My Model Journey – How did I become a fashion model?

Hey guys, I hope you are all doing fine! Today I want to tell you about how my career as a model started. I learned so much since the beginning and I hope you can take away something from it, too.

 

2015

The Beginning

It all started six years ago – in 2015. I was 19 years old at the time, visiting a fitness fair called fibo. Maybe you have heard of it. I was walking around as a visitor, looking at different things, talking to people, when a photographer approached me. He said that I’d look interesting (because that’s what you want to hear, right? You look „interesting“ :D). He said that he wanted to take pictures of me. He gave me his little card and off he went.
I was really stunned by that. It was the first time anyone ever told me, I could be a model. And, to be honest, I thought he was lying. 😀 But that meeting sparked a fire in me. From that day on I wanted to become a model.

When I was in school, I was always the smallest one of my classmates, because I was a year younger than them. So naturally that was pretty rough. When I turned 16, I said to myself: I want to change something. I want to be a person, people look up to. And when I got the offer to take those pictures, I wanted to prove to everyone, my classmates, my old friends, my university colleagues, that I can become a model. So I accepted the offer and took the pictures.

 

The First Shoot

It was a very interesting shoot, because I have never been in front of a camera before, it was a first for me. And when I saw the pictures, I almost gave up immediatley. I wasn’t happy with my body at all. I had pictures in mind of those „perfect“ fitness models with their abs and perfect shape – they were just all well trained Abercrombie guys. And then I looked at me and thought: Oh, damn. That’s not what I look like.
So I decided to train more. I went to the gym every day. And I continued taking pictures with the photographer. From shoot to shoot the pictures got better and better. And I got more confident because of that.

 

2017 – Starting Instagram

With that new confidence, I started uploading these pictures on Instagram. But what I was doing then wasn’t Fashion Modeling at all. It was more like Art Style, Art Photography, Fitness Modeling, Instagram Modeling, whatever you want to call it. But it was no proper Fashion Modeling.

And then everything happened pretty fast. On Instagram I grew to 100k within a couple months and I got awards as an Influencer – but that wasn’t my dream. I wanted to become a proper Fashion Model. That was my goal from the first second I’ve started. But it was hard to get into the whole business.

In late 2017, when I finished my studies, my mum wanted me out of the house :D. She wanted to push me and support me doing my masters degree or growing my personality by going to Australia, doing Work and Travel. Those were my two options, both with big potential in it. In the end, I decided to go to Australia, because there I could do Social Media on the side and at the same time explore the world and grow my personality.

 

2018 – Australia

So I went to Australia. I started as a backpacker for three or four months and went from Melbourne to Sydney. Because simultaneously I was growing as an Influencer, I got invited to many events, which was really cool. And at one of those events I met my first proper Model Agent.
With that agency I learned the in and outs oft he Modeling Industry. I learned about test shoots (You can, too, it’s on my website 😉) and I got my first jobs.
Then I got very lucky, because Carlos Böttcher came to Australia. He is a proper Fashion Model and actor. I learned a lot from him, especially how to act in front of the camera. I am very grateful fort hat, Carlos!
From there on out I shot for „Aussiebum“, which was my first major shoot. And after that I even got to do some stuff with their daughter company in New Zealand, which was amazing as well! With those experiences in mind, I went back home to Germany.

 

2019

Germany

Having done some cool shoots in other countries, I now wanted to become a Fashion Model in Germany. But that was a lot harder that I thought it would be. In every country something else is required from you. In Germany, for example, they are very strict about the height and they don’t like searching for new Model Faces. In the U.S. on the other hand it is completely different, they love finding fresh faces.
Because of that, I couldn’t find an agency back home. I had to split from my agent in Australia, because my Visa ran out and I wasn’t able to go back there. But luckily for me, another door opened itself.

 

Signing up with DT Modelmanagement

I got in contact with DT Modelmanagement, which is my Model Agency right now. I wanted to try it big. I wanted to become a model in America, the land of opportunities! In the U.S. all the big campaigns are done, and in addition to that, there is a much greater variety of model types. Every Model has his or her unique style. I am more of a commercial guy, even though I have done High Fashion Modeling as well …

 

Singapore

When I signed with DT, I went to Singapore. Why? Because I didn’t have my Visa for the U.S. It is very hard to get. You have to have dozens of magazine publications, you have to have support, people have to recommend you, it is a real struggle to get that Visa. Right now I am applying for it, so fingers crossed!
At that time Singapore was a great option for me. It was a lot easier to get magazine publications there as in comparison to europe. I went there for three months and was working quite well – even though the market in Singapore does not pay very well. As a Fashion Model, you always have to invest in yourself for your future, especially in the beginning.

 

2020

January – Milan

Having done that, I got back to europe. I signed with a Model Agency in Milan, and I went to Milan. That was the next step. Sometimes Model Agencies pay for an AirBnB and part of your travel, which is really cool. But that wasn’t the case for me, unfortunately. I had to pay everything myself, but like I said, sometimes you have to invest.
So, I did pretty good in Singapore, I was confident enough to go to Milan and … I did not book one single job there. Not one. Obviously I was very depressed about it. But I have learned that sometimes you don’t get a job. If you don’t, that is not the end of the world, just work as hard as you can to get the next one! In average a model gets one in ten jobs, so don’t get upset if you don’t get anything for a couple of weeks or even months. Just make sure you work on yourself to get the next one.
Luckily for me, I was doing Instagram and creating my own videos on the side, so that way I had some sort of progress and still had a great time there.

 

March – stuck in Germany

When I got back home, Corona struck. We got in full lockdown and I was stuck in Germany. But it was actually a blessing in disguise for me. After months of travelling I was very privileged to spend time with my family. I grew my hair out, I shredded down my body, I started the Visa process for america and – when the lockdown was allowing it – did a few jobs here as well.

 

2021 – What is happening?

Now it is 2021. I hope to get my Visa very soon and smash the Fashion Modeling world overseas in the U.S.!

So, that is pretty much my story. I think, the most important advice I can give you is something, which has been said very often, but cannot be said enough: Never give up on your dreams! For a model, I didn’t have the perfect prerequisites. I don’t have the height for it, all the Model Agencies in Germany told me that I am too small.
I think you have to find your own market and believe in yourself. I believe in myself. I am going to america and I will smash it over there! I have done jobs (MCM, Levis, Cartier, Aussiebum,…) , I have done magazines (August Man Magazine, GMARO Magazine Cover, Desnudo Homme Cover, Vanity Teen Magazine, …) So I know, I can be a Fashion Model.

In the U.S., you have to be prepared for every situation, so I am taking acting classes as well. And in addition to that, I want to talk more about the Modeling World with you guys. I want to take you on the journey with me and maybe even give you some advice, if you are starting your own road.

The Youtube Video below will give you more insights and pictures about my journey.

 

Follow my journey and start yours!

Also check out my other Channels for more inspiration!

– My Links –

Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/fabianxarnold  ​

Facebook • https://www.facebook.com/fabianxarnold

Twitter • https://twitter.com/fabianxarnold

Website • https://www.fabianxarnold.com

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Contact – fabian@fabianxarnold.com

Episode 24: ❌ Traveling or Family?! 💭 ❌

Since a couple weeks I’ve been thinking a lot about my whole travels.
It’s 1,5 years ago that I went to Australia as a Backpacker. Since then I never really got home…
Yes, it just feels great to see all those amazing places… But what I learned that LIFE IS NOT ALL ABOUT THAT!
For me it became so much more important to stay at home as much as I can to spend time with my family…
Every time when I come home after a couple month I just realize how much time is gone.
𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲. 𝗜𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵.. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗶 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹⁉️
💥Maybe you can help me…

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗢 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗞?💥

 

 

Road Trip – East Coast Australia – # 9 Work and Travel Australia 2018

What is Australia without road trips? I believe that anyone who visits Australia just wants to have the best time of their lives! And a road trip is the perfect opportunity to have the best time with unforgettable experiences! December 2018 was this time for me. I was on a month-long road trip with my best friends Charlie Taylor, Kevin Delan and Carlos Böttcher!

In this blog post I will give you more insight into our great time along the East Coast of Australia!

Our vehicle – The ultimate dream campervan

If you go on a road trip, you should definitely think about which campervan to go with!

We were a group of 4 so we decided to go with a huge family campervan. On one hand, it lessens some of the road trip feeling. On the other hand, everyone has a lot more space and for a month, sometimes, you need that! We had 2 large beds with 2 people sleeping in each: a bed over the driver’s cab and a bed in the back of the campervan.

Here is a picture of our campervan:

Our Route – The East Coast of Australia

The route we chose was easy: just along the coast from Sydney to Cairns. Since I love to plan everything in advance, I planned this road trip quite a bit in advance.

Our mission was to get to Cairns in 28 days. Here’s a screenshot of my road trip planning notes!

And now, I want to share with you our stops along the route:

Stop 1: Narrabeen Beaches

The first stop was the beaches in the north of Sydney. After we got out of the city, we went to the beach to switch off for a bit!

But to be honest, it is a rather normal beach that you do not necessarily have to stop at or stay long 😉

Stop 2: Palm Beach

On the second day, we took a walk to the Lighthouse of Palm Beach. Palm Beach is a beautiful place to just relax and enjoy the sunset.The special thing about this beach is that there are beaches on both sides: one faces the sea and the other faces the bay. This is definitely a must see!

Stop 3: Hunter Valley

The following day we drove a bit into the country, in the direction of Hunter Valley. The Hunter region is the wine growing area Sydney and was really lovely. There are so many places to go wine tasting! We also went to a festival, which made Hunter Valley amazing, all over again.

Stop 4: Port Stephens / Nelson’s Bay

The beaches of Port Stephens and Nelson’s Bay are stunning! We had an incredibly relaxing time there. An insider tip is to go to the Tomaree Mountain to see the sunset. The views will transport you to Thailand! With an incredible view over the country, I think it was one of the best sunsets I have ever experienced.

Stop 5: Byron Bay

Everyone was raving about Byron Bay, so we had to make a stop there. But to be honest, Byron Bay was not that exciting. It is a small seaside town with a lighthouse. We were anticipating the incredible atmosphere that Byron Bay was recommended to have. However, we did not really experience that aura, because we did not live in a hostel. Furthermore, the weather was not the best. Maybe that was the reason that we did not find it as exciting as anticipated.

Stop 6: Gold Coast

The name Gold Coast alone tells you that it is an incredibly beautiful stretch along the East coast. It is, essentially, a city by the sea with many foothills. The party center, Surfers Paradise, is filled with skyscrapers and is very popular amongst teenagers. We stayed in a hotel in Surfers Paradise which was loads of fun, with 2 days of partying! Gold Coast was definitely worth stopping at.

Stop 7: Brisbane

Brisbane is the largest city in Australia after Sydney and Melbourne. They have a beautiful skyline and we rented the “lime scooters” to commute around. These electric scooters are available around every corner and you can rent them via an app. You pay a few cents a minute and it is definitely worth it, because you get to experience the whole city in a short amount of time!

My favorite place in Brisbane is the Southbank. It is on the other side of the river and you have a great view of the city. There are many restaurants, bars and an artificial lagoon that you can swim in!

Stop 8: Glasshouse Mountains

The Glasshouse Mountains are further north of Brisbane. We only made a little stop there. It is an experience close to their beautiful natural flora and you can definitely spend a few hours hiking there.

Stop 9: Fraser Island

This was my second time visiting Fraser Island. This time we booked a two-day tour to see everything on Fraser Island.

I would recommend renting a four-wheel drive from the start, or drive your own onto the island. It is just a lot more fun to spend a week driving on the island. You get to drive on the beach and there are many scenic spots to experience nature in the summer.

Stop 10: Airlie Beach / Whitsundays

Airlie Beach was definitely the coolest city I experienced on my trip!

It is a small town with many bars, restaurants, discos, and a lagoon. The lagoon is lovely and a great place to refresh yourself. You can spend several weeks, or even months of your trip at Airlie Beach!

We visited the Whitsundays on a sailboat and I have to say, Whitehaven Beach definitely impressed me. It is covered entirely in white sand, as you know it in the Caribbean! It was certainly worth it to spend A$450 for the experience.

Stop 11: Magnetic Island

Magnetic Island is a beautiful island, further up north than the Whitsundays. You can definitely spend a few days here. Even though there is not much going on, the island is more about relaxing, hikes and koalas. I even hugged a koala!

Stop 12: Mission Beach

Here, I felt like I was being transported back to Thailand! There were palm trees and coconuts everywhere on the beach. Unfortunately you cannot swim in the open sea because of crocodiles and jellyfishes. There is, however, a cordoned-off area for swimming. It was a lovely opportunity to have visited but this is not somewhere I would stay longer.

Stop 13: Daintree Rainforest

This is the oldest continually surviving tropical rainforest in the world: 200 million years old, 4 times older than the Amazon! On one square meter, you will find more plant and animal species than in all of North America. It was interesting and eye-opening to visit this “magical rainforest”. Definitely worth a stop.

Stop 14: Cairns

I expected a lot more from Cairns. We stayed there for 3 days over Christmas and it rained the whole time! So a tip for you: If you want to travel northern Australia, be sure to visit during the Australian winter. In the summer, Australia’s northern regions experience the wet and rainy monsoon season.

Disappointingly, Cairns was rather boring. There is a lagoon and a couple of restaurants but nothing too exciting.

 

I hope you got a little insight into my fun-filled and exciting road trip!

You should also check out my Instagram account @fabianxarnold and if you have questions you can email me. I look forward to your feedback and wish you a nice time.