Let’s face it. Although we don’t want to admit it, we’ve all caught an episode or two (or marathon!) of "America’s Next Top Model." What exactly is it that makes one beautiful girl better at being a clothes hanger than another? Why is it that walking is so difficult for so many of the contestants? Who can’t speak, sell a product and look great at the same time? The judges have their hands full week after week paring down the list of hopefuls, wannabes and out-of-their-element contestants to crown the catwalk queen for that season.
Do you ever wonder how they got into the competition? Having worked with many models and actresses doing styling work, it’s easy to see the ones that will or won’t make it in the long run. But how does someone who wants to try his or her hand at this brutal business even get started? There have always been modeling schools, but, in the end, we all know that schools can’t teach you how to have “it.”
Glendale native Christie Heinrich, a model/entrepreneur knows that an insider’s viewpoint, training and honest feedback are exactly what most of these young aspirants need. After a successful modeling career including gigs in Japan and Italy, a stint in London working in the music business and running her own modeling agency in New York, she returned home to launch phase three of her career. Heinrich began privately dispensing her advice through “model coaching” 10 years ago on everything from how to get started to the type of work they might be suited for and, most importantly, whether the client has “it.” She says “being signed to a modeling agency doesn’t guarantee a great income, knowing the ins and outs of the business does.” Model coaching is a relatively new field though those of us who follow ANTM know Miss Jay Alexander as a runway coach, Jay Manuel as the on-set photo posing coach, etc. Christie does all that and more.
Her years spent in New York running and operating Agence Christie taught her what made a model 
successful financially, not only superficially. Continually booking models for work in NYC and Europe primarily, she became somewhat of a mother hen, helping them make contacts through her own network of friends, giving pep 
talks and occasionally blunt advice. Models like the ones shown (see pictures) benefited from her judgments and wisdom during that period, and she still keeps in contact with many of the girls today.
As someone who has worked with lots of models, I think her concept is a step up in our increasingly reality-ready world. Everyone with a camera can be a model (sort of) with the millions of photos uploaded to Facebook, MySpace, etc., for perusal and critical comment whether they want it. For Heinrich: “The most important thing is that I will tailor the model’s experience to them alone. Their goals will be discussed, and I will develop a unique curriculum in order to help them reach those goals”.
She gave me her top-five tips for breaking into the modeling business:
- Just like you would with any other profession, learn everything about its history that you can. Knowledge is power.
- Take full advantage of all the Modeling Social Networking sites out there in the Ethernet. (But make sure to stay safe and follow safety guidelines when meeting people from the Internet.)
- Keep your bookers (agency) happy by always answering their calls or returning messages promptly.
- Modeling is a business first and foremost. If an agency wants to sign you simply shows that they think they will be able to make money with you by representing you professionally. It has nothing to do with whether they think you are pretty.
- Never ever go to bed with your makeup on.
You can contact Christie at www.christiesbook.comor www.privatemodelconsulting.comfor more information about services offered and rates.
To be honest, there is something great about reality shows where pretty people give us the thrill of picking
apart their every flaw. Although I applaud the contestants’ courage to do “dangerous” photo shoots and “stressful” runway shows, I wonder how many actually make it in the business post-show. Even if they don’t, at least they have some pretty pictures and learned some life skills that will last forever. So take heed of Christie’s advice before entering the shark-infested world we politely call modeling and you, too, could be the next Tyra, Kate, Tyson or Cindy. Or maybe not.
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Catch Bjorn Sunday morning at 8:50 a.m. on WTMJ 4. He’ll discuss perfect gifts for Mother’s Day.
