Modeling work is incredibly tough, and a striking look alone isn't enough to land jobs. Having a striking resume matters, too. While your portfolio and comp card showcase your look, a resume focuses on your unique experience and skills.
"I doubt Kendall Jenner has one," you might think.
Well, to become the next Kendall Jenner, you definitely need one. Casting directors, agents, and clients can quickly see why you’re the perfect fit for their editorial shoots or commercial campaigns. Whether you’re heading to open calls or seeking agency representation, a polished resume is your must-have tool.
With this guide, we’ll help you boost your chances of booking amazing jobs and advancing your modeling career with a perfectly crafted model resume.
Key takeaways
- The hybrid resume format is the best option for models, balancing your skills and experience for maximum impact.
- A clean and clear stats section at the top of your resume helps agencies quickly assess your suitability for the given role.
- Tailor your experience section to match the specific modeling or casting requirements, emphasizing relevant projects and collaborations.
- Highlight the unique skills that set you apart, ensuring the most relevant ones prominently displayed.
- Craft a summary that underscores your top talents, bookings, and industry connections to make a strong first impression.
- Include your social media presence to demonstrate your influence and engagement, especially if you're monetizing your platform.
Now, let's look at a sample model resume to guide you in creating your own.
Model resume sample
Here's a “ready-to-wear” resume sample that can be further customized using Enhancv's resume builder.
Dakota Smyth
Fashion model
dakota.smyth@example.com portfolio.com San Francisco, CA
Objective
Aspiring fashion model with a passion for the fashion industry and a creative flair for collaborating with photographers, stylists, and fellow models. Eager to bring a positive attitude and unique talents to the 7Dayschic team and contribute to innovative photoshoots and commercial video projects.
Stats
- Height: 5'9"
- Weight: 130 lbs
- Measurements: 34-24-34
- Hair Color: Blonde
- Eye Color: Blue
Skills
- Creative collaboration with photography, styling, and modeling teams
- Effective communication and positive attitude
- Professional posing and expression techniques
- Social media savvy and content creation
- Adaptable and flexible with remote work
Experience
Freelance model
San Francisco, CA
January 2022 – Present
- Collaborated with local photographers and stylists on various photoshoots.
- Participated in fashion shows and promotional events.
- Developed a strong social media presence to showcase modeling work and engage with followers.
Fashion Intern
Style Magazine, San Francisco, CA
June 2021 – December 2021
- Assisted in coordinating fashion shoots, including organizing outfits and accessories.
- Worked closely with photographers and stylists to ensure smooth photoshoot operations.
- Gained valuable insights into the fashion industry and professional modeling practices.
Education
- Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Merchandising
San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
(Expected Graduation: May 2025)
Languages
- English (Fluent)
- Spanish (Conversational)
If you want to learn more about creating a resume that keeps all eyes on you, the next sections offer everything you need. Let’s start with the design.
How to format a model resume
The hybrid resume order is the best option for models. It strikes a perfect balance between your skills and experience, making it easy for casting directors and agents to see why you're the ideal fit. Plus, it’s versatile and visually appealing, which is key in the fashion industry.
To make the most of the combination resume format, here's the ideal flow of sections for your modeling resume:
- Header
- Summary or objective
- Statistics/Bio
- Skills
- Experience
- Education and certifications
- Languages
Resume design tips
- Set your margins between 0.5 and 1 inch. This keeps your resume neat and easy to read without looking cramped.
- Stick to a clean, professional look with minimal colors. A classic black-and-white palette is always a safe bet. If you use color, keep it subtle and elegant.
- Choose a legible font like Lato, Volkhov, or Bitter, sized 10-12 pt. Avoid anything too fancy or distracting.
- Use lines or columns to clearly organize your information. This is especially useful for listing your stats, portfolio highlights, and experiences.
- Keep your resume to one page. Focus on including your best work without overwhelming the reader.
Contact details for models
Your resume header should be tailored to the modeling industry:
- List your full name, professional email, and city and state at the top of the resume. If you’re represented by an agency, you should provide their contact information, too.
- Include the URL of your portfolio or digital comp card. This is crucial for casting directors who might want to see a more extensive collection of your work.
- Place a small, high-resolution headshot at the top of your resume. Ensure it’s professionally taken and accurately represents your current look.
File formatting
- Name your resume file clearly, like "DakotaSmythmodel_Resume.pdf", so casting directors and agents can easily identify it.
- Save your resume as a PDF so all your info remains intact after printing.
Think about the market’s preferences – a Canadian resume, for instance, could have a different layout.
PRO TIP
Always have both a digital and print version of your modeling portfolio and comp card. Digital versions are perfect for quick online submissions and sharing via email, while print versions are essential for in-person go-sees and casting calls. This ensures you're always prepared to impress potential clients and agencies, no matter the situation.
Want to ensure your resume hits the mark? Use Enhancv's free resume checker to spot mistakes and enhance your content.
Is your resume good enough?
Drop your resume here or choose a file. PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.
Now that we’ve got the design tips covered, let's move on to one of the most crucial sections for a model's resume: your stats.
How to add your physical attributes
A clean bio section provides a snapshot of your key attributes, which can be everything agencies need before deciding to call you.
This section should sit near the top of your resume, immediately after your summary. It should include your height, weight, measurements (bust-waist-hips), hair color, eye color, and any other relevant physical characteristics.
Here’s an example:
Next, let’s tackle how you should list your modeling experience on a resume.
How to write your model resume experience
When listing your modeling experience on a resume, focus on the bookings that show off your versatility and professionalism.
- Start with the name of the project or client, your role, and the date.
- Prioritize the most recent and relevant gigs.
- Tailor your resume to the job you’re casting for. (If you’re casting for an editorial shoot, underline collaborations with well-known brands or photographers.)
- Use bullet points to keep things clear and concise, starting each with an action verb.
See how you can customize your experience section for a real-world modeling job description.
Model
We are seeking a dynamic individual to join our team as a model. This role involves showcasing various products, clothing, or accessories through modeling for promotional or advertising purposes.
Responsibilities
- Communicate effectively with photographers, designers, and clients to understand and fulfill modeling requirements.
- Pose and exhibit a variety of clothing, accessories, or products in photoshoots or fashion shows.
- Utilize theater and public speaking skills to convey different moods or themes through poses and expressions.
- Experience working with children is a plus for modeling children's clothing or products
- Demonstrate dance skills if required for specific modeling assignments.
- Educate oneself on the latest fashion trends and industry developments to enhance modeling performance.
Skills
- Excellent communication skills to collaborate with photographers, designers, and clients effectively.
- Proficiency in theater techniques to express various emotions and themes through poses.
- Public speaking abilities to engage audiences during fashion shows or promotional events.
- Experience working with children for modeling children's products or clothing.
- Dance skills to execute dynamic poses if necessary for specific modeling assignments.
See the tailored version below:
06/2020 - 07/2023 
- •Collaborated with photographers, designers, and clients to understand and fulfill modeling requirements.
- •Posed and showcased a variety of products in photoshoots and fashion shows.
- •Modeled children's clothing and products, leveraging experience working with children.
- •Executed dynamic poses for specific modeling assignments.
- •Stayed updated on the latest fashion trends and industry developments to enhance modeling performance.
This section clearly underscores the model's relevant experience and skills, tailored to the job description provided. Incorporating key terms from the job description connects the job requirements with the model's experience, demonstrating a strong match.
How to quantify your experience on a resume
Measuring your modeling successes on a resume can be a tall order, but it's definitely possible and can make your experience stand out. Here are some ways to do it:
- Mention the number of photoshoots, fashion shows, or campaigns you’ve participated in.
- Underscore the number of clients or brands you've worked with, especially if they are notable names.
- If you have a strong social media presence, include your follower count and engagement rates.
- If your modeling work contributed to an increase in sales or brand awareness, mention it.
- Specify the audience size of fashion shows or events.
- Emphasize the duration of your professional experience.
You can place those in the experience section entries or in dedicated sections where they’re at the spotlight.
Resume advice for models with no experience
Starting a modeling career without prior experience can seem daunting, but a well-crafted resume is your way to go. Here are some tips:
- Add your attributes such as your physical statistics (height, weight, measurements) and your unique look or style.
- List valuable skills that are important in modeling, such as posing, runway walking, public speaking, dance, or any performing arts experience. A skill-based resume format works best for this.
- Include professional photos to ensure your resume features professional headshots and full-body shots to showcase your look.
- Mention training such as any modeling courses, workshops, or relevant training you've completed.
- Volunteer experience is important, so include any volunteer modeling for local events or student projects to show your willingness to gain experience.
- Show enthusiasm by demonstrating your passion for the industry and your eagerness to learn and grow, typically in your objective statement.
How to write a new model resume objective
An objective statement sets the stage for your resume and gives casting directors a quick snapshot of your modeling ambitions. It's your chance to make a great first impression, even if you’re just starting.
Here’s how to craft yours:
- In a few sentences, share your passion for modeling and your dedication to building a career in the fashion industry.
- Outline your goals, such as gaining experience in runway shows, editorial shoots, or commercial campaigns.
- Mention any special skills or traits that make you different, like a unique look, dance background, or experience in the performing arts.
Now, look at a good example you can use on a beginner model’s resume:
Next on the resume list is the talent section.
How to list your modeling skills on your resume
Some models make the mistake of overcrowding their resumes by listing too many unrelated abilities or simply not balancing their soft and hard skills.
To avoid this, mention only talents related to the specific job ad and don't include skills you can't support with proof. Ensure you have a good balance of soft and hard skills to show your versatility.
The thing I like about my body is that it's strong. I can move furniture around my apartment. I can ride my horse... I can play basketball. It's a well-functioning machine.
Cindy Crawford
Let's tackle the hard skills first. These are technical or physical abilities, such as posing or runway walking. They’re directly related to the tasks and responsibilities of a modeling job, so it’s crucial to list them in a dedicated section, allowing agents to quickly identify whether you’re right for the assignment.
Check out the list of key technical skills for models and see if any match your talents to further strengthen your resume.
Best hard skills for your model resume
- Posing techniques
- Runway walking
- Smizing
- Makeup application
- Hair styling
- Wardrobe styling
- Photography techniques
- Lighting techniques
- Video modeling
- Digital editing tools
- Social media management
- Content creation
- Live streaming
- Fashion software (e.g., Clo3D)
- Virtual modeling
- E-commerce platforms
- Online portfolio management
- Analytics tools (for social media metrics)
- Augmented reality (AR) modeling
Generally, your soft skills are harder to assess because they can’t be directly linked to measurable outcomes. It’s easy to show how many people you’ve impressed with your pivot turns—you can see their reactions immediately. But how do you list being an easy-going person on your resume? How do you adequately measure this?
Look at the the following examples:
This isn't just a list of words, but a concise list of talents described with real-world applications.
Here are some other social skills to consider for your resume:
Best soft skills for your model resume
Moving on, let’s consider a question that often comes up when discussing a modeling resume—the one about your educational background.
Do you need to list your certifications and education on a resume
Technically speaking—no. Formal education isn’t necessary for you to pursue a career in modeling. But if you have a high school diploma or a degree—add it. Bonus points if it’s related to the art scene.
For example:
- Performance art
- Theater
- Photography
- Contemporary dance
- Acting
- Dancing
- Cosmetology
- Fashion
While not exactly modeling, these courses show creativity and resourcefulness. And if by chance you’ve done modeling courses on the side, include them.
The education section below is tailored to the job description we provided earlier.
- •Completed courses in posing techniques, runway walking, and fashion trends
09/2018 - 06/2022 - •Focused on theater techniques and public speaking
- •Engaged in dance classes to complement modeling skills
- •Learned effective communication and collaboration with creative teams
Notably, the education section lists the model’s certification, significantly boosting her chances of getting noticed. Use your credentials to enhance your application, but feel free to skip this part if it doesn’t add value.
How to write your model resume summary
No resume is complete without a profile, and in most cases, seasoned professionals opt for a summary. For models, however, it’s slightly different.
A model’s resume summary focuses more on pointing out key modeling skills and the unique features that set you apart. You should:
- Emphasize your top skills, style, versatility, and specific accomplishments like notable campaigns or fashion shows.
- Tailor the language to the fashion industry, focusing on visual impact and the ability to convey emotion through poses.
- Mention the brands, designers, stylists and photographers you’ve worked with.
Listing celebrity designers and luxury brands serves two purposes:
- You show which industry professionals trust you.
- You inform scouts if there's any conflict of interest. For example, whether you're representing a competitor.
Here’s an example targeted to the job posting we discussed:
This summary spotlights exactly what the client is looking for. What really sets it apart, however, is the experience with recognized magazines and the endorsement from a big-name photographer. The nod to the model’s Instagram following also tells potential clients that she's not just about looks—she knows how to engage and influence.
When it comes to your followers, you might consider placing your social media handles in a separate section, especially if you're monetizing your influence. Below, we’ll explore other elements that can enhance your model resume.
Additional sections for a model resume
Adding optional sections to your modeling resume can really help you strengthen your application and present yourself as a well-rounded model. Here are a few to consider:
- Social media presence: Agents and scouts often check your social media to see how well you represent brands and to assess your online conduct.
- Portfolio highlights: Spotlight your top work with a section dedicated to standout photoshoots or campaigns.
- References: Listing references from industry professionals, like photographers or stylists, can significantly boost your credibility.
- Training and workshops: Draw attention to any relevant training or workshops that have helped you hone your skills and stay current with industry trends.
- Passions and interests: Including your interests can give agents and clients a sense of your personality and passions outside of modeling, helping them see how you might align with certain brands or campaigns.
- Language skills: Mention any additional languages you speak, as this can make you more appealing for international campaigns and diverse client needs.
PRO TIP
Use the Enhancv resume builder to easily add, arrange, and customize any sections you decide to include in your modeling resume.
In conclusion
A well-crafted resume matters just as much as your comp card and portfolio because it gives casting directors and agents a clear snapshot of your skills, experience, and unique qualities. Knowing how to do it right helps you stand out and land the jobs you want, making it an essential part of your modeling toolkit.
