When starting out in the plus size modeling world, most aspiring plus size models have the dream of being signed to an agency. However, there is so much to know BEFORE you get signed by a plus size modeling agency.
With the plus size modeling industry expanding, I always like to remind aspiring models that you can be a successful plus size model WITHOUT an agency.
In fact, most of the big money I have received modeling is from jobs I’ve booked for myself whether it was through a website or networking. To find out more about how you can book yourself work, check out my blog post, ‘5 Easy Ways to Book Plus Size Modeling Jobs with No Experience’, here.
However, if you are a plus size model looking to get signed to an agency, below are a few things you should consider and think about when looking for an agency.
All of these things can help you decide whether you want to be signed or not, but also can help you think about what kind of modeling agency you want to apply to and/or be apart of!!
This post is all about things you should know BEFORE you get signed by a plus size modeling agency.
Things to know BEFORE You Get Signed By A Plus Size Modeling Agency
1. Contract Restrictions/Obligations
It’s no secret that when you get signed by a plus size modeling agency, that you sign a contract. On that contract, modeling agencies list rules, expectations, restrictions, and other obligations that they expect from you.
Some of them are very standard and you would expect yourself however some of them are very strict and you might find them shocking!!
I have personally read over many contracts between myself, friends, other models, and my own clients. (If you want to book me for a one on one consultation to go over a contract for you, you can directly book me at my website here, https://www.hayleyherms.com/book-me.
Below are a list of examples of contract restriction/obligations I have personally read in contracts that you should consider/think about.
Contract Restrictions/Obligation examples
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- No cursing on social media
- No posting drinking on social media
- No posting drug use on social media such as cannabis use
- No wearing drug paraphernalia (like the bodysuit I’m wearing above for example)
- Any companies you model for under an agency, you can no longer model for if you leave that agency. So for example, if you modeled for Target at your agency then went to a new agency, you would never be allowed to legally work for Target again. I mean…. you could… but the other agency could sue you and bring your contract to court (which I’ve personally seen happen once).
- If you are s*xually assaulted on set/at a shoot, the agency is not responsible or held liable
- No hair changes without consent and approval from the agency
- If you sue the agency and lose, you are responsible to pay their attorney fee’s
- 3 year contract minimum
- Exclusivity to agency meaning you wouldn’t be able to sign with the other agencies in that area OR country (VERY common). So for example, if you’re signed to a modeling agency in Los Angeles, you can’t be signed to any other agencies in Los Angeles)
- Can fire you for excessive change in appearance (aka weight gain, hair change, tattoo additions, scars, etc.)
- No acrylic nails or lash extensions
2. Annual Web Fee
One thing that a lot of aspiring plus size models don’t know is that 9.5/10, modeling agencies require an annual web fee.
What’s a web fee? A web fee is an annual fee modeling agencies charge to help pay for the maintenance and upkeep of having you on their website and roster. 
I’ve seen annual web fee’s range anywhere from $120 – $650. The most typical web fee I see is usually around $150 – $275 however for high end agencies, it’s not unheard of for the web fee to be higher.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: modeling agencies will never charge you fee’s up front!!!! You should NEVER pay an agency out of pocket. Your annual web fee will be pulled from the check of your first modeling job you book through them. And this fee will be taken once a year, every year from the first job you book.
Example:
If a modeling job pays $1,000. Your agency usually get’s 20% (- $200), your web fee for example in this case is $250, you would make $550 from that gig. After that gig, you should never be charged that $250 again until the following year!!
3. Consistent Measurements
There are many reasons a modeling agency could decide to sign with you! And one of the reasons could be that they specifically like your size because they lack it in their roster of plus size models.
So for example, they might hire you because you’re a size 22 and they don’t have many size 22 models on their roster.
Some agencies don’t mind if you fluctuate weight/measurements as long as you keep them updated and update your portfolio and digitalis to match. However, some agencies could care deeply and/or even fire you for drastically changing your appearance.
For example, some modeling agencies just do fit modeling. Fit modeling is when you are a “perfect” version of your size for a company’s size chart. So if you’re a size 22, a company would hire you to come in and fit all of their size 22 clothes and will fit their garment to your body specifically before mass producing that garment. If you lose or gain too much weight, you could risk losing your fit job with that company… and if that is a main reason your agency hired you… you could lose your job with the agency as well.
This can be very triggering to some models esp. if you have an eating disorder or body dysmorphia (which shocker, most models have).
Maintaining consistent measurements can be really hard and is definitely something to consider when looking for an agency or considering doing fit modeling in general, but esp. if you do have ED or body issues.
4. Oversaturation
Oversaturation is one of the reasons I fired one of my agencies a couple years ago. What is oversaturation? Oversaturation is when a modeling agency has too many of the same kind of model.
For example, oversaturation can look like….
- too many size 18 models (or any size)
- too many plus size models with blue eyes
- too many models with brown hair
- too many models with an hourglass shape
- too many plus size models in general!!
When it comes to booking auditions, some auditions have limits to how many models they can send for a job. So for example, if a job is looking for a 5’10 ish, brown hair, plus size model. The casting department is most likely only going to let an agent submit a few of their models. So if your agency has 20 models that fit that description, the chances you will be one of those 3 – 5 models is very low.
Which is why it’s SO important to look at a modeling agency’s roster on their website before submitting if possible.
REMEMBER: modeling agencies need/want you as much as you need/want them
5. Grooming Expectations
Nowadays pubes, funky hair, long nails, and other things can be somewhat trendy and should be acceptable. However, a lot of modeling agencies, brands, and companies are still very traditional in the sense – they expect you to be groomed everywhere.
Some of these things may seem like common sense for even the everyday human to do, however being a model, you need to be more hyper aware and prepared since you could get booked at any minute.
What does that mean/require? In terms of grooming, here is what most agencies are expecting whether you’re male/female/ or non binary.
- No hair in the bikini area (waxing/sugaring/shaving)
- Legs and armpits completely shaved, sugar or waxed
- Nails always done both hands and toes (you never know when you’ll book a shoot/audition)
- Manicured eyebrows (threaded/waxed)
- Teeth clean (they don’t need to be the whitest teeth ever, but you should be brushing and flossing every day)
- Clean Skin (have a skin regime)
- Washed/clean hair
- No acrylic nails or lash extensions
This post was all about things you know BEFORE you get signed by a plus size modeling agency.
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5 Reasons You DIDN’T Get Signed to Plus Size Modeling Agencies
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