How to Become a Model in Indonesia: No Height Required

What does a model do?

A model presents clothing, products or ideas in photographs, video and shows. The work includes following a brief, posing, arriving on time and collaborating with a photographer or production team. A model does not have to be an influencer or have a large following.

Start by choosing a type of work, taking three simple photographs and writing an honest profile. CariTalent accepts applications from adults aged 18 or older, including beginners. We set no minimum height or follower count. Individual jobs have their own casting briefs.

Choose a type of modelling to try

Catalogue / online shop: Show clothing or accessories for a shop. Practise poses showing front, side, back and product details.
Beauty / cosmetics: Photographs or video focus on face, hair or product use. Practise small expressions and discuss product suitability. Do not make unsupported cosmetic claims.
Hijab / modest fashion: Present clothing within your dress preferences. Discuss styling and clothing boundaries before arriving.
Runway / fashion shows: Walk to choreography and present clothes on stage. Sample-size and experience requirements vary by organiser.
Magazine & close-up model: Face and half-length shots for beauty pages, lifestyle sections or skincare campaigns. Face, skin and expression matter more than height.
Petite model: Shorter models for petite collections, size S and M catalogues and local brands that want products shown on everyday buyers.
Make-up (MUA) model: Your face is the canvas for a make-up artist’s portfolio, class or product work. Ask which products will be used, patch-test where needed, and agree whether the session is paid or collaborative and where the photographs will appear.
Commercial and detail modelling: Portray activities in advertising or show details such as hands using a product. Practise natural movements and understand image and recording usage limits.

Modelling differs from producing content for your own account. To do both, also read the fashion creator guide and the beauty influencer guide.

Modelling requirements: you do not have to be tall

There is no national height rule for modelling, and most model work uses no height limit at all. Clients judge fit with the product, concept and buyers. Choose work that shows your strengths:

Types of model work and whether height matters
Type of work	What clients look at	Height
Beauty & skincare	Face, skin, hair and expressions while using products.	Not a factor
Magazine & close-up	Face, character and expressions for beauty pages, section covers or half-length editorials.	Not a factor
Catalogue & e-commerce	A size that fits the samples, including petite collections, and poses that show products clearly.	Depends on garment size
Commercial & advertising	Fit with the role: young parent, student, office worker and more.	Not a factor
Hijab & modest fashion	Neat hijab styling, how you carry the clothes and agreed dress boundaries.	Rarely a factor
Hand, detail & make-up work	Well-kept hands, nails, skin or face as a canvas for products and make-up artists.	Not a factor
Runway / fashion shows	Your walk and fit with sample garments; each organiser sets its own criteria.	Depends on the organiser

Not tall? Start here

Take sharp close-ups of your face and hands in daylight; they are the core of beauty, magazine and product-detail work.
List honest measurements: many online shops look for petite models who fit size S or M.
Record a short video presenting a product; local brands need this for ads and social content.

Applicants under 18 need parental or guardian consent wherever they apply. CariTalent accepts only talent aged 18 or older and sets no height, weight or follower threshold.

Digitals and profile details: what do you need?

Digitals are simple photographs showing your current appearance. Practice photographs can form a beginner portfolio; identify them as practice rather than client campaigns.

Agencies and clients usually ask for two to four original, unretouched photographs: a front close-up, a profile, a half-length and a full-length shot, in natural light with minimal make-up and a plain background. Wear simple fitted clothes; for the JFW Model Search audition video, for example, women were asked to wear a white tank top with denim, hijab wearers a plain white inner top, jeans and a turban, and men a plain white T-shirt and jeans.

1. Front portrait

Face the camera with a clear view of your face.

2. Side profile

Turn sideways and keep your head upright.

3. Full length

Show head to toe, fully clothed.

Illustrative diagrams, not real models. Use a phone, daylight, a plain background and comfortable clothes. Avoid filters, body reshaping, visible home locations and location metadata. An expensive studio is not needed.

Professional name and city, without your full home address.
Job interests, service area and experience. “Just starting” is a valid answer.
A short introduction and a business contact you allow to be public. Professional measurements are optional.
Permission from the person shown and the photograph’s rights holder. Being photographed by a friend or photographer does not automatically grant all publication rights.

Example introduction — adapt it honestly

“I am a beginner model based in Bandung, interested in clothing catalogues and modest fashion. I have practice photographs and can follow direction. Schedule, location, clothing and fees are agreed before the job.”

How to measure yourself for a model application

Almost every agency form asks for height and body measurements in centimetres. Measure in thin clothing, barefoot, with a soft tape held level and not pressing into the skin.

Height: Stand barefoot against a wall, have someone mark the top of your head and measure from the floor.
Bust / chest: Wrap the tape around the fullest part of the chest, under the arms.
Waist: Measure the narrowest point above the navel while breathing normally.
Hips: Measure the widest part of the hips and seat with feet together.
Shoe size: Give your usual EU size. Some agencies also ask for weight, clothing size and hair and eye colour.

Give honest figures and update them when they change; sample garments are prepared from them. Measurements are personal data, so send them only to agencies or clients you can verify. On CariTalent, professional measurements are optional. About model measurements · ID

Model portfolio and comp card: what is the difference?

A portfolio (often called a book) is your collection of strongest work photographs. A comp card, or composite card, is a one-page summary sent to clients or agencies for castings. It shows your name, three to five photographs covering different kinds of work, a business contact and only the details the job requires.

Start with clear digitals and three practice photographs used with the photographer’s permission.
Match the content to your target work: catalogue, commercial, modest fashion, beauty or runway.
Update it when your look changes, and never use someone else’s images without permission.

Make a free comp card in your browser → Photos are never uploaded; save as an A5 PDF.

Six steps to start modelling

Choose one type of work
Read clear briefs. Note tasks, duration, location, clothing and image usage. Avoid sending information to unidentified organisers.
Practise poses and expressions
Use a mirror or phone timer for 10–15 minutes. Practise hand position, face angles, standing and walking. Choose clear results rather than heavily edited ones.
Build a starter portfolio
Take the three suggested photographs. Get permission for other people or a photographer’s work. Note the date so you can update your appearance.
Write your details and boundaries
Start with name, city, interests, introduction and business contact. Add clothing size or height only when relevant and comfortable. Do not send identity numbers, bank details or sensitive photographs in an introduction.
Apply for relevant listings and castings
Use CariTalent’s free model form. For castings, tailor your portfolio and verify the client’s identity and official contact. An application does not guarantee selection or work.
Agree the work in writing
Agree fees, payment stages, overtime, cancellation, travel, image rights and AI use. Keep the agreement and request permission before adding results to your portfolio.

Freelance modelling or joining an agency?

Freelance models find work through portfolios, directories, photographers and local brands. Agencies arrange castings and negotiation, usually for a commission and sometimes under exclusive contracts. Both are legitimate when the terms are clear.

To join an agency, choose one with a verifiable address and client history, submit the digitals and details requested through official channels, and read the contract before signing. Check commission, exclusivity, territory, duration and how to leave. Be wary of agencies asking for upfront fees with promises of guaranteed work.

What must be in writing before you sign with an agency

The commission percentage and what it is calculated on.
Exclusivity: territory, type of work and term.
Costs deducted from your fees, such as test shoots, comp cards or travel.
When you are paid after the client pays the agency.
Image-usage rights, including paid advertising and AI use.
How to end the contract and what happens to ongoing work.

If you later work abroad, your first agency may act as your mother agency. Legitimate agencies charge no joining fee; Indonesia’s Ministry of Manpower says a recruitment fee is almost certainly a scam. Kompas.com, 13 Januari 2025 ↗

Do you need a modelling school or class?

No. Agencies judge digitals, measurements and potential, then develop new models themselves. Modelling classes are an optional paid service for walking, posing and confidence. Programmes usually run for several weeks; ask for the total cost before enrolling.

Tell apart a class you choose from “training” required after you register as a condition of acceptance. If you take a class, get the fee, duration and inclusions in writing, and remember that a certificate does not guarantee work.

How much can a beginner model earn?

There is no universal fee. Pay depends on duration, production type, experience, territory and length of image use, paid advertising and exclusivity. Beginners may have no bookings while still incurring costs.

Arithmetic example, not a market rate

If a job you agree pays Rp500,000 and transport and preparation cost Rp150,000, the remainder before tax is Rp350,000. Without a booking, revenue is zero and any expenses still count.

CariTalent listings are free, with no platform fee or commission. Models and clients agree service fees and payments directly. We are not an agency, employer or model manager.

Understand rate cards · ID · Browse agreement guidance

Check castings and protect your image rights

Ask for the responsible person, verifiable location, brief, schedule and fees. Tell someone you trust about meetings and ask about companion policies.
Do not share one-time codes, passwords, nude photographs or identity documents through this form. Be cautious of payments claimed to guarantee acceptance.
Specify media, territory, duration, paid ads, edits and AI use. Other advertisements or AI training are not automatically included.
Obtain permission from the subject and copyright holder. Seek Indonesian legal review for complex, exclusive or high-value contracts before signing.

Signs of a fake casting

You are asked to pay registration, training or portfolio fees as a condition of selection.
Very high pay is promised for unusually easy work.
The process moves to an apartment, hotel room or private location instead of a verifiable studio or office.
You are asked to change clothes repeatedly, pose inappropriately or send revealing photos or videos.
They claim to work with a TV station or major brand without written proof.

In December 2024, East Java Police uncovered a fake casting agency that recruited aspiring commercial models and placed hidden cameras in the changing room; victims’ recordings later circulated on Telegram. Bring a companion, check the company’s identity, ask for a written contract and report harassment or extortion to the police. Kompas.com, 20 Desember 2024 ↗ · TIMES Indonesia, 9 Januari 2025 ↗

In November 2025, at least ten students in Samarinda were contacted by Instagram DM about a “hijab model casting” promising millions of rupiah, then asked for inappropriate photos. Legitimate castings never ask for such photos and do not start from DMs by unidentified accounts. Kompas.com, 7 November 2025 ↗

Report a problematic profile, contact or photograph through the correction and removal form · ID.

JFW Model Search, fashion weeks and international markets

The official route onto Indonesian runways is the model search each organiser opens. Check requirements and dates on the official page every season:

JFW Model Search (Jakarta Fashion Week) ↗

A model audition for the Jakarta Fashion Week runway. For JFW 2027, applicants posted a TikTok audition video with #JFW2027 #JFW2027ModelSearch, then completed the JFW form by 30 May 2026; that window has closed. JFW sets its criteria each season, so read the official page before applying. JFW says auditions are free, but shortlisted applicants travel to Jakarta at their own cost and audition material becomes JFW’s property. For JFW 2026, 150 people were called to offline judging and 30 were selected.

JF3 Model Search ↗

The JF3 model competition has run since 2004. Its 2026 auditions were held in Jakarta and Surabaya, and JF3 covered travel for selected participants. The official page currently lists no height or age requirements; watch for the next season’s announcement.

Models aiming for fashion weeks or work abroad need to understand castings, mother agencies and the show-season calendar. The Cast Index, an independent fashion and beauty publication, offers these guides:

How to become a model ↗ — Steps from first photographs to agencies and castings.
Jakarta Fashion Week guide ↗ — Calendar, format and how Jakarta’s fashion week works.
Modelling at fashion weeks ↗ — Castings, fittings and the working rhythm of show season.
Managing money as a model ↗ — Fees, agency commission and financial planning.
International model agencies ↗ — Agencies representing models in international markets.

Under 18?

CariTalent only accepts and lists models aged 18 or older. For younger aspiring models, every decision and contract must involve a parent or guardian and an accountable organiser. The Cast Index guide to modelling under 18 ↗

How to apply free as a model on CariTalent

Sign in with email, complete five short sections (optional measurements appear as a model card on your profile), choose photographs and publication permissions, then submit. At least one photograph or portfolio link is needed for review. Only you and editors can view the second and third photographs. Profiles are reviewed before publication. Once approved, clients can use your chosen business contact directly.

Open the model form · ID →

Paid experience and a large following are not required. No photographs yet? Follow the diagrams above first. CariTalent is a Kode Nirlaba project.

An opportunity for The Cast Index coverage

You can also submit your model profile or story to The Cast Index for consideration for editorial or talent coverage. Prepare your profile link, portfolio, a short story and photo permissions. Editors decide suitability; submission does not guarantee a feature, ranking or work.

This is optional and separate from the free CariTalent listing. We do not automatically send your form, private contacts or photographs to The Cast Index. You choose what to submit through their channels and review their terms.

Read The Cast Index editorial submission process ↗

Beginner modelling questions

What are the requirements to become a model?

There is no height requirement that applies to all model work. What you need is honest digitals, accurate measurements, professional conduct and a fit with the client’s brief. Beauty, magazine, catalogue, advertising, modest-fashion and hand work is open to every height. CariTalent accepts models aged 18 or older with no height requirement.

Can I model at 150, 155 or 160 cm?

Yes. If you are not tall, focus on work that highlights your face, skin, hair, hands, expressions or the way you present products: beauty and skincare, magazine and close-up shots, petite catalogue and e-commerce, advertising that portrays everyday people, modest fashion, hand and product-detail work, make-up (MUA) modelling and product content for brands. Advertising and catalogue clients look for a fit with the product and its buyers, not height.

Do models have to be tall?

No. Height is only used as a criterion at some fashion shows, because sample garments are made in set sizes. Other model work is judged on face, skin, expressions, hands, product presentation and fit with the concept. Many models work in beauty, magazines, catalogues and advertising without ever walking a runway.

At what age can I become a model?

There is no national age rule. Agencies and organisers set their own, and applicants under 18 always need parental or guardian consent. Advertising and catalogue work uses adult models of many ages, so 25 or older is not too late for commercial work. CariTalent lists only talent aged 18 or older.

Do models get paid?

Yes, when there is agreed work. Agency models are paid after the agency’s commission; freelancers negotiate directly with clients. There is no fixed fee, and beginners may have no bookings yet. Unpaid collaborative shoots must be clear from the start, including image rights.

How much does it cost to become a model?

Joining a legitimate agency is free, as are JFW Model Search auditions and a CariTalent model listing. Costs you may meet are travel to castings, portfolio photos or prints, and optional modelling classes. Refuse anyone who requires payment to accept you.

How do I apply to become a model?

There are three routes: send digitals and measurements to a legitimate agency through its official form, enter an official model search such as JFW or JF3 when it opens, or list a free model profile on CariTalent so clients can contact you directly. You can do all three until you sign an exclusive contract.

Can I apply without experience?

Yes, if you are 18 or older. Choose “Just starting”, use authorised practice photographs and do not invent brand experience.

Will all photographs appear on Google?

No. Additional photographs remain private. The first is published only with your permission and editorial approval. Published profile information is accessible to search engines; removal from third-party search results may take time.

Is The Cast Index publication guaranteed?

No. Apply separately for editorial consideration. Your free CariTalent application does not depend on doing so.

What is a model portfolio called?

A model’s collection of work is called a portfolio or book. A one-page summary is a comp card (composite card) with your name, a few strong photographs, business contact and only the details clients request. Beginners can start with digitals and three authorised practice photographs.

What do I need to become a male model?

The same as other models: clear digitals, a portfolio relevant to the work (for example menswear, grooming or commercial) and professional conduct. Choose the work that suits you; CariTalent sets no height or body-size threshold.

How do I start in modest-fashion or commercial modelling?

Show photographs that fit the client’s needs: modest fashion and neat hijab styling for modest-fashion work, or expressions and product handling for commercial work. Choose the matching job type when applying, and put image rights and advertising duration in writing.

How do I join a modelling agency?

Choose agencies with a verifiable address and client history, then submit the digitals and details they request through official channels. Legitimate agencies explain commission, exclusivity and contract length in writing. Never pay upfront for “guaranteed work”.

I am under 18. Can I apply?

Not yet. CariTalent lists adult talent only and never features child or teenage models. Work for minors must involve parents or guardians, clear consent and accountable organisers.

Sources and scope

Practical editorial guidance, not a job guarantee or legal advice for a particular contract. Legal references and editorial processes checked 1 October 2026.

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