If you want to become a model, having a standout signature look could be your key to success. Look at Becca Horn, whose statement gap between her two front teeth has elevated her to the top of the industry. But what about tattoos? Can you be inked and still get work?
Increasingly, tattoos and piercings are being embraced by the modelling world and by brands keen to capture a contemporary aesthetic. Yes, many agencies still prefer natural, unadorned models for their malleability. However, as authenticity becomes an increasingly valued commodity, having a statement look – including one with visible tattoos – may just make your career.
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The simple answer is yes. There are plenty of successful working models who have tattoos and piercings. But the reality is more complicated. Not all agencies and brands are open to tattoos if they’re in places that will be visible during the shoot. As a model, you are portraying a character envisioned by the brand or fashion house, so your tattoos need to play into that. For example, tattooed arms or hands may not fit the stereotypical image of mothering that a baby food brand wants to portray with its advert. (Despite the fact many mothers have tattoos.)
At the same time, high-end fashion brands like Chanel have started using models with inks to align themselves with a cool, edgy sensibility they believe may attract more customers.
Tattoos may be fashionable, but fashions change. A bicep inked with barbed wire may once have been the epitome of bad boy cool, but fashions change.
Many tattoos can be covered or Photoshopped out of a picture, but it’ll be extra work for the client and photographer. Modelling is a tough, competitive business, so you’d do well to give people reasons to hire you rather than making them do extra work. Not having tattoos gives you more flexibility regarding the jobs you can take, but if tattoos are part of your personal identity, they could be part of your professional identity too.
Piercings are generally easier to work with since most can be taken out if necessary. Ear piercings are acceptable across the board, but dermal piercings and ear gauging should be more carefully considered if you’re hoping to book mainstream jobs.
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If you’re keen to get a tattoo but still want to be in the running for mainstream modelling gigs, consider the following:
Size
Many leading models have small tattoos that can be easily covered if necessary, like Gisele Bundchen, who has delicate ankle and wrist markings. Lots of the well-known models with larger tattoos – like Catherine McNeil, whose entire back is inked – are already industry names, booked for their status in spite of their tats. But smaller, discrete tattoos are easier to market.
Placing
Where are you considering getting a tattoo? It’s harder to cover up inks in prominent places such as your arms, legs, neck, hands and face. These are very visible and will probably be on show for your work as a model.
Subject
If you’re hoping to book mainstream work, avoid politics, brand logos, or tattoos that might be seen as obscene or offensive. Markings that infringe on copyright should also be avoided. Also, think about quality: tattoos should be aesthetically pleasing and in keeping with your personal style.
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- Kate Moss: The veteran supermodel has tattoos galore, including love hearts, an anchor and, most famously, two small swallows on her lower back, done with a scalpel by the artist Lucian Freud.
- Cara Delevingne: The supermodel has more than 20 tattoos, including a lion on her index finger, her initials on the side of her hand, and a diamond in her ear.
- Jourdan Dunn: Dunn has gone big, getting a large phoenix tattoo inked on her ribcage. She also has ‘Fear is not an option’ inked on her forearm.
- Bella Hadid: Catwalk queen Bella Hadid has several small tattoos, including angel wings on her ankle and a rose on the back of her arm.
- Kendall Jenner: Easily hidden, Jenner's tattoos include one inside her lip and a tiny white dot on her finger.
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If you’ve found it difficult to get work or get signed with an agency because of your tattoos, maybe it’s time to consider alternatives. Some agencies specialise in models with tattoos and piercings. The brands working with these agencies hire their models because of their body art, not despite it. These include:
- Anti-Agency: A London-based agency offering work for alternative models.
- Rogue Model management: A UK-wide agency specialising in alternative models of all types.
- Hired Hands Models: A British agency offering representation to tattoo models and other alternative professionals.