My Modelling Journey

Welcome ❤️ 

Finally, I’ll be answering the most asked question of all… How did I get into modelling and what’s my story? If you want to get into it or are just curious about my modelling journey, this blog will give you an insight into how I began in the industry.

How it began: 

Where do I even begin? So, I never thought about becoming a model as a young girl. I was always into sports growing up. But one day I saw a friend try it out and I wondered what modelling would be like. After pondering back and forth, my mum and I sat there submitting some pictures to an agency in Leicester (my hometown). Two months down the line I signed with them. We did our research and knew this agency was legit as there are a lot of scams out there and we had no clue about the industry. I signed with them when I was 13 and stayed with them until the age of 15. We did lots of catwalk training and confidence building during lessons but at that point, I realised how much I loved it and it became more than just a hobby. From there, I decided to sign in Manchester. I submitted simple polaroids to a Manchester-based agency. They took an interest and signed me up straight away. For the first year, I was on the development board and I didn’t get any work as I was building my book up to industry standard.

After a year with the agency, I moved up to the new faces board where I finally started booking jobs. My first job was for a schoolwear brand. A few months later I started to book some amazing campaigns for clients such as GHD, G Shock, Sisters and Seekers, Look Fantastic, John Lewis and many more.

Then the pandemic hit and work started to die down. After covid, I decided I wanted to push my career further and enter the London market. Since then, I have worked with incredible brands such as Net A Porter, Nars, D&G, Fitflop, and Lipsy London.

You can check out my updated portfolio here: https://industrymodels.co.uk/women/manchester/new-faces/asha-rakha/

My experience in the industry: 

Overall, my experience in the industry has been very positive. Of course, there have been good times and bad times. Regardless, I am still so grateful to get up every day and do a job that satisfies and keeps me motivated and hungry for more.

Good things: 

• My favourite thing about my job is the people I meet. I am a people person. I met my best friend Jade through work.
• The places you visit and the way brands look after you are amazing. I have been fortunate enough to be treated so well by the clients I have worked with.
• I love the buzz of the unknown. I think it keeps me going. You never know what tomorrow holds.

Bad things: 

• Not being able to keep a strict routine. The lack of sleep and super early mornings / late nights. Things change so last minute and it can be stressful at times.
• Dealing with unprofessional people – whether that’s clients, agents or models. You have to remain kind and forgiving because, at the end of the day, your image matters as a model.
• Financial – yes modelling money can come in large sums but there’s no real sense of security as you can go months without a job and payments can take up to 3 months to come in.

The model lifestyle: 

Unfortunately, everyone thinks modelling is the easiest, most glamorous job ever. A hell of a lot of dedication, hard work and resilience goes into being a model. All models can agree on that.

Being a model is getting up in the early hours of the morning to attend a day full of unpaid castings. Waiting in long queues to get seen for 1 minute, then running across town to the next one. It’s also getting rejected almost daily. You hear a lot of no’s before you get a yes.

On casting days, I wake up at 5 am to get ready and take the train to London. Sometimes I’ll have 1 casting or sometimes my agent will pack my schedule with 5 or more. Usually, I’d stop at the agency to collect my model cards. Then after a long day, I’d make my way back home to Leicester and go again the next morning.

You can even go through patches where you get a week or two with no work. As much as I love working, I don’t mind quiet spells as it allows me to get back into a routine with things like the gym, yoga class, and seeing friends and family.

But then when you put in the hard work it has to pay off at some point right? Some clients would put you in a hotel the night before the booking. You’d arrive to set in comfy clothes usually with a fresh face and clean hair. There would be breakfast for when you arrive and a dressing gown and slippers. Set food is always 10/10 as they have so many snacks to nibble on during the day. You may have a manicurist on set doing your nails while you’re having hair and makeup touch-ups. If it’s a campaign usually there is more sitting around than if it’s Ecom work. Campaign days are my favourite as the team is usually much bigger so you meet many new people.

Some of my favourite modelling jobs: 

• GHD Christmas Commercial – This was their 2020 TVC commercial. The set was huge and they had built a glamorous dressing room for us to pretend to get ready in. This played on ITV.

• Sisters and Seekers Campaign – we shot their earthwear collection so we were in their warehouse in North Wales and the set was so cool. There were massive piles of mud that we had to stand on.

• G shock X High Snobiety – this was a 2-day campaign again and we were picked up and taken to wales where we shot in the most surreal places in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.

So that’s my story. This is how it all began. I knew when I started at a young age, I had a burning desire to just keep getting better and work hard to achieve my goals. I had to follow it and now I am lucky enough to wake up and do a job that keeps me sane and fulfilled. Every day gets better and better. My story is pretty simple, I haven’t had it easy but my dedication and commitment have kept me going. Anyone reading this and wanting to get into it, make sure to check out my casting tips and tricks blog: https://asharakha.com/casting-tips-and-tricks-asharakha-com/

Love,