often there is a posse of top editorial girls who monopolize the runways, but up-and-coming designers do book less expensive (sometimes free) new faces. The best way to work your way into the elite runway posse is:

1. Work on your walk. If you’re with an agency in New York, they likely have access to one of the well known runway coaches. Or have an experienced model mentor you and show you how it’s done (see the Model Alliance mentoring program). If you are in East Podunk, disregard any fancy turns and moves a modeling school may teach you. You simply need to know how to walk and pivot—and look like Karolina Kurkova while doing it.

2. Get experience. Do any fashion shows you can get.

3. Seek representation with a reputable agency.

4. Be lucky.

The story of how I first landed on a New York Fashion Week runway is in my book. It was all about LUCK. (I’ll let you know when you’ll be able to read that story!)

New York Fashion Week 1994

Stay tuned for a belly dancing performance that blows away any fashion show. It’s not every day Unmata comes to Connecticut!

Also, a lot of people have been asking about “agencies” that charge their talent to be a part of their “agency.” Look for a post on Modeling Scams coming soon.

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I always had trouble with booking out. You may pound pavement for years as a model and only make enough money to live on pasta and ketchup  (that’s what Sophie Patitz and I ate most of the time in Paris). During the slow ascent out of blue-collar model status, I never considered booking out. I would have shot a catalog on Christmas day if my agency asked me to. Then the jobs started flowing and I could afford to book out, but I rarely did. Maybe it was a strong work ethic, or maybe it was the recognition that one day I would age out of modeling, so I ought to work every day until I couldn’t anymore.

My advice: If you are a new face with an agency, don’t book out if you can help it. You have to show them you have the drive and determination to do anything it takes to make it. However, once you have a strong book and some steady clients, take a break when you need it.

I’m looking at about 50 unpacked boxes, but I’m on the sofa with my feet up. Maybe I’ve finally learned to relax. Or maybe it’s the fact that no one will pay me $200/hour to unpack them.

Supermodels on the Effort of Modeling:

Kate Moss in 1990, by Corinne Day

“I’d go on the train to castings, changing from my school uniform on the train. I carried on like that for a few years, getting jobs in bits and pieces.” —Kate Moss

“[On days I'm not working], I have to hit the gym. I have beauty appointments. I have to work toward my next job. . . just like an athlete.” —Linda Evangelista

“A girl who is interested in becoming a model must first accept the fact that she is the product. She must be ready to deal with a lot of rejection.” —Karolina Kurkova

The countdown to January Model of the Month is on: Enter the Modeling Mentor Model Search!