Model industry in numbers
3000
Estimated number of active modelling agencies globally.
7
The average modelling career spans starting in the late teens and often slowing by mid-to-late 20s.
80%
of modeling jobs are e-commerce - product photography, catalogs, and web stores.
46%
of models earn money after covering expenses during on-stay trips.
22
years old is a median age of working models, with most starting careers at 16–19 and peaking in their early 20s.
$20,000
median annual income for working models.
32
countries where models can travel on-stay.
Not a model yet? Start here.
Create a scouting profile and get discovered by verified agencies — no experience or agency required to begin.
Become a modelMore from the blog
All articles →Can You Work as a Freelance Model in France?
If you live in France or come from outside the EU, you can't legally work as a freelance model in France — you have to be employed, usually through a licensed agency. If you're a registered self-employed model in another EU/EEA country and only come to France for specific jobs, you can invoice clients directly.
Model Requirements in 2026: Height, Measurements & Age
Most modelling agencies look for women between 170 and 181 cm (5'7"–5'11") and men between 183 and 189 cm (6'0"–6'2"), with measurements under 90-60-90 cm for women. There is no fixed age to start. Below is what these standards mean in practice, where the exceptions are, and what agencies look at beyond the numbers.
Petite Models On Building Career In Fashion
I’m 167 cm tall and a full-time model — it’s my only source of income, and I earn pretty well.