Inside the World of Modeling: An Interview with Kim Rosendahl

Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got started in modeling?

I am Kim, 22-year-old model living in Germany. Currently I am a part-time model and study a media subject at the university. My model career started in 2018 at the young age of 17. Back then I loved to shoot with a friend of mine. We took photos of each other and as she was more into photography and I was more comfortable in front of the camera, I found my passion for modeling. I really wanted to make this my side job to get more experience, but also earn my first money.

I was still in school, planning to graduate from high school in 2019. So, I searched for modeling agencies nearby my little hometown and applied to a few. A couple of weeks later I was signed with my first agency. It is not a fancy story where you´re asked at the street to model, but since I lived in a small village and almost never went to bigger cities, all I can say is: sometimes you have to take action. One day after signing my agency I went to a casting for a catwalk show. There I met Philipp Köhler, the photographer who made some snaps of the girls at the casting.

We connected and arranged my first professional test shoot with a makeup artist and a hair stylist. I was so excited, but also a bit insecure at that day. I am glad to say that the team made me really feel comfortable and the results were amazing.

What do you think sets you apart from other models in the industry?

I don’t think there is just one single point that distinguishes me from others. Everyone is unique in appearance and character. However, I think my changeability and pleasant nature is what sets me apart from other models. I have been professionally prepared since day one as a model, I am punctual and think along on the set. I have a clear idea of how I will look in the picture therefore good body awareness. All these are good prerequisites to do the best job in the team. Because one thing is often forgotten: the result is only as good as the whole team.

How do you define beauty? What does it mean to you personally?

To my mind, beauty includes many factors and is not easy to define. Beauty is something very subjective. However, there are also the ideals of beauty that many different people aspire to. But these also change over time. First, thin eyebrows were in vogue, then very thick and filled out and now the trend goes to a natural, fluffy shape. Tomorrow, however, it can already look different again. Subjective perception is something very dynamic. And there are many factors that influence this subjective perception: What kind of beauty ideals did we grow up with? Were we ourselves often criticized for external features or addressed negatively/positively on them? And what is our relationship to the person we see as beautiful (or not…)?

“Beauty issomething subjective, it is diverse and changeable.”

Attraction to a person comes not only from appearance, but also from character. A person can also be “beautiful” when their character is so radiant and heartwarming that you no longer see just their shell, but the person as a whole. But also very reserved, quiet and shy people can be beautiful in my eyes. They usually don’t want to be the center of attention, maybe they don’t have the self-confidence yet, but every now and then I see a spark in them. It can be a familiar feeling, or a pleasant interaction. This little thing can already lead to a certain beauty of the person. In order not to make this even longer, I will summarize my definition of beauty: Beauty is something subjective, it is diverse and changeable.

For me it is not only the physical beauty, but rather the positive character that makes the person beautiful. It is the mixture of all these factors. And if you now find that this definition calls a great many people beautiful, then you have understood me quite correctly. There are many beautiful people out there and I am sure you are one of them.

Image by Kai Böttcher (@kai.boet)

How do you stay healthy and fit? What’s your beauty routine?

I must admit that I’ve been struggling with my body image a lot over the last few years. It was not always easy for me to stay as skinny as possible (you know, the 88 cm fashion week hips)… I am glad to say I have an agency which accepts me as I look right now, but I am also glad that I have found a healthy way now to stay fit and look lean: No longer restricting myself.

With food I don’t limit myself to anything. I know how many calories are in certain foods, so I know what kind of food you can eat more or less. But intuitive eating is the healthiest way to go for me. As for exercise, I always try to incorporate strength training about twice a week (upper & lower body split) and go for long walks or hikes, especially on the weekends. Since I don’t own a car, I also walk a lot to my appointments. That’s how I try to keep fit.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the modeling industry today?

You’re generally exposed to super much criticism and rejection all the time. That’s a big challenge. Because this rejection has nothing to do with you as a person, but if then “only” with your appearance. And you yourself are more than that.

How do you think they can be addressed?

Communication between agencies, clients, and models in the fashion and advertising industry is crucial for maintaining a positive work environment. It is important to be clear about job expectations, treat models with dignity and respect, and maintain professional and constructive communication. Models should be treated as equal partners to avoid reducing them to their appearance. I think creating a positive work environment will improve collaboration and the well-being and work performance of models.

What has been your favorite modeling experience so far? Why?

My best time was usually portfolio shoots where the team was just great. Those shoots where I just almost burst with happiness when I see the results. Last year’s shoot with Kai Böttcher, for example, was a very creative and diverse shoot. The set, the outfit and styling, my facial expressions…. everything was just right and led to hammer results! Another example of one of my favorite experiences so far was during my time in Paris 2019.

I shot with Benjamin Vingrief – an excellent photographer and retoucher who knows how the details in the picture work. I was able to learn a lot about posing from him that day. By the way I think my time abroad was very instructive for me. Even if not the most beautiful experience, because I had to struggle a lot with loneliness. But I learned a lot about myself. For example that I need more structure in my everyday life than just waiting to get castings and jobs. Working full time as a model also means learning for me to use the free time effectively for myself.

Can you share some tips for aspiring models who are just starting out?

I think there were a lot of tips already hidden in my answers here and there. I can advise bloody beginners to get to know the industry first. Learn the vocabulary of this industry (words such as buyout, fitting, motheragency, option, …) and don´t hesitate to contact other models who are more experienced. Most of them are super nice and will tell you how they got into modeling and give tips regarding photographers or agencies. Find answers to your questions and don´t let criticism get close to you

Instagram of Kim Rosendahl