Wonderland on the catwalk
Models reveal gains, pains in the spotlight
by Amy Tse
T o be Cindy Crawford or Karen Mulder is many young girls’ dream. But few realize that modelling is more than perfect figures wearing pretty clothes, parading on the catwalk.
Ms Maria Ma, 24, has been a fashion model for a year.
“I came from China last year and modelled in advertisements like Tempo tissue and the Hong Kong Standard Chartered Bank. Some modelling agencies approached me afterwards, thus starting my life of modelling,” Ms Ma recalled.
Ms Winnie Lam, 23, a coordinator in an model agency, was a catwalk model for four years. She noted the heavy pressure of being a model.
Said she: “When one fashion show is ended, I could hardly know when the next would come. Rehearsals are always held at midnight or early in the morning.”
Not only is the working schedule unstable, but the income of a model is unreliable, too.
“Normally, each model can receive $1,000 to $2,000 per show, including the commission claimed by the modelling agency.
“Keen domestic competition makes our careers more difficult. You may have the chance to cast for 10 jobs. But at the end there will just be one or two or even none,” Ms Ma said.
Despite the irregular working schedules and salaries, both Ms Lam and Ms Ma enjoy their jobs.
“The satisfaction derived from wearing beautiful clothes and marching down the catwalk is beyond expression. At that moment, you become the focus of attention,” Ms Lam said.
“Whether the beautiful side of the clothes can be expressed depends on how the models display them. Therefore, diligence is essential for a model’s success.”
Ms Murine Tsui, owner of a modelling agency and a catwalk model trainer, spelt out the basic requirements of this occupation.
“Normally,” said Ms Tsui, “the height requirement is five feet and eight inches for females and six feet for males.
“Besides having a good figure, one should be active, open-minded, punctual and sophisticated. A strong sense of rhythm is also indispensable,” said she.
Indeed, the models strive hard to keep their figures.
Ms Ma said, “I like to do aerobics, eat more vegetables and drink more water so as to maintain a good physical condition. Leading a simple life always comes first.”
According to Ms Lam, some models smoke heavily in order to keep slim.
“This is because cigarettes contain nicotine, which can spoil one’s appetite,” she explained.
On the stage, models parade elegantly down the catwalk. Yet, things are all in a mess behind the limelight.
“We have to change our clothes, make-up and hairstyle by ourselves with all due speed. I once wore the wrong shoes,” said Ms Ma.
Besides catwalk models, there is another kind of model called “talent”. Talents are people working for advertisements, karaoke and music videos. The height requirement for talents is less strict. However, a pretty face is a must.
A 22-year-old talent, Ms Wallis Pang, said, “There is no time for you to warm up. Once the camera is ready, you have to show the best of yourself.
“Once I was required to stand inside an air-balloon in an advertisement for a travel agency. I was scared to death when the grassland where we set off became a small green spot beneath us. Yet, I still had to wear a smiling face to show that I really enjoyed the tour.”
Though the lives of advertisement talents are colourful, Ms Pang said the career life did not last long.
She explained, “Advertisements need new faces. Overexposure of a talent bores the audience. That’s why some clients restrict their talents from involvement in other advertisements within a certain period.”
According to Ms Pang, the payment for an advertising talent ranges from $1,000 to $2,000 per hour.
Having been an advertising model for three years, Ms Pang learned that the most vital personalities for a model are punctuality and self-confidence.
Said she: “Those who are shy and in a lack of team spirit should never enter this career.”
“We earn our living by our hands.” This dated Chinese saying exactly spells out the job nature of Mr. Joseph Kong, who is a 30-year-old model as well as a hand talent for several advertisements.
Shortly after he had graduated in Canada and returned to Hong Kong, he was approached by a local model agency.
He said, “I went to the office, and the staff there discovered that my hands were quite suitable for advertisements while I was filling the application form.
“They said my hands were quite fine and large. It’s rare that a man’s hands do not have any scars or wounds. Therefore I started my first advertisement featuring my hands.
“Usually my hands are employed for signing or holding products to be promoted under the spotlight.”
His hands have been used to advertise watches, pagers and wine, to name but a few.
Mr. Kong said it is no easy task to display one’s hands in the spotlight.
“You need to know how to act with your hands. Let’s say picking up a chocolate. You cannot do that rudely. You have to pick it up smoothly and gently in order to give the audience a feeling that the chocolate is sweet and lovely.
“Besides, I have to be precise about the timing and angles of posing the hands. It’s not as simple as most people think,” said Mr. Kong.
According to Mr. Kong, he does not pay too much attention to hand-care though his hands have become famous.
“However, in handling sharp things like cutters or knives, I am more careful,” he added.
“Sometimes my hands need make-up before shooting,” said he.
Though the existence of such kinds of talent in advertisements is seldom noticed by the audience, Mr. Kong does not think much about it.
Mr. Kong said, “I am proud of my hands. Not everybody can be qualified to do such kinds of job. This is especially true for men.”
