Keeping it Real: Recent Shifts in the Modeling Industry
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Much like many other industries, the field of modeling usually goes through important changes every decade. However, during the pandemic, everything changed rapidly for everyone in the world. Businesses were closed, and in-person work suffered. Modeling only really works in person; it is the nature of the business. Due to this, many models lost work and the industry as a whole suffered. Thankfully, since then, everything has gone back to “normal” but there were some lasting changes. In order to ensure your child model receives the best experience possible, it’s important to keep up with the times. So with that in mind, we’re going to talk about three shifts that we feel are the most important to pay attention to.
Diversity
We live in a world today where diversity is beginning to be celebrated as it should have always been. And while there is a lot more work to be done, we are starting to see positive shifts in the modeling industry. There are more and more people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and expanded size ranges being represented in the space which is incredibly special. This gives children who belonged to a group that was often left out of the media space the opportunity to see people that look like themselves on their television screens, on magazine covers, and all over the internet. This shift is very powerful and positive for all. When everyone is included, nobody feels left out. An industry that previously did not represent the world we live in, is now beginning to include people of all colors, identities, and sizes.
Social Media
The social media revolution started long ago, but during the pandemic it hit a new gear. With everyone stuck at home, the only form of entertainment was through the media. Many people consume media primarily through social media networks, and therefore modeling started to change. Models needed to have a social media presence in order to get noticed. Back in the day, most models became famous by the amount of jobs they got. Now a model doesn’t necessarily have to leave their home in order to gain fame. It is key to enter this space now as many times a social media presence can help models book jobs.
Costs
When the pandemic hit the economy was affected drastically. Many people lost jobs and businesses closed which made many think of ways to cut costs. The modeling industry is no different. While models used to fly all over the US for different jobs, now most are only working out of New York City or Los Angeles. This is because the brands know that most of the models looking for jobs live in these cities, and they usually have some kind of headquarters there. This way they save on having to pay models to fly to different cities or paying for room and board. Brands have also been known to hire models within their company, simply sending the product to their home and having an art director explain to them how to model it. These changes are important to understand so you and your child can better navigate the industry.
The modeling industry has changed, and it is important to change with it. Diversity is celebrated, social media is playing a much larger role, and local talent are being booked at higher rates. It is important to understand the changes being made so that you and your child can not only keep up but also succeed.
At Bensimon Models and Talent we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of every major change that takes place in modeling. It is important to us to make sure we prepare our models correctly for the industry they will soon be taking over!