Majority of the time when someone approaches me and ask about my profession, the next common statement or question is "So you do things like pageants?" I understand, I get it, you're not in my profession to understand what it is I do. They don't understand the differences between it. So I'm here to explain it.
First, in order for me to explain the differences you need to know what a "model" is. Simply, we are a human mannequin. Our job is to be the 3D marketing tool that photographers, fashion designers, hair stylists, make up artists, etc use to show the people what "they" see. Example: If Michael Costello envisioned beautiful evening gowns for his New York Fashion Week Fall Season, you can't see what's in his mind. He would then need to sketch the design onto paper. Okay, now you see the idea. He would then have to go further into making the dresses so you can feel the texture. But now the dress is on the mannequin or hanger. Well, everything looks completely different once you put it on. This is where the model comes in, the model puts on the dress, she walks down the runway, and takes pictures in it. Now you see the flow of the dress, how the dress is suppose to fit, how the color appears, the detailing, etc.
So models aren't on the stage to show off ourselves. No! We are on the stage to sell you the garment. The attention shouldn't be on us but whatever it is we are trying market to you whether it be hair, clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc. Models don't pick whom we work for. No...Our clients picked us because they felt that our body, faces, skin tones, hair, eyes, etc fits the type of consumer that they want to sell to or because our looks adds to the product.
Next question that is the most common, "Why are models tall and skinny?" With the information I just gave you above it should be easy to answer this but I'll give you my most common answer. One, not ALL models are tall and skinny. Just the ones that are highlighted the most on tv are. They are considered "High Fashion", "Editorial", or "Runway" models. It's just the type of modeling they choose to do or look that they have. If you want a "Plus-Size", "Petite", "Fitness", etc models than go look at catalogs or shows that are about that. Two, fashion models are tall and skinny because majority of clothing looks, hangs better on them. When they're tall and skinny, their bodies are elongated, they appear more graceful, you can see better detailing when it comes to garments.
I always use this as an example lol: Imagine if you saw Gisele Bundchen and Kim Kardashian having a walk-off on the runway. They are both wearing the same exact dress. Now you probably don't think anything of it because you don't see it in this way. Gisele comes down the runway as if she is floating. Her face is beautiful, she has just the right amount of curves to know she is a woman, she is simple and elegant, nothing about her is over powering the dress. You are able to focus on the dress to see that the front of the dress has exquisite embroidery, the waistline comes in to give her that hour glass figure, you see that they way the dress shifts as she is walking and the chiffon flows as if she is an angel. She turns around at the end of the runway and walks back. As she is walking back her hair is nicely done with some waves, you see the braids they put on the back of the dress, her butt is not too big to take away from the dress's appeal, you see how the back of the dress moves, etc. Now you watch Kim, you see her boobs and is completely distracted to notice the embroidery, her hips make the dress appear to tight, and because of her height it doesn't appear as graceful. Then she turns around, hell nothing matters anymore because all we are staring at is her butt. Period. The End.
I didn't say that because I dislike Kim K. I'm just giving you an example of two random people with different body types. Both equally as beautiful. However, marketing wise Gisele appears more to the everyday woman and her looks add to the dress. Kim K appears to specific type of woman, more curvaceous. That's fine! But if that's not who the designer is trying to draw to. Then hey don't get mad at me for their decision. Models are just hired for those reasons.
Another common question is "Why are models so young/have to be young?" Most agents/agencies pick models starting from the age of 18 years old due to appearance. They want them to look young and fresh. Now a days they don't pick girls who are 16 years old because you still need parental consent and the amount of hours you can work underage legally. Most agents/managers/agencies/clients don't want to deal with that. So 18 is as young as they can go with them still being an adult legally. The younger they start the longer their career will be. Most models' (depending on the type of modeling you do) careers last from the age of 18-25.
So now we understand what is a model and their duties, now we can go further and discuss the differences between a model and a pageant girl.