Pretty boys and sexy girls

By Manwe Darcy

Bangkok's fashion industry has become influential.

Models come from nearly all the countries of the world to compete in the vain battle of the good looking. Fashion models travel constantly looking for the best market suited to their image. A local fashion casting is a melting pot of miscellaneous nationalities and looks. If successful they appear in magazine adverts, on billboards and in commercials.

The fashion world can be separated into a primary and a secondary market. Milan, Paris, New York would be part of the primary market. Bangkok is a strong member of the secondary market and the money to be made here is fairly good. The rise of Tokyo as a fashion hub more style looks towards Asia for inspiration.

In fashion capitals like Paris a model doing a magazine editorial shoot for Vogue for example, models will do it for free. The idea being that the publicity will increase their profile and lead to more work. Ideally become the face of a major advertising campaign and reap the monetary benefits in the thousands of dollars. “In Bangkok you get paid for editorial shoots and that’s good way to make a living but there is no big 30,000 euro prize at the end.”  Said Dominique.

She started her modeling career as a tall skinny 12 years old red head. Dominique now 24 worked regularly from Bangkok doing editorials and runway like Bangkok fashion week. Most models start very young, at 12 years old Dominique was almost 6 foot tall and unaware of her fashion appeal until discovered.

“It’s quite common a lot of models only work from the ages of 12 to 19 only and then go to college or become waitresses or prostitutes (laugh) but I just stayed in the fashion game.” Jokes Dominique. “You notice that at different ages you are good for different things.”

19 year old Frenchman Nicolas started his modeling career in Bangkok eight months ago. He interested in fashion and when his friends in Bangkok suggested modeling. One thing led to another and became a model for a local agency.

“Modeling is a job like any other and you have to learn the tricks of the trade, I’ve had a good professor” Nicolas was coached into modeling by his girlfriend Dominique.

The modeling career is for the young good looking tall people but Nicolas point out those guys in Swiss watch or BMW commercials are middle aged. “Age isn’t really the issue that affects your income as a model it’s about image and experience in finding the right market and contract.”

Henrik, a 26 year old Swedish fashion model working here said. “My mother agency in New York will find a local agency to place me in, this time it is was Bangkok.” Henrik worked all over Europe since 2004 and arrived in Bangkok from China last month.

Compared to China the working conditions in Thailand are making Henrik happy. “China is not the place to be I think Bangkok is the place to be, yeah I really like Bangkok.”  He adds that Thai people are respectful and the models are treated well on jobs. Night clubs in Bangkok have weekly special nights where models can go party for free.

“I’m sorry you can censor me but it’s nice to have sex with the drunken models we meet at model night.” Nicolas admits on the perks of his job. With free parties everyday of and friendly approach of Thai people might clarify why so many models fall in love with the Bangkok life.

“The model night club is mush more exclusive in Europe and less open.” Says Henrik. A model in New York can get the free drinks but Dominic says you have to act the part of a V.I.P. to be treated like one. “In Bangkok all you need is a COM card and your partying for free it is fun but after a while it’s time to graduate out of it.”

Naturally it’s not all fun and games models get paid by the job. Most casting sessions do not pay off with a job so it takes perseverance and a thick skin for rejection. Some agencies advance money for the fulltime models but it’s a loan to be deducted from future jobs. Also most agencies will hold the money for 2 month before paying.

Eve, not her real name, an English model is now pursuing a legal battle with her former agency. Eve is by no means new to the modeling scene she’s been working productively in Bangkok for the last five years.  She accuses her agency of not paying her salary for a period of two month. “I earned about 100,000 baht Doing tons of jobs in two month for my agency I trusted them but they’ve refused to pay my share”.

“I’m lucky that I live here and I can fight legally with the help of my contacts in Thailand.” Eve said as she raised the question how many models really get cheated? Since most models return home after a three month contract they may be cheated out of their earnings. “It’s a cut throat industry with everyone looking after themselves.”

 Dominique believes she was tricked and unknowingly used in a protest over censorship on Asian TV. “Basically they sneakily made a conspiracy to show my nipples on TV so I could be censor so they could talk about censorship in fashion.”  She agrees that censorship is limiting Bangkok’s goal of being the fashion hub. She was just disappointed that her agency was not honest about it.

Copyright © Manwe Darcy