Sun, Jan 10, 2010

Urban, The Straits Times

The Singapore-based Russian model (above and below, left)with Upfront Models takes on both hand and face modelling jobs.

Her hands were recently used in a jewellery advertisement.

Like any regular modelling job, she gets paid $200 for a half-day shoot.

She has been a professional model for two years.

What attracted you to modelling?

The idea of having my face in a fashion campaign, or having people look at me walk down the runway, is something that has always excited and inspired me.

So when I was approached by a talent scout in Russia, I grabbed the opportunity.

I started modelling part-time during school holidays and am now a professional full-time model.

How is hand modelling different from being a face model?

Initially, it felt strange to have just my hands photographed and I didn’t know how to position them to make them look long and elegant.

But the photographer was great and helped me.

It is much easier to do face modelling as it’s all about looking pretty for the camera.

Which is more challenging?

Being a body-parts model is more challenging. You have to contort your hands and hold that position for a long time.

After a while, my hands get stiff and numb and I have to shake them to loosen the muscles.

What do you do to make sure your hands look good?

I’m lucky to be born with a pair of nice hands. I don’t take special care of them but I do moisturise them often.

I actually take care of my entire body. It’s not easy being a model.

You have to constantly take care of your appearance as people look at you from head to toe.

CHEST: Bobby Tonelli, 33

The California-born Singapore permanent resident (above, middle), who is signed with Upfront Models, has appeared in several ad campaigns, with the latest being a year-long one for Tiger Beer.

He has also lent his abs and chest to faceless ads for an underwear company.

He is paid $200 for a half-day shoot. The TV and stage actor has also appeared in drama serials such as Fighting Spiders.

What attracted you to modelling?

I have been modelling on and off for the past 12 years.

What attracted me was a chance to experience the world and make a living doing it.

I was introduced to a modelling agency in southern California in 1996 after I was spotted by an agent.

The agent thought I had potential but I needed to groom myself and lose weight.

After I did that, I started getting modelling jobs.

How is chest modelling different from being a face model?

Well, no one will recognise you on the street.

Jokes aside, it takes a different set of skills to excel in both.

Face models require not only good looks but also the ability to let their expressions do the talking.

Body-parts models have to think of ways to make their bodies look better and fitter on camera.

For instance, a chest or abs model needs to learn how to flex and twist his body muscles to look more buff and toned.

Which is more challenging?

Both are just as challenging. Both require you to look your best all the time.

If you don’t work out or look good, you won’t get any jobs.

What do you do to make sure your chest looks good?

I hit the gym for cardio exercises every day to make sure my chest and abs are firm and toned.

I also moisturise my skin to ensure it is soft and supple.

BUM: Rachel Mariayanti Sumati, 24

The freelance model (above, right) does both face and body-parts modelling.

Her perky derriere scooped the Sloggi Best Bum contest in 2007 and saw her travelling to Paris to compete against booty-beautiful contestants from other countries.

Sumati has been modelling since 2002.

She is paid $1,500 to $2,000 per advertorial.

What attracted you to modelling?

Since I was a child, I have loved browsing high-fashion magazines to admire the photographs of top models.

I took part in the Sloggi contest as someone from (underwear brand) Triumph – which owns Sloggi – spotted me during an event at Cafe Del Mar in Sentosa.

How is bum modelling different from being a face model?

Bum modelling can be awkward at first as the focus is just on the bum itself and I have to strike different poses to make sure it appears perkier and rounder in photos.

Which is more challenging?

Face modelling.

Face models need to display a variety of expressions to show different sets of emotions and moods.

Body-parts modelling doesn’t really require much effort in posing.

What do you do to make sure your bottom looks good?

I hit the gym weekly and also make sure my figure is trim by doing kickboxing and dancing.

Taking the stairs instead of the lift and doing squat exercises also help maintain a firm bum.

I also apply moisturiser on my butt to keep the skin supple.

HAIR: Raychell Ariel Lim, 18

A hospitality student at the Singapore Institute of Management, Lim takes on freelance hair modelling assignments.

She has done several hair shows for companies such as Japanese haircare brand Hoyu and home-grown hair salon Anthony’s.

She is paid $300 per hour for a hair shoot.

What attracted you to modelling?

I love the idea of being on stage and playing a role. In school, I was involved in stage performances.

Modelling to me is all about performing in front of the camera. I started freelance work at 16.

The stylists and producers gave me much insight into modelling and they inspired me.

How is hair modelling different from being a face model?

The focus is on the hair.

This is similar to being a fashion model who is merely a hanger to showcase the outfits.

As a hair model, it is essential not to have too big a smile or walk awkwardly such that the audience is distracted from the hairstyle I’m showcasing.

At the Hoyu Hair Show in 2007, I was trained to show a small smile that looks friendly but not distracting.

Which is more challenging?

It depends on the concept of the shoot.

For a face model, you have to be good with different expressions and good models are able to control every face muscle.

As for hair modelling, walking down the runway requires more elegance.

It really is a different set of challenges.

What do you do to make sure your hair looks good?

I apply olive oil on it days before a show.

I use only a dollop each time as too much will cause my hair to look greasy.

Olive oil also helps to soften the follicles and ensure smooth and frizz-free hair.

LEGS: Applie Wan, 22

The freelance legs model and dancer can contort and stretch her gams into a variety of elegant poses.

Her modelling career came about when, as a ballet dancer, she wanted to find out how dance poses could be photographed.

So she visited Clubsnap, an online photography forum and portal, and got professional photographers to shoot her.

They later recommended her for shoots.

Wan is paid $150 for a two-hour shoot.

What attracted you to modelling?

I wanted to see how dance forms could be captured beautifully in still pictures.

I enjoy doing photoshoots where I am required to contort my legs into different dance positions as these are more visually interesting, elegant and exciting.

How is leg modelling different from being a face model?

The latter requires one to emote different expressions.

It is not much different from dance modelling, where you need to put tension in your arm and leg muscles, as well as position them in different angles to portray message and meaning.

Which is more challenging?

It would be a body-parts model.

Being a pretty face alone attracts attention and facial expressions are emotive.

Body parts, on the other hand, are photographed out of context with the face, so it is harder to correctly and accurately portray emotions.

What do you do to make sure your legs look good?

I moisturise them every day with body lotion and shave and exfoliate them every week. I also make sure my feet are taken care of by scrubbing off dead skin and calluses.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.

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