How to become a model?

Models have a great life: money, parties, men, and exotic destinations. Many of them will also make a ton of money. So if you want to become a model, what will it take? New York City fashion photographer Eric Bean explains the secrets in his book, "The Complete Guide for Models: Insider Advice from Industry Professionals."

What does it take to break into the world of modeling?

"A healthy lifestyle is essential to maintaining a long lasting career as a model. When I am casting for a photo shoot, I can see over 200 models. They are all auditioning for one job. I am looking for healthy skin, a beautiful face, correct proportions, and a great attitude. It's very tough competition out there, you have to stand out as a star. If a model stays out all night partying, it shows on her face, even if she's a teenager. Even with high tech retouching these days, we want a "natural beauty" not a party girl. Agents are hesitant to work with a "Paris Hilton " or "Lindsay Lohan" type of party personality, for fear of losing a profitable job or even a client," Eric says. "Not everyone has the perfect combination of hard work ethics, height, personality, or the "X Factor" to become a supermodel. Those traits all have to blend together to make the ideal working model," he states.

Real women are not skinny

While two out of three Americans are fat and desperately trying to lose weight, we have a totally strange problem in Hollywood. Actors and models are too skinny. Actually so skinny that meet the medical definition of an eating disorder. There has been some effort by fashion show organizers to set guidelines for - you heard it right - minimum weight.

A response to this drama in Hollywood is emergence of Skinny Models Off The Runway (SMOTR), founded by George Namho. This organization will enable women all over the world a voice and vehicle by which to demand the portrayal of real-life size images of real-life size women…a fusion of beauty and health. It is important to note that the media often plays tricks that make models look skinnier and prettier than they really are. Watch this video that shows how they make models look so good.