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. I work in China (ULookMe, Nmodels, LaMode) and South Korea (Nous, Ourcovers). I mostly shoot catalogs and campaigns, like most models, but the brands I work with usually have a consistent aesthetic — something cute and teenage-inspired.

The market has changed a lot! When I started, there were very few girls like me, but now I meet many models around 170 cm, especially in South Korea.

As for the challenges along the way… it was really hard to find a mother agency that believed in me. But I was persistent and responsible — and of course, I was lucky to have the right type of face. I gave it my all to compete with girls who had the “perfect” measurements for modeling. I adapted myself to fit the Asian market: I chose the right haircut, worked on my charisma and self-presentation, and proved myself as a professional.

Still, some models think I shouldn’t call myself a “real” model. There were times at castings when other girls laughed at me for being short. But I’m not bothered by it. I’m living the life of my dreams — I earned it through hard work, and I deserve it.

Thanks for showing love to us shorty models!

I have a girl in my agency who is 163 cm and worked in Seoul with Wave Models — she was actually the top-performing model in the agency. The market today is much more open! I currently have six girls under 170 cm, and all of them are getting offers.

I’ve been in the industry for around two years now, and even though I’m only 163 cm, I’ve been signed in Vietnam, China, and Korea, and I work with several agencies in Bangkok. I’ve also booked a few direct shoots in other countries.

I’ve done over 10 TVCs for brands like Pocky, 7Up, SONY, Lipton, Huawei, and IMAX. I’ve also done beauty shoots for brands like ETUDE, and have several upcoming campaigns. I’ve been able to work and earn in every country I’ve been to.

The hardest part is definitely before getting the contract. A lot of agencies show interest when they see my work and portfolio — but the moment they hear my height, they start second-guessing me. That’s frustrating, because shouldn’t my work speak for itself?

It’s tough when the only feedback is “but she’s a bit too short,” because I’m always open to constructive criticism and self-improvement — but this is one thing I simply can’t change.

I’m sharing this because I believe the industry still seriously underestimates smaller models. And that needs to be said. Because we know our height is a disadvantage by traditional standards, many of us work twice as hard just to be taken seriously.

I still get comments like, “Oh, you’re a model? But you’re so short.” It really does sting. Just because my height doesn’t match the stereotype doesn’t make me any less of a model. This is my profession. It’s my life. It’s how I make a living. And that is what I am.

I’m 166 cm and working as a full-time model. I even moved to Milan, and I’m able to live my life, travel, and pay my rent — so I’m earning good money. Honestly, I was lucky to sign with a really good mother agency in Slovakia (Stalker Agency), and they’ve helped me a lot.

I think the most important thing for shorter girls is to find a mother agency that truly sees something in them.

I’ve worked in India and Istanbul, but I mainly work in Europe. Of course, I’m not doing fashion shows, but I focus mostly on beauty, shoes, jewelry, and e-commerce shoots.

I’m signed in the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Turkey — and now we’re planning to try Spain too.

All the agencies I’m signed with are listed in my bio.

As an aspiring — and petite — model, sometimes the hardest struggles aren’t just the rejections. It’s the inner conflict of looking at photos of yourself and comparing them to taller models.

Even when the shot looks great and everyone loves the picture, deep down, all I see are the flaws — thinking a taller, leaner model could have done it better.

Being a petite model isn’t just about confidence; it’s about grit and dedication to the craft. Your vision won’t always match someone else’s — and that’s okay.

Because I know my worth. And what you see in my work is my authentic self.

As a petite model, I never had agencies show interest in me at the beginning — so I did everything on my own.

Through freelance work, I landed a billboard feature less than two months after I started modeling. I never found runway work difficult either — I walked in three smaller shows and one larger show, all within my first year.

After that, some agencies started reaching out to me — but I turned them down. When agencies don’t cater to my demographic, I find it far more beneficial to manage my own career.

I also find New York City to be a very inclusive place for models of all heights.

Hi! I’m 163 cm tall, and since the end of 2024, I’ve been working internationally. I spent a couple of months in Paris, and right now I’m in Seoul — things are going well both in Europe and Asia.

I never thought I could work internationally because of my height, but I was scouted by a French agency in 2024, which I later signed with, and that opened the door to working abroad.

My mother agency initially wanted to send me to Asia before signing with agencies in Europe, but I did the opposite — my first and second contracts were actually in Paris.

Hi! I’m 163 cm tall, and I’m currently a full-time model in Malaysia.

I work as a freelance model here, and honestly, I love it.

Modeling is how I make a living, and over the past year, I’ve been almost fully booked every month. I’ve done smaller runway shows, lots of catalogue and fashion brand shoots, campaigns, and even a hotel commercial for the Four Seasons Hotel. I’ve been featured on store posters, in catalogues, and on the digital screens at the Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

To this day, I continue to work hard to put myself out there and improve my portfolio. I truly believe that if you want something badly enough, you can make it happen—no matter what.