A Conversation with modeling agency director.
Interviewer: SHAMAYIM
Guest: Chris [Last Name Withheld], Former Director
Location: SHAMAYIM Studios, NYC
Date: June 2025
SHAMAYIM:
Chris, thank you for joining me. We’ve shared years in the industry together—runways, castings, campaigns—but today I want to speak to you not as a director, but as a mentor. The modeling industry in 2025 is rapidly evolving. What does it really take now to become not just a model, but a high-value brand?
CHRIS:
Thank you, Shamayim. Always a pleasure to be in dialogue with someone who truly sees models as artists. To answer you directly: the model who understands branding is already ahead. In 2025, it's no longer about just being signed—it's about being seen as a multidimensional force. A model today is a business, an aesthetic, a narrative, and a cultural signal. Those who get that, win.
SHAMAYIM:
You mentioned the model as a narrative. That resonates. What are some of the elements that build that narrative?
CHRIS:
Three core elements: visual identity, intentional visibility, and aligned values.
First, visual identity—this is your look, yes, but more so your signature. Think of it like fragrance. Is it memorable? Do you smell like everyone else, or do people turn their heads when you walk in? Models today need to define their editorial tone. Are you moody and architectural? Ethereal and bohemian? Bold and high-gloss?
SHAMAYIM:
Yes, I always say: you are either a template or a muse. Either replaceable or irreplaceable.
CHRIS:
Exactly. Second is intentional visibility. This is where many fail. A strong model in 2025 controls their image across platforms—Instagram, yes, but also Threads, curated TikToks, editorial blogs, digital lookbooks. They’re not spamming the algorithm—they’re curating a gallery. There’s restraint. There’s mood.
SHAMAYIM:
A visual ethos.
CHRIS:
Precisely. Lastly: aligned values. Brands are watching. They don’t just want a face—they want a story that makes sensewith their DNA. If you’re working with sustainability brands, but your personal content is fast fashion hauls, you’re canceling yourself in slow motion. Today’s high-value model knows who they align with spiritually, creatively, and commercially.
SHAMAYIM:
So the model is not chasing brands—they’re cultivating resonance?
CHRIS:
Yes. Magnetism over pursuit.
SHAMAYIM:
Let’s go deeper. A lot of young models still think “being signed” is the arrival point. What's your view?
CHRIS:
Being signed is just being invited into the house. But no one will pour you wine if you don’t bring something to the table. If you rely on your agency to create your brand, you will end up in the background of someone else’s campaign. In 2025, agency support is the bonus—self-direction is the foundation.
SHAMAYIM:
Would you advise unsigned models to wait or to self-launch?
CHRIS:
Self-launch. Always. Build your book. Build your voice. Build your story. Then, when an agency comes, it’s a collaboration, not a rescue. I always say—become undeniable. Agencies don’t chase potential anymore. They chase proof.
SHAMAYIM:
What are the “non-physical” qualities that separate marketable models from forgettable ones?
CHRIS:
Discipline. Taste. Awareness. Professionalism. Let’s break it down.
Discipline: Show up early, prepared, well-rested, in shape, mentally present. Models who run their life like a CEO win.
Taste: They study photographers, fashion history, beauty evolution. They know the difference between Peter Lindbergh and Nick Knight.
Awareness: They know their face, their angles, what lighting flatters them. They can build moodboards for their own shoots.
Professionalism: They send thank-you emails. They don’t gossip. They understand NDA culture. They elevate every room they enter.
SHAMAYIM:
That’s real. I've always believed the best models are also artists of perception. They understand energy.
CHRIS:
Absolutely. A high-value model doesn’t just model—they curate presence.
SHAMAYIM:
So what would you say to a 20-year-old model today trying to break in, watching reels of Dior shows and wishing it was them?
CHRIS:
I'd say: Dior isn’t the goal—legacy is. Create work now that will make sense in 10 years. Work with emerging photographers. Learn how to build a set. Write your own creative briefs. You’re not waiting for the phone to ring—you’re building a lighthouse.
SHAMAYIM:
Beautifully said. A lighthouse.
Before we wrap, give me your Top 5 Moves for becoming a high-value, marketable model in 2025.
CHRIS:
Develop a Signature Editorial Identity – Don’t just be pretty. Be distinct.
Curate a Professional Digital Presence – Less selfies, more substance.
Align with Value-Based Brands – Let your causes mirror your castings.
Build a Tribe of Creatives – Find your photographer, your stylist, your tribe.
Treat Modeling as a Business – Register your LLC. Get media training. Study contracts. Own your name.
SHAMAYIM:
You’ve just laid out a manifesto. Thank you, Chris. The industry may change, but wisdom like this remains timeless.
CHRIS:
Thank you, Shamayim. What you’re doing with SHAMAYIM Studios and your mentorship is the future of fashion. It’s not about being seen—it’s about seeing clearly.
Footnote by SHAMAYIM:
To every model reading this: remember, your beauty is the door—but your vision is the key. In 2025, you are not just a face. You are a force. Build with intention. Move with divinity. Curate with discipline. The industry doesn’t need more pretty—it needs more presence.
