Height and Body Types for modeling?
Barring a miracle you need to be 6 feet (for men) or for women 5’10” tall, give or take an inch to be a fashion model. But commercial models are the majority of models in this country, and they can be a much wider variety of heights and shapes. We have found that female “petites” of 5’6” and above generally find ready acceptance in the marketplace. A few very exceptional women of 5’4” and above can get work, but it is much harder. Those shorter than that can work only very rarely in the commercial market, except for Asian models, who can be much shorter.
For the most part, models need to be thin. There are exceptions. "Plus models" are fashion models who meet the normal criteria for fashion models in all ways but one: they are dress size 10 to 18 or so, and they have a toned, proportionate body with about ten inches difference between waist and hips. In addition, in some cities there is work for heavier models (up through plus and XL sizes) as Fit models, but this is a very limited, technical specialty. Fit models can also be shorter than normal fashion model requirements.
Commercial models can also be heavier than the "slim" normal. For older models (40+) an extra 10-20 pounds or so is generally acceptable. At all ages there is also some limited work available for "overweight" models, who tend to be more "character" types.