When we hear modelling, our minds are instantly fixed on the likes of Kendall Jenner, Cara Delerigre, Agbani Darego and others who have blown us away through their success in the fashion and glamour modelling industry. Their success story is one that has touched and changed so many people’s view about modeling as a career. Find out today, all the modelling categories available in the world and where you could fit in.

Various Modelling categories you can find almost everywhere.

Professional modelling is more than 160 years old having been started in 1853 by Charles Fredrick Worth when he asked his wife, Marie Vernet Worth to model some of the clothes he had designed.

Who is a Model?

A model is anyone with a role either to promote, display or advertise commercial products, notably fashion clothing in fashion shows.

Yea, I know fashion modelling is probably where all the money and fame is easily gotten but there other modelling categories where the entry barrier is lower and chances of success higher.

Here are 9 of the top modelling categories in the world.

• Fashion Modelling: This is by far the most popular modelling category in the world today.

Popularized by Lisa Fonssagrives who achieved fame in the 1930s after appearing on more than 200 Vogue covers.

Better known among stakeholders with its industry name “editorial modelling”, it is the most difficult to get into and chances of achieving success are pretty low.

Editorial models appear on the covers of fashion magazines such as Vogue, Bazar, Elle and others. The also enjoy the privilege of working with the biggest fashion designers like Giorgio Armani, Prada, Gucci and others.

There are strict requirements to meet before anyone is shown the door in. Preferred height among models is between 5’9” – 6’0 and must be very slim and slender. Breast size is 33” while waist and hips are at 23” and 33” respectively.

While it might be the hardest to break into, it is the biggest and most popular so therefore, anyone who manages to garner even a little bit of reputation has a very, very bright and happy future ahead.

• Runway Modelling: Runway modelling is quite similar to editorial modelling in that they both revolve around the exciting fashion industry.

Runway or catwalk models help fashion designers advertise their designs to potential clients by glamorously walking down a runway while donning the clothes.

The requirements to get in is also similar to those of the editorial modelling industry but runway industry tends to favour slimmer and slightly shorter models.

Designers enforce very strict measurements when choosing models so that the designed clothes can fit the models perfectly.

• Commercial Modelling: Struggling to get into fashion and runway modelling? You should definitely try out for commercial modelling.

Furthermore, Commercial modelling has the lowest entry barriers compared to other categories of modelling. Commercial models can be of any height, size or age.

As a Commercial model, you work with non-fashion related brands and advertise products ranging from – household products, food products, tech devices, beverages etc.

Fame doesn’t come as easily as it does in fashion modelling but a good reputation can guarantee a steady inflow of brands willing to work with the model.

• Fitness Modelling: Fitness models work with brands in the health and fitness industry. The requirements to break in are very clear and somewhat difficult to meet.

Fitness models must be athletic, fit and well-tuned and as such most fitness models have backgrounds as athletes or fitness trainers.

In addition to modelling fitness apparels, fitness models also work with gyms, supplement manufacturers and athletic wear companies.

The chances of success are pretty good provided you have the sufficient physique to get in.

• Parts Modelling: Sounds weird right? Well, parts modelling is simply the modelling of body parts like hands, feet, legs and eyes. And no, not amputated body parts.

A hand model might for instance work with a jewellery brand to model a ring. A foot model could model socks and shoes or any other foot related wear.

The entry barrier is relatively low, as all that is cared about is that the products fit and look good on the body part.

Fame hardly comes from parts modelling unless of course, you are a face model.

• Swimsuit Modelling: Swimsuit modelling could easily fit into fitness modelling but for the fact that high fitness levels are not a priority in swimsuit or lingerie modelling.

Swimsuit models are required to be curvier and more voluptuous than editorial or fitness models. Aside from swimsuits, models can model lingerie, undergarments, sleepwear and summer wear.

• Petite and Plus Size Modelling: Petite models are usually 5’7” and under and don’t normally do runway or editorial modelling but are better suited to swimsuits or parts modelling. In plus size modelling, size is the yardstick and not measurements as a size 12 and up can easily be regarded as plus size in the modelling word.

Plus size models gradually becoming one of the most after models in the world today. They are most used in commercial advert and products visibility by brands.

Unlike other modelling categories,entry requirements here are pretty simple as models must fall within the size brackets before being shown the way in.

The modelling niches listed above are the most common modelling categories you can find anywhere in the world.

Now over to you, which category do you belong or would like to join among the above listed modelling categories.