Miss PA judge a top model
SIPHELELE NDZAMELA
| INSPIRING YOUNG MODELS: Chantal Schoonbee, one of the judges at this year's Round Table/Talk of the Town Miss Port Alfred contest, has the wisdom of experience to impart to our young entrants Picture: SUPPLIED |
The 23-year-old, who also has a degree in graphic design, currently works as a sales executive at Konica Minolta in Port Elizabeth.
She has modeled for Billabong, Juicy Couture perfume, Triumph Lingerie, Elegant fashion line and Beauty Stock Photography.
In 2006 Schoonbee she took 6th place overall in the New Face Model competition in Italy.
While there she attended a specialisation course in the fashion field. She concentrated specifically on modeling, make-up, choreography, television and photo posing at the Glamour Production International Model School in Siracusa, Italy.
In 2007 she was crowned Miss Destiny, a pageant for all the schools in Grahamstown.
Then in 2008, Schoonbee decided to go to university, although she had two modeling contracts waiting for her in Mauritius and Milan.
Schoonbee says during her studies in Port Elizabeth she still carried on doing a variety of modeling work.
In 2011, her last year of her studies, Schoonbee became the events coordinator at Icons Management where she handled promotions around Eastern Cape and organising fashion shows and models.
She said in earlier years the physical beauty of constants was the primary consideration in beauty pageants.
"But with changing times, most pageants now include a pageant interview question round, thus judging intelligence along with beauty,” she said.
So now beauty with brains is what is looked for.
Schoonbee mentioned that the key to the crown in the end, is confidence, as most of the questions are subjective, and don't have a right nor wrong answers.
"There is no specific degree or credential to become a professional model, however, the key factors for the entry level are good communication skills, an interesting face, confidence, a good sense of style, the ability to look good at all times, and knowing how to dress properly,” she said.
Knowledge about make-up applications becomes another advantage. Walking posture and excellent stamina are also key factors in being a model.
"Familiarity in different poses, great facial projection, being in shape and motivation are also essential for modelling,” Schoonbee added.
She has worked with all sorts of brands big and small, and believes if you just have fun on a shoot people will want to work with you again.
"I would describe myself as a glamour model, including bikini, sexy outfits and lingerie modeling.”
This includes photos for calendars, posters, and other pin-up girl products. These shots are also becoming very popular on the internet, she added.
There are no height or size requirements in glamour modeling as there are in fashion modeling. While fashion modeling often requires a very specific thin body type, glamour modeling prefers curves.
"Fashion often looks for a special or different look while glamour modeling wants traditional drop-dead gorgeous, and while fashion really only happens in New York, glamour can happen anywhere,” said Schoonbee.
