Modeling Jobs for Short Women

While most people equate the term "model" with the glamorous amazons of the catwalk, many don't know that the pretty lady on page 234 is a petite woman. Shorter women often land jobs in fashion publications, ad campaigns and other high-exposure places that don't discriminate due to size. Opportunities exist for those who apply to the correct agencies and are willing to be versatile.

Shorter women compose a good percentage of models in the print, fitness and glamor industries. In fact, many agencies and photographers are willing to use shorter models for functions other than runway. This opens up a wide range of opportunities for very attractive women who might otherwise turn away from modeling. The Centers for Disease Control has placed the average United States woman at 5 feet, 3 inches in height. Since there are so many women who qualify as petite or short, it makes sense to utilize this section of the populace. Shorter women have popular appeal, are a familiar sight, and may appeal to female shoppers.

In the modeling world, shorter women have the opportunity to work many rewarding, lucrative jobs. Some of these include part modeling, print modeling, event promotion and fitness modeling. Just like taller women, petites may be blessed with legs that are proportionally long, or can have a tight, toned body. These attributes are terrific for shoe ads or underwear shots. Often, a shorter woman is great for ad campaigns or editorial spreads that only require a torso or facial shot. In those cases, height doesn't even come into consideration, since there's no need to show the entire body.

Modeling jobs are always centered on big cities; the two most important are Los Angeles and New York City (the center of fashion in the United States). This is no different for petite models, who are wise to send their information to reputable print agencies for representation and employment. Small towns often boast a modeling agency or two, but these often can't produce the results of a big-city modeling firm that has a large network of leads.

There are petite-modeling jobs in every age group of the industry. Children who are small are great for jobs that require a younger look; small adult women who appear young can shoot teen fashion spreads well into their 20s. As long as the model markets herself as versatile and flexible, there are jobs. There's no telling how long it might take a petite model to land that first big agency break or gig. Many petite models start young, but others begin in their 20s or 30s. What counts is persistence and confidence. The industry may seem like it has no place for shorter women, but there are opportunities for those who keep trying.

Because of the prevalence of short women in American society, many magazines now feature spreads that highlight petite fashion. Vogue, Elle and other major magazines have done spreads on the subject; this moves the shorter customer out of obscurity and into the spotlight. As editors emphasize the beautiful variety of heights in American culture, petite models will find more bookings available to them. As shorter women take their place in modeling agencies and on modeling websites, more people are taking notice and giving work to women who are just as lovely and proportional as their taller sisters.