can you become a model by going abroad or online?

One of America's hottest exports to the Far East may be its fashion models. Here's why girls who cross the Pacific are practically guaranteed to profit from the trip.

One of the greatest perks of a modeling career is the opportunity to travel the world, and Japan is one of the most popular venues overseas for male and female models. I have interviewed many Americans who have ventured to Japan, and they told me that they relished the experience of learning about this beautiful country and its culture. They also had made a considerable amount of money while working there. There are, however, some misconceptions about modeling in Japan, as can be seen in this question from a 19-year-old whose career started about two years ago. She writes:

Q: I have heard that Japan is the place to go because it is guaranteed that a model will make a lot of money quickly. Is that true?

A: The word "guaranteed" in this context bothers me. In Japan, the government law requires that there be a standard guaranteed exclusive contract between a foreign model and model agent. The government also requires that agencies guarantee a minimum amount of earnings for that period, regardless of whether the model works or not, plus a pre-paid round-trip airfare ticket and accommodation. One agent told me: "The government does not want us to bring in anyone who will not work. This protects the model from unemployment. The guarantee will pay back what they owe in airfare, apartment rental, and other expenses."

From this you will gather that the guarantee covers all expenses incurred by the agent on your behalf. Money earned over and above this is yours, but no one can guarantee how much that will be. Experienced models with good portfolios inevitably do better than newcomers. Agents, scouts and managers working in this market are extremely selective when choosing models. Their choice is seldom wrong. That is why most models do work a great deal and, as a result, make a lot of money.

Charming Sawa Saito, an international scout based in Tokyo with the Avenue 1 Modeling Agency, has this advice for you and other young models contemplating time in Japan: "There is a wide variety of work in Tokyo, especially for catalogs. Clients expect girls to walk and pose well. Models must be able to change poses quickly and naturally to prove they are professional. This is very important. They must also be able to take care of themselves and their apartments."

While Tokyo is the most famous fashion city in Japan, Osaka is also an important and lucrative stop on a model's itinerary. The work there is done mostly for catalogs.

This next question also concerns the international circuit. This young model writes:

Q: Is it true that to really get ahead a model has to work in Europe? Why is that?

A: Basically, there are more magazines there pertaining to the fashion industry, which means there is more work, which translates into more opportunities to get tear sheets. These are pages from magazines and other publications that show a model at work. Since they indicate experience, they are essential credentials. When models come back from overseas with tear sheets in their portfolios, clients can see that they have been successful and are willing to book them. Suzanne Von Schaak, who is a model and an actress, encourages all newcomers to "go to Europe and come back strong." She told me: "I came to New York, but I was afraid to go to Europe. I didn't speak any other languages. The famous designer Givenchy came to the States looking for models for his couture collection. He picked me and a few other girls. I went to Paris and wished I had gone earlier. I had struggled in New York trying to get my book together and trying to test with good photographers. I went to Europe with a book of test shots and the girls there had page after page of tear sheets. It was a mistake not to have gone earlier."

This next question pinpoints an increasingly controversial subject - the Internet.

Q: Can a potential model be discovered by going online, and is this a safe way to get into the business?

A: At this point the Internet is not a safe launching pad for models, because there are so many unscrupulous, so-called agents and scouting companies preying on innocent victims. In the future, it may well become a credible source. David Vando, CEO of Models Mart in New York, constantly strives for integrity in the industry, and over the years he has successfully assisted both local and federal enforcement agencies in prosecuting scams. He is concerned about the new scams emerging from the Internet. He told me: "Scams have now moved to the Internet, and one must be very careful about listing oneself on the web. Young people are given the false impression that these sites are being constantly monitored by major agencies desperate for new talent. This is not the case. Models are often asked by these unscrupulous people to spend more money than is necessary."

I am asked the next question regularly by both aspiring models and their parents.

Q: Should a girl finish her education before starting a modeling career?

A: I have never ever heard a model agent tell a girl not to finish high school. They consider this absolutely essential. As far as college is concerned, it is an individual decision. It depends so much on a girl's plans for the future, especially if she wants to attend medical or law school, or pursue a career that demands years of constant study. Our daughter, Tracy, faced this dilemma in the last year of high school. Having done quite a lot of modeling and television commercial work, she was eager to model in the fashion capitals of Europe. She also wanted to be a doctor. Believe me, these two career paths cannot be explored at the same time. I asked the advice of a top New York photographer with whom Tracy had worked. He said: "By the age of twenty-two, a model's career is virtually over but a doctor's has only just begun. Tracy should skip modeling and go to college and medical school." However, on the other end of the scale, a fashion coordinator told me: "If she has the opportunity to model in Europe, she should do it. If a girl is bright, she will always be bright, but a chance to model in Milan or Paris is rare. Your daughter should put college on hold." Tracy did just that. She modeled for two years, came home, went to college, and then to med school. She is now a doctor.

See this article at Pageantry Magazine: Made in Japan

Eve Matheson is the author of The Modeling Handbook , a bestseller in the industry. She has been writing about the modeling and acting world for over 20 years. Her new book Model Scoop And Acting Info provides a wealth of information on how to have a happy, successful, safe career and is now available. Eve is a journalist and the mother of a former international model. She has worked as a model, and in radio and television as a writer and presenter. Eve lives with her husband, Ian, a plastic surgeon, in Tampa, Florida.

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