Before I became a model, I never paid much attention to advertisements or the girls featured in them. But everything changed when I received my first offer from an agency via social media. Suddenly, I found myself scrutinizing every commercial I saw on TV, studying the models’ movements and acting.
After moving to Barcelona, I decided to take the initiative and contacted a local Spanish model agency. To my surprise, it wasn’t difficult to find my first agency. Soon, I started receiving invitations to various castings and photoshoots. Initially, the photoshoots were unpaid, but they helped me build my portfolio, and eventually I started getting paid opportunities.
It didn’t take long for me to realize that modeling could be more than just a fun hobby – it could become a lucrative job. One of the best parts of being a model is getting to meet interesting people on a daily basis. As someone who loves diversity, being a model in Spain feels like an everyday adventure.
Of course, there are also disadvantages to being a model. One drawback is that your time is not always your own. You may have plans with friends or a significant other, but then receive a last-minute call from your agency for a casting or a meeting with designers or brand owners. Additionally, you can’t change your appearance, like getting a new haircut or hair color, without prior approval from your agency.
However, despite the drawbacks, the advantages of being a model outweigh the disadvantages.
As you may know, Spain is home to many popular brands that we all love, such as Zara, Pull & Bear, Bershka, and more. These brands are constantly in need of models for their advertising campaigns, which can be a lot of fun when you get to express your true emotions.
However, amidst all the casting chaos, it’s important to find time to eat and grab snacks. I remember one time during an ad photoshoot for FANTA, I forgot to eat beforehand and ended up drinking almost a liter of Fanta on an empty stomach.
I once had a dream of working for clothing brands, and it came true when I was invited to model for an ad campaign by ‘Bershka’. The photoshoot took place outside the city, and I had to take a two-hour train ride to the industrial zone of Tordera. I waited at the station for almost three hours, feeling a bit scared as it got dark. Finally, the car arrived, and nothing bad happened. This experience helped me gain confidence for future assignments.
Every day, more and more models come to Barcelona and other cities in Spain to pursue careers in the fashion industry. Barcelona can definitely be considered a version of a fashion capital in Spain.
