Model Your Hands, Legs
and Feet as a Parts Model
What do Adele Uddo, Ellen Sirot, Kimbra Hickey and James Furino have in common? They’re all incredibly
successful models. And while you may not know their faces, you definitely know
their bodies. You’ve seen them everywhere: wiping up spills for a Bounty
commercial, strapping on designer footwear, gracing the cover ofTwilight, and hand doubling for A-list
stars. They’re what the modeling industry calls parts models, and they prove
that sometimes all it takes is one great body part to open the door to a
modeling career. Parts models are in huge demand from companies who want the perfect
hands, legs, feet or other body part to advertise their product. So even if
you’re not able to become a high-fashion model, you may still be able to break
into the modeling industry.
Demand
for Other Parts Including Eyes, Lips, Teeth and Even Ears
Hands, feet and legs are the most requested body parts for both
men and women, but there’s also a demand for beautiful eyes, lips, teeth, hair,
stomachs, backs, and even earlobes. If you have an attractive feature, you may
be able to make it as a parts model. Don’t forget, though, that this
specialized division of modeling is just that—modeling. Even if you have
gorgeous hands, for example, you still need to be able to work them for the
camera. You have to know how to hold your hands so they look beautiful (while
showing off the product, of course) and you have to be able to hold them still
for hours on end. And no matter what body part you’re modeling, you have to
take great care to protect it. For some top parts models, that means living in
Ugg boots 24/7, moisturizing up to 20 times a day, and wearing gloves at all
times. Oh, and avoiding housework and cooking (which doesn’t sound so bad).
What
Are The Basic Requirements?
On top of looking great and protecting your best assets, there
are also some basic requirements that every parts model must meet:
Hand Models: It doesn’t matter what the
rest of your body looks like, but hand models have to have perfect hands. Both
male and female hand models should be able to fit sample glove or jewelry
sizes, and should have long slender hands, straight fingers, uniform nail beds,
and a nice even skin tone. As well, men's hands shouldn’t be too hairy.
Foot Models: The same goes for foot
models. Models should be able to fit sample shoe sizes and should have slender
feet, straight toes, attractive ankles, clean and uniform nails, and no
calluses or blemishes of any kind. And again, men’s feet shouldn’t be overly
hairy.
Leg Models: For female leg models, legs
should be long and slender and free of blemishes and varicose veins. They also
need to be waxed and well moisturized. Male leg models shouldn’t be overly
muscular, and like their female counterparts, their legs should be long, shapely
and free of blemishes (and again, not too hairy).
How
Much Do Parts Models Earn?
According to Forbes.com, premiere parts models earn around
$1,000 a day for TV commercials, and between $2,000-$5,000 a day for print
work. A top female parts model—a hand model with good legs and feet—can make
around $75,000 a year. That number jumps substantially if the model lives in a
print-centric market such as New York.
How
Do You Become a Parts Model?
As with any other type of modeling, it’s essential that you get
your potential evaluated by an experienced model agent or scout. It’s not
enough to have “pretty” hands or feet—modeling agencies are looking for nothing
but the most exceptional parts for editorial, advertising, and catalogue work.
To increase your chances of making it in the parts modeling industry, it’s best
to work with people who have experience and direct connections in this
specialized market. ModelScouts.com is a great place to start and offers the
most legitimate and cost effective way to be seen by model agents around the
world in the quickest way possible.
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