How Much Money Can Women Models Earn?

With the concept of social medial, starting a modeling career has become significantly easier. This is due to the fact that people have easier access to photos of you. Furthermore, resources and coming into contact with recruits is easier as well. Platforms such as Instagram and even Facebook can be used as a portfolio of sorts. This applies to both men and women. However, this article will have a slightly different focus.

While the last article we wrote about focused on men. More specifically, how much you can earn. In this article, we will be focusing on how the same aspects. However, from a woman’s standpoint. It’s no surprise that modeling is a woman-dominated field. However, what may not be well-known is the difference in pay between both sides. While it is not the entire point of this article, it is important to note that this is a known fact. Women models, on average, are more popular and well known than many male models. Since they’re so much more popular, they are able to bring in more revenue. Due to this, their salaries tend to be exponentially higher. However, we’ll get into how much women models can potentially earn.

The Different Types of Models

Similar to their male counterparts, women have various different avenues that they can embark on when looking to break into this field. However, since modeling as a woman is much more popular, the competition is much higher.

While this may be the case, there are many different avenues. Therefore, the likelihood of you finding work in one or more of your avenues is relatively high.

The different types of models include but are not limited to editorial, bikini/lingerie, runway, commercial, parts, child, and fitness. These are just a few of the options available to women models. However, some options are more popular amount women when compared to men. For example, lingerie models are highly popular and successful. An example of people within this field is Victoria’s Secret models.

Another type of model that is generally more popular on the women’s side is plus-size. Plus-size models are people who break the traditional standard of “beauty” set by the modeling industry. While regular models tend to boast a rather “unattainable” degree of beauty. Plus-size model’s dimensions are closer to the average human being. However, while plus-size models most likely have to fit certain dimensions as well.

The last avenue that is available to women within modeling that I find quite interesting is petite models. A stereotype about models is that they are all tall. While this is true for the most part, petite models are a section that welcomes people who are shorter than 5’8. Petite models tend to not work within editorial or runway. However, petite models garner a lot of work within swimsuits, parts, and lingerie modeling. Both hand and foot models are avenues that petite models will likely thrive in.

How To Become Each Type of Model

The beauty of becoming a model is that there is no formal education needed. While this may be true, being a model is not a that requires little to no skill. If you’re self-managed, you need to know how to get exposure in the best and most efficient ways. This can take a lot of time and money. However, a benefit to becoming a model is that you can pay someone to do almost everything. From marketing your social media to find you a job. Certain people and agencies will cater to this. However, we’ll go through the various ways of becoming a model.

Each model has a pretty similar path if you’re looking to start. However, the main thing to note when becoming a model is the measurements. If you want to become an editorial or runway model, you need to have a certain height and measurements. While measurements are something that can be worked on, height might be an obstacle. While editorial models can be slightly lenient on factors such as height. Runway models measurement need to be more or less exact. This is due to the designer’s request.

To become an editorial or runway model, you need to fit the typical mold (maximum 34-inch bust, 23-inch waist, and 34-inch hips). If you fit this description, you can go ahead and find an agent or sign up with an agency. Make sure you have headshots and your portfolio set up. This can be a traditional portfolio or through social media.

If you’re looking to become a commercial model, you will not necessarily need to fit the traditional standard. This is due to the fact that commercials need a bunch of people who vary in size. This is why commercial modeling is one of the most popular. It’s the most accepting and caters to a wider variety of sizes and looks, not just one. To become a commercial model, you can imitate the method above. That is finding an agency or agent to represent you. Make sure you have a multitude of pictures or a portfolio ready.

How Much Can You Earn?

It should come as no shock that women models earn significantly more than their male counterparts. For example, the highest-paid woman model is (or was) Gisele Bundchen. She reportedly earns a grand total of 47 million for 2014. Comparatively, that is over eight times the amount of the top 5 highest-earning male models, combined.

Since this is the case in the upper echelons of the business, there is reason to believe you’ll earn a considerable amount on the lower levels. However, since modeling is so competitive, the likelihood of you earning the same as your male counterpart will most likely be the case. While it is true that women can and do earn more on average this is due to the factors that were previously mentioned. If a man and a woman are both hired to star in a commercial, the odds of the woman being paid significantly higher or rather slim.

The concept we need to take a look at is opportunity. As I previously said, modeling among women is more popular. Therefore, there will be more opportunities. This converts into revenue, then to an increased salary on average for you. Therefore, you can look at earning around $30,000 per year if you’re active and finding constant work while just starting out.

Taking a look at Victoria’s Secret models, they earn on average $100,000 to one million dollars per year with some of the more popular ones earning exponentially more. For example, Adriana Lima, arguably one of the most popular Victoria’s Secret models earned well over ten million dollars from her career as a model for Victoria’s Secret.

In the upper echelons of modeling, women earn more. This is a fact. Therefore, if you can pursue a career, you will earn a healthy living. The possibilities of you earning more money are high. This is due to the fact that you’ll have more opportunities. However, there are many different avenues. Therefore, take a look at which one may suit you best in all aspects. Once you’ve figured that out, you can take the appropriate path.

Shameed Chris Khan

Shameed is just a man on a mission to help those around him gain financial success. Obsessed with writing about all things finance, this GTA native is constantly learning and sharing his experiences with others.