Tens of thousands of young people want to become models. They all have their own reasons and levels of commitment. Many are willing to go far to make their dreams come true. Unfortunately, there are some individuals who make money out of these dreams without giving anything back to the dreamers. Be wary when dealing with agencies. Make sure that you only deal with bona fide companies by diligently researching about all the leads that you find. Learn everything that you can about those that claim to be modeling managers to figure out which ones are legitimate. Start with the following:

Background

Get all information you can dig up about the agency’s background. When were they established? What type of modelling do they specialize in? Do they run a modelling school for aspiring talents? Who are the people behind them? What are their experience in the industry? Beware of those that are newly formed with barely anything about them on the Internet and other sources. They may be fly by night operations that are out to make a quick buck out of applicants. At best, they may be earnest but sorely lacking in experience to help young people achieve their dreams.

Affiliations

See if they are affiliated with any organizations in the modeling world and beyond. This is one way of confirming that they are indeed running a legitimate operation. Established entities will only deal with agencies that have proven themselves to be able to deliver on their promises. These ties are strong and they help models get their first jobs. Check out their sponsors which usually include cosmetic manufacturers, hotels, resorts, and modeling academies.

Roster

Look up their roster of talents. These are the models that they signed up after intense scrutiny. The pictures and names should be published on their website. This should give you an idea of what they are searching for in terms of appearance and style. You can decide for yourself if you are a good fit in the roster or not. You can always try others if you feel that you don’t belong. This can also strengthen your resolve to join if you see yourself in the photos that you see.

Events

See if the management company is holding any events for aspiring models. For example, Cosmopolitan Model Management holds events across Australia. Perhaps you can join one of these if they are held in your hometown. Find any information about past iterations of this event. What was the format and what was asked of the contestants? How were the winners picked among the finalists? Learn from their experience and prepare to give it a try.