| The very word modeling conjures up visions of | | | | Model salaries are quite substantial. Even middle |
| glamour, good clothes, and luxurious surroundings | | | | rung models make around $100,000 a year. |
| and seemingly everlasting good looks. Yes, | | | | Actual figures show that Elle McPherson, a |
| successful models do have access to all these and | | | | supermodel of the late nineties, made $40.3 million |
| more. The reason for all these trappings of a | | | | in 1997. Several other supermodels earn similar or |
| luxurious lifestyle is the high model salaries. The | | | | higher amounts all the time. |
| salary of a supermodel is estimated to be in the | | | | The common belief is that modeling gives one |
| range of $40 - $50 million a year. | | | | access to easy money. All the trappings of the |
| Not all models make that kind of money. The | | | | modeling world seem to point towards all kinds of |
| salaries move in tandem with the popularity | | | | luxuries. However, this is not all true. Luxuries |
| commanded by the model. The more the | | | | notwithstanding, models do put in their share of |
| popularity, the higher is the salary. The lower | | | | hard work for the salaries that they receive. |
| rungs of the ladder are occupied by models | | | | Other than going through the grind of takes, |
| whose salaries are fixed by the firms that employ | | | | retakes, maintaining poses for long periods and |
| them. As they do more and more assignments | | | | other activities involved with the actual modeling |
| and become popular they move into a slot where | | | | job, there is quite some effort needed behind the |
| they themselves can fix the rate to be paid to | | | | scenes. Models have to maintain a strict routine of |
| them. Most models make hundreds of dollars a | | | | diet, exercise, skin care and hair care. None of this |
| day. | | | | is easy, especially the diet part. A lot of cravings |
| A snide comparison equates an average model's | | | | and desires have to be firmly shoved aside for |
| one day salary to that of an average teacher's | | | | maintaining a svelte figure that will keep the |
| six month pay packet. Snide, indeed, but true. | | | | modeling assignments pouring in. |