How to Become a Model: The Honest Guide for New Faces in Ukraine

Forget the idea of "perfect." Perfect is boring, and it isn't what books jobs. Agencies that develop new faces are looking for raw potential and a person worth working with — not a finished product. Here's what actually catches our eye:

• A distinctive face. Not flawless — interesting. Strong features, unusual proportions, something a camera wants to keep looking at. The "too unusual" girl at school is very often the one we want.
• Healthy proportions and good skin and hair condition — signs of someone we can develop, not a fixed look you must already have.
• Personality and presence. Can you relax in front of a lens? Do you light up when you talk? On set, an easy, kind, reliable person is worth more than a difficult "perfect" one.
• Coachability. The willingness to learn how to walk, to pose, to take direction. Everyone starts at zero. We expect that.
• Professionalism, even before experience — turning up on time, answering messages, treating people well.

What we do NOT need: experience, a portfolio, professional photos, a famous look, or any kind of "connections." Genuinely. Most of the women we sign had none of those on day one.

This is the part that actually matters, so read it twice. "Digitals" (also called polaroids) are simple, honest photos that show agencies the real you — no styling, no tricks. They're not meant to be beautiful art. They're meant to be clear and true. A phone is completely fine.

The setup:

• Light: stand facing a window in soft, natural daylight. No direct harsh sun, no overhead lights, no flash. Morning or late afternoon is kindest.
• Background: a plain, light wall. Nothing busy behind you.
• Clothes: fitted and simple. Skinny jeans or leggings with a plain fitted top, or a simple top and shorts. The point is to see your true shape and proportions — not the outfit.
• Hair: down, natural, off your face. No fancy styling.
• Face: no makeup (or as close to none as possible). We want your real skin.
• No filters, no editing, no retouching. None. Filtered photos get a faster "no" than a bare-faced spot ever will.
• Posture: stand tall, shoulders relaxed, arms by your sides. Look straight into the lens. Breathe.
• Get someone to take them, or use a timer/tripod — selfies distort your face and proportions.

The exact shots to send:

• Front headshot — head and shoulders, neutral relaxed face, looking into the lens.
• Full-length front — head to toe, standing straight, arms relaxed at your sides.
• Side profile — full body or head-and-shoulders, turned 90° so we see your profile.
• Natural smile — a real, warm smile (teeth showing is great). This one shows personality, so let it be genuine.

Optional but useful: a back full-length, and a three-quarter turn. Keep everything sharp, well-lit, and unedited. That's it. That's the whole secret.

Knowing your numbers makes applying easy. Measure honestly in fitted clothes — there is zero benefit to rounding up or down, and we re-measure anyway. Have ready: height, bust, waist, hips, shoe size, plus your hair and eye colour, age, and city.

Fashion division — height matters more here because of how runway and many editorial/campaign clients work. As a general guide, fashion new faces often fall around 173–180 cm. But please don't disqualify yourself over a centimetre: shorter and taller women work too, especially in editorial and commercial. If you're unsure, apply and let us decide — that's literally our job.

Creators division — here's the freeing part: there is no strict height requirement and no age ceiling. Creators work in content, influence and digital, where your personality, your face on camera, your style and your connection with an audience matter far more than centimetres. If Fashion's height ranges aren't for you, Creators very likely is — and it's a real, growing career, not a consolation prize.

A note on age: we work with women 16 and over. If you're under 18, you'll need a parent or guardian's consent (more on that in the FAQ).

No black hole, no silence, no "we'll call you" forever. Here's the real process at Andrews:

• A real person reviews your application. Not a bot, not an automatic filter — one of us actually looks at your photos and your details.
• You'll hear back within 7 days. Yes or not-yet, you get a reply. We think ghosting applicants is rude, and we don't do it.
• If we'd like to know you better, we'll invite you to a short video call. It's relaxed — a conversation, not an interrogation. We want to see your personality and answer your questions too.
• If it's a fit, the next step is a test shoot and development. This is where you start to learn: how to move, how to pose, how the camera reads you. We build your first real portfolio together.
• From there, we begin presenting you to bookings and to our partner agencies — with the goal of placing strong talent in Milan, Paris, London and New York.

Every stage is free to you. Always.

A lot of what stops talented women from applying simply isn't true. Let's clear it up.

• Myth: "I need experience." Reality: New faces, by definition, have none. We develop you from zero. That's the whole point of an agency like ours.
• Myth: "I need professional photos and a portfolio first." Reality: You need a window, a phone and the simple digitals described above. We build the portfolio with you, for free.
• Myth: "I have to live in Kyiv." Reality: We scout across all of Ukraine. Many careers start from small towns and villages. Where you live is not your ceiling.
• Myth: "I'm not pretty/tall/thin enough." Reality: "Pretty" isn't the brief — distinctive is. And Creators has no strict height rule at all. Let us decide; you'll be surprised how often the answer is yes.
• Myth: "If they say no, that's the end." Reality: "No" very often means "not right now." Faces mature, divisions differ, client needs change. A "not yet" at 16 can become a "yes" at 18. Reapplying is welcome.
• Myth: "It must cost something somewhere." Reality: Not with a real agency. It's free. If it costs you, it's not real.

• How old do I need to be? We work with women 16 and over. There's no upper age limit for Creators; Fashion new faces are typically younger, but apply and let us assess.
• I'm under 18 — can I still apply? Yes. You'll need a parent's or legal guardian's consent, and a parent or guardian is welcome (and encouraged) to be involved at every step. We expect to talk with them too.
• Can I apply from abroad? Yes. We scout Ukrainian talent, including women living outside Ukraine. Tell us where you're based and we'll work out the practicalities together.
• Is it really free? Yes, genuinely. Representation at Andrews is always free for models. We only earn a commission from real bookings you're paid for — never from you, and never any upfront fees.
• Do I even need an agency? An agency opens doors, handles negotiation, protects you on contracts, and connects you to clients and partner agencies abroad you couldn't reach alone. For a new face, good representation is the difference between hoping and working.
• How long until I get actual work? Honestly, it varies — weeks for some, longer for others. New faces usually go through development and test shoots first. We're new and boutique, so we won't promise overnight fame; we will promise real attention and honest effort. Applications are open year-round.

If you've read this far, a part of you is already curious — and curiosity is exactly where every model starts. You don't need to feel ready. You don't need perfect photos, a famous look, or a Kyiv address. You need a window, your phone, four honest shots, and the nerve to press send.

We're small, we're new, and that's our promise to you: when you reach us, a real person will see you, reply within 7 days, and treat your dream with the seriousness it deserves. Always free. Always honest. No nude photos, no fees, ever.

The worst that happens is "not right now." The best that happens could change your life. Applications are open year-round.

Become a Model — apply today.