How to find a modeling mother agency in Belarus. “When you ask for a modest $100 for a shoot, they look at you as if you were taking away the last piece of bread.” Aviator about his modeling career in Belarus. – How many models leave Belarus to go abroad?

– What age is best to start? modeling career, and which time is it too late?

– Start better years at 13–14 – this is the time when you can already see the future in the model. It is at this age that we can notice a model, and at 15–16 she may well appear on the professional catwalk for the first time. Our models retire at age 25.

– Do many models leave Belarus abroad?

- No. This is a very competitive environment, so only a few leave. We do not set such a goal for ourselves – to bring everyone to the world podiums. Even the most European agencies cannot boast of one or two worldwide famous stars. We already have these - this is the supermodel of the world Katya Domankova and our famous model from Brest Anastasia Belikova, who are now conquering the world's catwalks and working with the most famous designers, such as Armani and Cavalli, and constantly participate in FashionTV shows.

– Girls with what parameters are now in the top of the world modeling business?

– The top includes petite girls with a height of 178 cm and above. We do not pay attention to the chest, but more to the waist and hips - 60 and 90, respectively. The parameters should not go beyond these limits, and this is clearly stated in the contracts. If a girl goes beyond these parameters, then her work may be canceled and the model returned back.

– What about the well-known stereotype that breasts can interfere with a model’s work?

- Not true. If a girl has good breasts, then she will also work in lingerie shows. This could be a plus.

– Can a girl from the street, without going through modeling school, become a model if she has the makings?

– Of course, we have scouts who simply stop girls who suit us on the street, and within a month they can appear on the catwalk of a famous designer. Scouts work not only in Minsk, but also in other cities. But mostly, of course, we are fueled by the podium school.

– Can we say that Belarus is a full-fledged platform for world fashion or are we still somewhere on the sidelines?

- Of course you can, why not? You know, my family lives in Mallorca. I go there often and remember that the FashionTV channel broadcasts Belarusian designers from the weeks high fashion and other fashion events. I believe that we have enough such events and designers. Just recently I talked to some of them - they just arrived from China and took part in fashion week there. There are already names in Belarus, there are interesting collections, and they are also on track to make good sales. Perhaps they are not yet of an international level and they do not yet have representative offices abroad, but in our country they work actively and famous people in show business are happy to order suits from them.

– Is it true that often models are removed directly from the catwalk by rich businessmen and the girls agree to their conditions, go into their personal lives, and abandon their work?

– You can now stay in the hall after the show and watch whether someone will be removed from the podium today :) Of course, for every girl in any profession, her personal life is very important. I can only say that our agency never interferes with a girl’s personal choice. If she decides to sacrifice her career, the podium and goes into her personal life, there is a lot breathing down her back beautiful girls, there are enough of them in Belarus. So if not her, then someone else. The agency does not monitor the personal lives of its models. The only one, in this case, she must clearly say either “I am ready to work” or “I will take care of my family and children.” Sometimes girls choose to study, but many also combine it with work - they only go to summer shows abroad.

– How do models’ fees differ between abroad and in Belarus?

– Fees in Belarus are five times less than in Europe. But if the model works actively, then it can earn the same amount here. And this money may be enough to pay for your studies at a university or in the future, for example, to open your own business or help your parents buy an apartment.

– Do we have hardworking models in Belarus? In particular in Baranavichy?

- Hardworking, very hard. Well, because it’s hard to make money now. And modeling is a profession that at a young age already gives a girl independence. Perhaps, only sports and model business, because there you have to become independent early.

– Which countries are they interested in? Belarusian models most? Where do you get invited more often?

- Most good market where our models are actively working is America. But to get to America, you still need to pass the launch pad in Europe or Asia. Therefore, most often our models start in Paris, Milan, London, and then they can be invited to America. There are more interesting contracts, more work. The Chinese market has also become more active, and Japan and North Korea are still interested in our models.

– How can parents ensure the safety of a child who is already being offered contracts abroad? Do they need to personally vet overseas agencies?

– We have a license to employ models abroad; accordingly, each contract is checked by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and officially registered. We do not work with countries where the modeling business is very weak, such as Turkey. And we work with European capitals fashion, where all this is cultural, legal and such dangerous moments are excluded.

– What should parents be prepared for when sending their children to a podium school? What will you have to sacrifice?

– You will have to sacrifice your time on weekends. And clearly understand that the children they bring are going to school aesthetic development. They must be prepared that children at this age do not yet become stars, they study more for themselves, to be flexible, artistic, to know etiquette - this whole set of disciplines will be useful in every child’s life in any case. And only in the older groups, the top, where they study from the age of 15, we look at teenagers specifically for work throughout Belarus. Some Baranavichy models are already working abroad. We scan the whole of Belarus for beauty.

The life of 21-year-old Irina Boboreko cannot be called easy. The girl grew up in orphanage, started working at the age of 14. However, no difficulties became an obstacle to the realization of her dream: Irina founded the country's first informal modeling agency. This summer the project turned one year old, and the “R” correspondent learned about its first successes and how informal models work.

Life before and after

When Irina left the orphanage, she decided to get an education as a builder and graduated from the Minsk State Energy College. From the age of 14, the girl worked in many ways: as a auxiliary worker, technician, painter, builder, manager in a printing house. But none of these professions brought Irina pleasure, and she decided to take a risk and turn her hobby of photography into work.

She started taking photographs when she was 15 years old - then the girl auditioned for a fan photo shoot of a famous pop-rock group. Even though the first experience, according to Ira, was exciting and not the most successful, but this did not discourage her from continuing to try herself as a model.

Pink-blue hair, tattoos, piercings - it’s hard not to pay attention to Irina when she walks down the street. When she learned about the famous Russian agency "Creepy sweets", working with models with non-standard appearance, then I wanted to become a part of it:

I passed the casting and began working as a model for them. Later, the agency came up with the idea of ​​opening a branch in our country. We tried five times, but we still couldn’t get the job done. The problem was that there was no one to represent the agency. I decided to nominate myself: I know how to organize photo shoots, and besides, I had a lot of ideas in my head that I wanted to implement.

Irina headed the branch of a Russian alternative agency in Belarus, but everything did not go so smoothly. It was necessary to coordinate all actions with Moscow, send photographs from filming, wait for approval, while bearing all expenses on their own and not even having the right to create their own group in in social networks. Due to disagreements with the Moscow director, the girl decided to start her own business and in November 2016 - on her birthday - she opened the country's first alternative modeling agency, B.O.O.M.

This was the best gift. But since then everything has changed,” Irina recalls with a smile.

Rejection of accepted ideals

Irina Boboreko actively began looking for “informal” people and organizing filming. She bears the burden of considerable responsibility: in addition to the fact that the girl comes up with topics for photo shoots, she needs to organize the shooting - gather photographers, makeup artists, stylists, designers and, of course, informal models in one studio.

To my question, who can be called an informal model, Irina replies that these are people with a non-standard appearance: with tattoos, piercings, and unusual hair color. The classic parameters 90-60-90 and a height of 170 cm or more are optional here. Now there are 25 guys and girls in the B.O.O.M agency. Irina admits that she deliberately does not recruit many people in order to be able to pay enough attention to everyone - in addition to organizing photo sessions, the founder of the agency is personally present at each of them. Periodically, Ira conducts castings, and those who pass receive probation at three months:

This is necessary because there are people who are irresponsible at work and think that they are in some kind of party. If models get into an agency, they pay me nothing, but they must periodically participate in photo shoots, photo projects, and advertising shoots,” she explains.

The girl emphasizes one of the advantages of an informal agency: with non-standard models You can make the craziest ideas come true. For “informals” it is not a problem to change something about yourself or experiment. This applies not only to bright makeup and extravagant hairstyles, unusual locations are also chosen for filming.

Difficulties of working “for an idea”

One of the main goals of the agency is to destroy negative stereotypes about people with non-standard appearance. Irina wants to draw attention to the fact that tattoos are a person’s way of self-expression, and they have nothing to do with prison culture.

Today, Irina Boboreko’s task is not so much to make a profit, but to develop the business she has started. If the models pass the casting, the agency founder is not paid anything, and money is earned only through participation in music videos and cooperation with clothing stores. To provide for herself, the girl free time works part-time in photography or construction:

The agency is gaining popularity and I think we will soon reach new level. I have prepared a business plan by September, we will begin to work in a way that is beneficial to each of our team. There are also plans to focus on social topics for photo shoots. And even if the agency does not bring any serious profit yet, I believe that everything is ahead. The main thing is that I do what I really like.

Being a male model in Belarusian realities is not so easy. Firstly, any guy in sweatpants considers it his duty to remind you that “normal boys” don’t walk on the catwalk and don’t post naked-chested photos on Instagram. Secondly, many clothing manufacturers firmly believe that there is no need to pay for a model’s work, they say, getting into the frame is already luck. About the vicissitudes of the Minsk model life, fees, stereotypes and public condemnation Onliner.by spoke with a graduate of the Belarusian Aviation Academy, 25-year-old Atamurat Erdzhanov.

- On social networks you write: “A couple of years ago I worked for pennies as a parking attendant, a loader, poured coffee in shopping centers and dressed up as cartoon characters, and now life has changed so much.” Today you are a fairly successful male model by Minsk standards. How did this happen?

I came to Minsk to study from Turkmenistan, graduated from the Belarusian Aviation Academy, then got a master's degree. Why Minsk? In 2010, it was just an ideal city for a student: cheap and accessible. And my parents wanted me to see another country.

How did this happen with modeling? I think it all started with the fact that I had wild complexes, because at one time I was very thin.

- You talk about it so calmly.

Yes, I still have huge complexes! (Laughs.) There are photos from the time when I was just starting, I had just arrived in Minsk. Look for yourself: I’m completely skinny.

So, I flew to Minsk and looked: the Belarusians are all healthy, big! And we are so small and walk around with inflated self-esteem. (Laughs.) I think: no, that won’t work. I was 18 years old then. I started training. Did a certain form, figure. I thought that to become a model, you had to be pumped up. I trained, invested a lot of money and finally realized: I’m ready! Went to the casting National school beauty. And they looked at me and said: “Where have you come?” It turned out that I had become too big and pumped up. I remember myself at graduation at the aviation academy in a classic size 54 suit. It was pretty ridiculous. (Smiles.) I decided to lose a couple of kilograms so that the jackets fit properly. A couple of months later I worked at a wedding exhibition, and then the suits fit perfectly.

- So this was the path to the ideal male body?

No, to self-affirmation. (Smiles.) I wanted to assert myself, I wanted to be more than I am. I suffered from lack of attention. That helped. (Laughs.)

Yes, I see that your Instagram posts get over a thousand likes. And dozens of enthusiastic female comments - from “How beautiful you are!” to “That’s it, I’m leaving!”...

Yes, that's how I get my dose of attention. Of course, this is stupid, on the one hand. On the other hand, why not stroke your vanity?

Don’t think that I’m some kind of rabid bodybuilder who lives by the motto “If you don’t swing today, you die!” No, this story is not about me. I don’t impose certain ideals of sportiness on anyone.

Posted by (@atamuavia) Aug 17, 2017 at 11:43 am PDT

I was healthy, pumped up - I noticed that women didn’t like it, it repulsed them. You are subject to certain stereotypes like “stupid jock” or “narcissistic asshole.” This really hurts. I have to prove to everyone: no, I’m not like that, I have other interests! Useless. All the stereotypes about a narcissistic person have already been stuck on you.

You have participated in shows and starred in advertisements for Nike, Mark Formelle, Historia, Westerly, Sister’s, Coo Culte... What do you consider your greatest success?

Nothing could be cooler than the fact that I myself personally met two presidents: Lukashenko and Putin. This was at a closed display of the national Olympic uniform before the games in Rio. Our president even thought I was an athlete and shook my hand. (Laughs.)

These videos are very provocative, yes. Provocative. The goal was to attract attention - and it was achieved. The reaction was very violent. The videos were discussed for a long time and shown on air. They hooked the viewer. And this, in my opinion, is an indicator of good advertising.

News of Belarus. When size matters. Unusual competition beauty event takes place in the capital. "Miss Belarus Plus Size” brings together one and a half hundred girls from all over the country. The participants destroy the usual stereotypes with their entire appearance, as reported in the “24 Hours” News program on STV.

But correspondent Yana Shipko found in such beauty a connection with the Baroque era.

Yana Shipko, correspondent:
True beauty is not measured in centimeters and kilograms - the unspoken motto of the competition. In addition to impressive forms, the jury also assessed the erudition and talents of the participants. The winners will become the head of the Belarusian body positivity movement, which is gaining more and more adherents around the world. Instead of chasing model standards, why not become Plus model Size? At the same time, all participants– fans of active and healthy image life. Girls with curves know how to love themselves, and confidence can only be learned from them. By the way, according to the canons of the Plus Size competition, participants must be no smaller than size 46.

Evgenia Tyuleneva, model, “Vice-Miss World Plus Size-2017”:
I think that my example also inspired. I think there are enough girls in the world who inspire. I'm surprised that so many applications have been received. This is great! Today we will look: maybe half of them overestimated themselves by calling themselves Plus Size.

It is always very easy to be thin and beautiful. But being plump, with large and beautiful shapes is much more difficult to be beautiful. I am grateful to God that I can do this. Somehow it works out on its own.

This is the first such adventurous competition in my life. Friends suggested filling out a form. Of course I agreed. I didn’t prepare at all: I came here spontaneously after work and found myself in such an exciting bustle.

Based on the results of the casting, the jury will select five finalists who will represent Belarus at International competition“Miss World Plus Size”, which will be held in 2020 in Kyiv.

How can children become models, do they have to pay for it and can they make money from it [photo]

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Judging by the fact that there are about 20 children's modeling agencies operating in Belarus, this direction is now popular: mothers and fathers take their kids to castings, make a portfolio for them, and someone is even willing to pay for their child to appear somewhere. What does it take for a child to become a star in the modeling business?

25-year-old owner of the Minsk modeling agency Ann Models Anna Lyashenko works for international level: her charges go to filming in Italy, France and China, advertise clothes from Yudashkin and Lanvin, and star in Basta’s video. Parents brought about 500 children aged 3 to 15 to the casting, which recently took place at the agency.

- Anya, on what basis are children selected as models?

Nowadays the Slavic type is in demand: blond hair, Blue eyes. We are really looking forward to brown-eyed brunettes coming into fashion, but so far they are not particularly willing to be included in advertising campaigns. There is a fashion for atypical beauty - for example, children with protruding ears. Until recently, freckled saffron milk caps were in demand, but now this fashion is passing. In addition, the child must be slender, without cheeks.

- Without cheeks? This is injustice! Babies with cheeks are so adorable.

I also hope that fashion will change soon. But now everyone wants children to have cheekbones and be thin. After all, standard clothes are made for slender children. Therefore, if we see that a child has had a good rest over the summer and has plumped up his cheeks, then in his place we will take a slimmer one who can work.

- Children from your agency participated in the filming of Basta’s video. How did they get there?

We were approached by Russian producers who were looking for children to film a video in Minsk for the song “Papa What's up”. This song is about families where dads often go on business trips and communicate with children via the Internet. The guys had to play children from such a family At the casting, the guys were asked to talk about themselves and answer questions. As a result, the producers invited two of our guys to the filming - Vsevolod Boydak and Mila Bondar.

“No covers for parents’ money”

- For a child to become a model, should parents invest money in his promotion?

Parents' expenses include tuition fees and photo shoot expenses. For example, in our agency training costs about $50 - 60 per month. If after a year the child joins the main team, there is no need to pay for classes. A professional portfolio costs approximately $50 - $100. If one child has 40 professional photographs, and another has one photo on his phone against the background of a closet, the customer is unlikely to choose the child near the closet.

- Do parents often offer to pay for their child’s photo to appear on the cover of a magazine?

Often, but we say: no paid filming! After all, if everyone works like this, the industry will simply become obsolete, and we want to raise the level of children’s fashion in our country. The child must receive a fee.

- What is the maximum amount children can receive for filming?

This is more a matter of prestige; children's fees are not so large. Abroad it is $200, $500 - depending on the brand.

- Are parents paid for traveling abroad with their children?

Most often, the host party pays for flights and accommodation. Either one of the parents or I fly with the children.

Do the children themselves need a modeling school? There is an opinion that this activity is not for age and it would be better for children to play in the yard than to walk along the catwalk.

Why do children need to go dancing, sing or play sports? In addition to the catwalk at the model school, there are many other activities for general development: the guys are studying acting, stage speech, photography, choreography, learn to take care of themselves. Not everyone will become a model, but everyone will gain interesting experience and knowledge.

- Many people doubt: should boys be trained as models?

This is a stereotype that needs to be destroyed. At first, some mothers told their husbands that they were taking their sons to dance, and not to modeling school. But we already have a lot of convinced parents. Separate groups have been created for boys, with a program aimed at raising not boy models, but gentlemen who can stand up for each other and help girls. The boys have sports activities with strength training, and their catwalk is not the same as that of girls.

There were several scandals in the children's modeling business due to photographs where girls were wearing makeup, in lingerie, in heels, and in poses that were not at all childish. Such photos even appeared on the pages Vogue and caused a strong wave of negativity. Is it important to you which shoots children are invited to?

I do not support this approach; the moral component is important to me. In my opinion, children's fashion is simply a display of children's clothing. I am for showing childish spontaneity, naturalness, and emotions. Of course, we always figure out the idea of ​​shooting in advance.

“Between chemotherapy sessions, I flew with the children to filming in Europe”

- You opened a modeling agency very early - at the age of 19. Was it difficult to start?

I'm from large family, I have three younger sisters and brother. One day, a photographer friend of mine suggested taking pictures of the sisters, and then taking them to a casting for filming in advertising. All this was accompanied by such incredible excitement that I wanted to continue it. And now the mothers of my girlfriends began to contact me with requests to take their children. I created a VKontakte group, and then opened an individual entrepreneur. True, over time I realized that this is a rather evil business.

- Why angry?

For example, there was a case when competitors called the designers we were working with two days before the show and offered them a profitable project on the condition that they would refuse to work with us...

- Did you have money to start a business?

No, so I found a second job, which initially allowed me to rent a practice room. I am a marketer by training, but I started working as a karaoke vocalist. There was not enough money to pay teachers' salaries. I was very lucky that I met people who were willing to support me for free. The first three years we worked at zero, tried to grab onto all the projects that were offered to us in Belarus, and gradually got on our feet. Now I have 15 employees, and the agency has 400 children.

- Was it difficult to reach the international level?

Very difficult. I knocked on all doors for a long time and could not understand how this business works outside of Belarus. I tried to negotiate and one day I found an agent who works with European modeling agencies. She drew attention to one of our girls - Albina Tokareva. It was a year and a half ago and it was our breakthrough: Albina became the face of the advertising campaign of the famous Italian brand “Fan Fan”. Billboards with her photos hung all over Italy! She paved the way for us to Europe

About a year ago you wrote a post on Instagram about your illness (Anya was diagnosed with cancer. - Ed.) What helped you cope?

At first, out of panic and shock, I didn’t know how to proceed and make plans. We had just begun to gain momentum at the international level, and I understood that either all the work done was going down the drain, or we continued to work in the circumstances that existed. Therefore, between chemotherapy courses, I flew to Europe with the children. Another surprising thing is how people reacted to this post. The parents of the children who study with us began sending notes from them with wishes “for Anya to get better.” For my birthday they recorded a song called “Live.” I think what helped me get better was my work and the tremendous support I had from others.