How to become a model in Belarus. “A child model with chubby cheeks is no longer in trend, but a lop-eared one is just the thing! “No covers for parents’ money”

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.

Remembering her childhood, almost every girl dreamed of becoming a model. We looked with admiration at the long-legged beauties parading on the catwalks of famous fashion houses and watched with bated breath as they posed in front of camera lenses and starred in films and videos.

Many people still dream about this. But not our heroine. Lisa was an ordinary student, studied at technological university and couldn’t even imagine that a chance meeting would divide her life into “before” and “after.”

- I got into the modeling business, like many girls, by pure chance. The director of my agency met me in the center of Minsk when I was heading home from school. She just came up and asked if I wanted to be a model. She invited me to a meeting in the office and gave me my business card. Although I never dreamed of being on the podium, I still went to the meeting.

The interview was successful, and Lisa was invited to study at one of the popular modeling schools in Minsk.

- Over the next 3 months, I graduated from modeling school and participated in several local projects. It evolved, so to speak. There were plans to travel abroad, but I knew that the chances were slim, so I was even happy about free projects in Belarus.

The first projects were free shows and photo sessions within the country. Lisa also participated in the Belarusian Fashion Week and performed at city events.

- After 2 months, I was on the cover of the New Year’s issue of the City of Women magazine and appeared on TV for the first time.

The first serious work for the girl was a trip to Milan. Lisa signed a contract with one of the leading agencies in Milan and was cast for the Gucci show as part of spring fashion week.

« I will never forget that step on the podium"- says the girl.

The trip to Milan coincided with the beginning of the second semester of the 3rd year at the university. I had to make a choice - work or study.

-I studied well, I was on a budget. With difficulty I asked the teachers for time off and promised to pay off all my debts when I arrived. But after the first trip for a month, there was a second one almost immediately. I realized that I wouldn’t be able to pass the test. Therefore, I decided to withdraw my documents from the university. They wished me luck and told me that I could recover if I wanted to.

The requirements for working as a model are different in each country, but there are basic ones: height from 172 cm, hips up to 88, waist up to 58, bust up to 86.

-Most girls go on strict diets to keep their parameters within these limits. Fortunately, my genetics allowed me to eat whatever I wanted and not be afraid that they wouldn’t hire me, - Lisa smiles .

There are different types that are valued in fashion industry areas and countries. A memorable appearance, confidence in your look and behavior, well-groomed skin and hair - these are the points that employers pay attention to at every casting, no matter where in the world you work as a model.

- Usually, my day on any trip begins quite early: at 7-8 in the morning I get up and hastily take a shower and have breakfast.

Depending on what is planned for the day (castings or work), I do my makeup, take everything I need with me (usually underwear basic colors, comb, bottle of water, money, phone, charger and beech - model portfolio) and go to the appointed place at the appointed time.

After work in any city, I usually went to lunch or dinner (unless, of course, I was fed at work). And then take a walk. So many interesting places V different cities I discovered it just like that - wandering aimlessly along the central streets - says Lisa.

There is a myth that models are literally swimming in money and can afford literally anything they want. But that's not true.

- In Belarus, pay for work is rare and low, especially in comparison with the scale of the global modeling business. In Europe they pay well, but there is a minus - the payment system when working through modeling agencies.

The receiving agency in another country pays for the model’s flights, accommodation, and provides pocket money. But then, when it is time for the model to return home, all these expenses are deducted from the money the model earned for the trip. Very often models go negative. On her next trip to this country she will have to cover this minus.

Although in Asia the minus burns out, that is, the model does not have to work it out on the next trip to Asian countries.

In Europe, they pay the most for shows during fashion week and work in showrooms, in Asia - for photo shoots for magazines and catalogues.

- If we talk about me, after the first trip I was able to afford to buy new smartphone and pay for a while rented apartment. I was lucky then. But from Japan I brought nothing but unforgettable impressions.

Difficulties that most people experience Belarusian models, - communication. A must when traveling abroad good level English language proficiency.

Another problem is budget planning.

- Usually the money that was given weekly by the agency was barely enough for food and travel. I had to save on everything: I walked almost all of Paris.

Although the girl was 19 years old when she started her career, Lisa never lived in the same apartment with strangers. " It was very difficult to get used to the fact that you have almost no personal space,”- says Lisa.

- Also, all my friends and parents remained in Minsk. I didn’t see them for more than a month, I missed them very much. Sometimes it seemed like I was going to give up everything and ask to be sent home.

Some aspects of a model’s work can greatly affect self-esteem: refusals at castings, constant measurements of parameters.

Treating models as objects that are matched to clothes, and not vice versa. More often than not, no one cares what the model thinks.

- Our duty is to remain silent and do what they say. It’s almost impossible to be a model and have ambitions here, - says Lisa.

During the year of her career, Lisa managed to work in Italy (Milan and Florence), France (Paris) and Japan (Tokyo).

-Each country and each city has its own rules of the modeling business, its own subtleties. Most of all I enjoyed working in Milan. But Tokyo and Paris also left many wonderful memories.

After working abroad, the girl returned to university, received a diploma and continues to work as a model.

Vaseko Daria

Photo: from the heroine’s personal archive

Since childhood, many girls dream of the hectic life of a model - filming, shows, fame... Arina Yakubovskaya is one of them. By the age of 16, she had already appeared on the podium more than once. asked the aspiring model about the difficulties of the profession, and also asked to give advice to girls who want to follow in her footsteps.

Beauty school in Minsk

What kind of girls will we accept?They go to beauty school, what do they teach there?

IN National beauty school different girls are taken for training from 6 to 25 years. There you will learn to walk correctly, taking care of your posture, and also learn about proper nutrition and begin to exercise regularly. After all healthy eating and sports are guarantees of an excellent figure and clear skin, which is important for a model.

If you successfully complete the training course and your parameters are suitable for modeling, the agency will offer you a contract. You will be able to participate in castings and shows selected by the agency. Having a contract, you can receive a fee for participating in a designer clothing show and filming.

Is parental consent required to participate in filming and screenings?

Written consent from parents mandatory necessary when drawing up a contract with an agency. Some photographers also ask for parents’ signature on the shooting agreement, but this rarely happens.

How are auditions going? What do you need to do to successfully pass them?

Don't go to the casting with a ton of makeup on your face! Wear very light makeup, or better yet, avoid it altogether. You should look neat and well-groomed. As for clothing, it is best to wear a black fitted tank top and leggings. And, of course, don't forget about heels.

What challenges have you faced in modeling?

When the first castings and shows took place, I was very worried about how I would be perceived, whether I would be comfortable in front of everyone. But when I started communicating with curators and models, I realized that they were all simple and open people.

From those who know nothing about modeling, I have heard something like: “Just a doll!” or “Only fashion is on my mind!” At such moments it can be very disappointing. After all, this is also a profession, and it is no worse than others. Being a model isn't easy. Beautiful gait, correct posture, interesting look - everything should be sharpened.

What rules do you have to follow? Are you on a diet?

Without the agency's permission, I cannot change my look, such as getting bangs or dyeing my hair. And you can completely forget about piercings. Also, the model must take care of her figure and skin, like any girl, but for this it is enough to adhere to proper nutrition. If I want to eat chocolate, I will eat it.

What do you like about modeling?

I really love shows. You walk along the catwalk, everyone is looking at you, taking pictures... What a thrill I feel at these moments! Filming is no less fun, although it can last from half an hour to three hours.

What are you dreaming about now? Do you want to continue your modeling career?

On this moment I really want to go to college. After all, you won’t be a model your whole life; they end their careers by the age of 24-27. Therefore, every model must have an education. But until I turn 26, I’m ready to work in this field.

What advice can you give to girls who are planning to connect their lives with modeling?

If you want to try yourself as a model, start searching immediately good photographer. Take snaps and send them to different modeling agencies.

Snaps (from English snapshots) is a set of pictures that includes at least six photos of the model. This is a full-face, three-quarter and profile portrait, as well as photographs in full height, in an open swimsuit or in lingerie (from the front, profile and from the back).

To get good shots, it is important to relax and be yourself in front of the lens. A beautiful smile and a perky look are the key to great photos.

But first, love yourself for who you are. Don't worry about a mole or freckles on your face. This could be your highlight. Appreciate and love yourself!

Follow your dreams and set high goals! If you try and put in enough effort, you will definitely succeed!

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.

In children's modeling business there were several scandals over 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.

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.