A model is a person with a role either to promote, display or advertise commercial products (notably fashion clothing in fashion shows), or to serve as a visual aid for people who are creating works of art or to pose for photography.

Modelling (“modeling” in American English) is considered to be different from other types of public performance, such as acting or dancing. Although the difference between modelling and performing is not always clear, appearing in a film or a play is not generally considered to be “modelling”.

Modeling is a fascinating career, a part time job, a life of work, or a dangerous venture. The difference is in how you approach becoming a successful model.

This book will provide you with the information that anyone needs to know to enter the exciting world of modeling. Modeling is a world unto itself and much more than runway or fashion modeling. Modeling includes lingerie, catwalk (runway), hands, legs head, teen, mature, glamour, advertising, editorial, fashion, glamour, fitness, bikini, fine art, body-part, promotional, and commercial print models and catalog and more. The faces of some of the highest paid models in the world have never been seen in a photograph or video. In fact some only “sell” their hands or feet as model subjects.

Fashion modeling is the best-known niche in the international model world because of the glamour, the fashion, and the money. The term “supermodel” generally refers to a fashion or runway model. The term international supermodel is relatively new to society. No one knows exactly when the term was coined; however, it started in common usage in the 1990’s, thousands of years after the start of the profession.

Models have been used to “sell” product since long before the invention of the television and even the camera. Historians know of clothiers in ancient Rome and other empiric dynasties that used human models to show their wears to affluent patrons. Models didn’t always hold the high place in society that they can today however. If Roman patrons didn’t buy the clothes worn by the model, the model, not the designer, was to blame, and the model was often tortured and killed. Models were often hired away by the patrons to serve in their households as well.