How Much Do Models Make In China

Smoky eyes, graceful shapes, blonde hair, blue eyes. They wear the latest fashion or pricy accessories and may be seen at malls, hotels, magazines, and events. Models are fashionable, inspirational, and appealing.

Modeling is difficult. Fame and wealth aren't easy. Foreign models in China have enviable lives. Some international models live in inner-city apartments where a third of their pay is spent on rent and a daily lunch of dumplings and coke.

Models must travel the country for work. If they want to work alone, they must use subways, buses, and even motorcycles to outside neighborhoods. Stressed often. The official income is sometimes not enough to live on, much alone raise a family, thus many models work part-time. They wear summer clothes in the cold and pose for 8-9 hours a day. In the summer, they should wear winter clothes.

Foreign models are 60% forbidden

Models require work and residence permits to work in China. Most work illegally with a 3-month tourist visa. They leave in 3 months.

Modeling is difficult, says a source. "Customers and agencies desire new faces. None will furnish correct paperwork.” 60% of foreign models in China are illegal and risk deportation.

Others make less than 30,000 RMB/month

You find our work interesting and we're happy. Russian model Nadya claims she must travel to three or four destinations in one day or conduct unpleasant advertising events. Modeling gave her confidence and money, but it exhausted her. She's lucky to have one hour a day to enjoy music or photography.

Nadya's opinion isn't unique. Joy from India complains about the industry's unreliable timetable. Job security worries them. Huge Indian family: Joy. Her jobless mother is supported by her father. After high school, Joy worked at a bar. An agent noticed her there. "The tiny agency didn't give sufficient training or agents. India's modeling business isn't established, and my family needs money. After chatting to a friend, Joy headed for Guangzhou. "Guangzhou has a vast market and various employment opportunities when a new season begins because many manufacturers want foreign models to promote their new ranges."

Straight 34-hour work

With the cosmetics area, Nadya is caked in makeup. Light indicates Nadya's fatigue. "I just returned from Shenzhen after three gigs today. I'm still wearing stage makeup. "Overtired" I don't sleep five hours. Nadya waits for her hairstylist. Hair spray revives Nadya's drab, lifeless blond hair after straightening, curling, and coloring. She's onstage minutes later. New to TV. Nadya doesn't like commercial events, but she thinks they'll increase her popularity. She may sing and create when everyone acknowledges her.

Joy isn't fame-obsessed. She wants more money. She sleeps 5-6 hours a day. Joy doesn't mind three concerts a day. "I once worked seven days and slept 34."

China's modeling helps people

Nadya is bilingual. Nadya's family was happy before she turned 5. Her mother sung while her father played guitar. As the Soviet Union dissolved in the 1990s, family life changed. But not my family. "Our finances deteriorated" Nadya's father drank and was violent. 14-year-old Nadya's mother died of cancer. Nadya wasn't confident in her appearance. She needed support. Nadya: "Russia had no future." Nadya means 'hope' in Russian, therefore I had to find it inside myself and change my life. Nadya took advantage of a modeling agency.

Nadya found appreciation and kindness in China. I gained confidence here. I evolved. Chinese acceptance and affection made me embrace myself and improve. Second parents are in China.

Joy's Guangzhou modeling mostly impacted her family. "My life here is same in India, except I make more money, which helps my family. My brother is at school and my dad has a massage chair. Joy aspires to model. Those who know her will hire her. She knows good-family models who travel and work. Joy is jealous. I want to capitalize on other models' travel time.

Joy has little left over after daily expenses as 50% of her earnings goes to the model agency. "My income fluctuates." I earn 10-20,000 RMB on a good month, but sometimes just a few hundred. My family wants to build a house, therefore I must earn more.