Modeling isn’t just a matter of strutting your stuff on the catwalk—it also means that you need mathematical precision when it comes to taking your body measurements. Having precise measurements is crucial to presenting your authentic self to modeling agencies and potential clients and ensuring that whatever you’re helping them sell fits. To properly take body measurements, you need the right tools and techniques.
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1. Acquire the necessary tools
To measure your body, you will need:
- Measuring tape: Look for measuring tape that’s at least 60 inches long and that marks both inches and centimeters.
- Mirror: Having a mirror in place will help ensure that you’re measuring the right spots.
- Pencil and paper: Along with writing down your measurements, a pencil can come in handy if you’re measuring your height by allowing you to mark it on the wall.
- Calipers: Depending on the agency or gig, you might be asked to measure your body fat using specialty calipers.
2. Measure your height
The easiest way to do this is to stand against a wall and mark at the top of your head using the pencil. Remember that hair isn’t height, so push down your pompadour as needed to ensure you’re measuring from the crown of your head. Then, use the tape to measure the distance from the floor to the pencil mark, and record your height measurement.
3. Measure your chest/bust
Place the measuring tape snugly around your chest or bust at its widest point. Encircle your back, using the mirror to ensure that the tape is level across your body. Record your chest/bust measurement.
How to Become a Model 4. Measure your waist
Locate the narrowest part of your torso, usually right above your belly button, and use the measuring tape to create a level, snug loop around your body at that location. Record your waist measurement.
5. Measure your hips
Move the measuring tape down to the widest part of your hips. Remember that you want to be like Shakira—to ensure your hips don’t lie, once more double-check that the tape is snug but not too tight and is level around your body. Record your hip measurement.
6. Double-check your measurements
It’s wise to do a second (and third, and fourth) round of measurements to ensure that they’re accurate and consistent—just one day of bloat can throw off your findings.
Once you have your measurements, you’ll usually be asked to record them as height and then bust-waist-hips. For example, assuming the height of the average American woman, the subject of the Commodores’ “Brick House” would record her body measurements as such:
- Height: 5’4”
- Bust-waist-hips: 36”-24”-36”
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Accurate measuring is crucial to success in the modeling industry. Body measurements allow you:
- To know your modeling type: Whether it’s fitness, runway, or plus-size, modeling types are often dictated by body measurements. For example, female fashion models are usually at least 5’9”, with busts between 32” and 36”, while female plus-size models vary more in height and usually have a chest size of at least 41”.
- To ensure the right body type for jobs: Modeling agencies need exact model body measurements to see if they match each job. You might have the right measurements to wear one company’s ball gown, but not another one’s athletic wear.
- To get the right fit: Finally, models need to provide accurate body measurements so that clothes can be tailored to fit them perfectly. This is particularly important for runway modeling, where a rogue bulldog clip can throw off an entire look.
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The tiniest slouch or a ripple in the tape measure can throw off your body measurement game. Stick to these tips to avoid these common mistakes.
- Keep the tape snug: It’s important that the measuring tape is snug against your skin, but isn’t too tight (which can compress your skin) or too loose (which can add size where there is none).
- Stand up straight: Leaning, hunching, and other non-rigid postures can throw off your measurements—and not just your height.
- Dress for success: Either wear extremely form-fitting clothing—spandex and swimwear are your friend—or go au naturel to take your measurements. Clothes that are baggy and ill-fitting throw your measurements off.
- Have good posture: Stand with your back as straight as possible, chest up, and arms at your sides. Use the mirror to confirm that your posture is perfect.
- Double-check your measurements: One night of wings and beer can make you bloat in unexpected places, and an illness can make your body atrophy. Take your measurements multiple times to ensure they’re as accurate as possible.
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Sometimes agencies and clients will ask you to see what range your body measurements fall within using different body measurement charts. These might include:
- BMI: The body mass index chart uses height and weight to broadly categorize people as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. While the BMI system is scientifically flawed—for example, superfit bodybuilders may fall into the overweight category due to muscle mass—some international modeling agencies request BMI to ensure that they meet local regulations about depicting underweight models.
- Waist-to-hip: The waist-to-hip ratio chart tests weight distribution for risk of health issues. Most modeling agencies look for female models with a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.8 and lower.
- Model measurement: The model measurement chart places body measurements against different categories for height, modeling type, and gender. This chart may vary by agency, so as always, it’s important to provide the most accurate measurements possible.
