Bristol, UK ( Prfriend ) June 9, 2009 – It may look like the simplest job in the world, but successful models are strong-willed go-getters and some of the hardest working professionals around today.

Take Gisele Bündchen for instance. Her modelling career earned her $35 million in 2007 alone, making her the highest-paid model of all time according to the Guinness Book of Records. Forbes puts her personal fortune at $150 million.

According to Damian O’Connor, it’s no coincidence that Gisele has been able to leverage her work as a model to build her formidable career. O’Connor is Managing Director of one of the UK’s largest modelling agencies, Models Direct.

“You don’t have a modelling career as successful as Gisele’s purely by accident,” says O’Connor. “She is renowned for her incredible work ethic, smart business sense, strong personality, and absolute professionalism. She has a lot to teach anyone seriously considering becoming a model.”

“Perhaps most importantly, when a client is looking for a model and they choose Gisele, they can be totally confident that she will deliver every time,” says O’Connor.

Fashion photographer Nick Knight, who worked with Gisele on a major Christian Dior campaign in 1998, agrees. “When she’s decided to do the campaign, she’s 100 per cent behind it,” says Knight. “If they ask her to say ‘This is the best lipstick in the world’, she does. It’s slightly tongue in cheek, but you get swept along with her enthusiasm.”

And you’ll never see Gisele having one of those diva-esque temper tantrums to which other supermodels are prone. She is well known for being very hardworking but also relaxed on set.

“I think anyone who wants to be a model should look at the way Gisele conducts herself and follow that,” says O’Connor. “Her professional work ethic, ambition and drive, and incredible talent as a model are exemplary.”

Further links/information:

* To find out more about Models Direct: http://www.modelsdirect.com

* Find out about how you could become a model:

* To find a model for your business: http://www.modelsdirect.com/find_a_model/index.html

Contact details:
Dave Chandler
Campaign manager
t +44 (0) 870 041 0459
[email protected]

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Model Social Network, a new dedicated social network, solely for the modelling industry has been launched this month. The website is for aspiring models, agents, photographers and anyone involved in the industry looking to network with those in the know. The website has gotten off to a successful start with over 200 members joining within a matter of weeks, and hundreds of photos added to the gallery.

Model Network (http://www.model-network.co.uk) allows members to share ideas and tips in the forums, upload their headshots to the gallery, upload their video reels to the videos section, write their own personal blogs, and connect with people from all professions in the industry.

“The feedback I’ve had regarding the site has been fantastic” says Kate Cummings, Online Editor of Model Network. “Members are connecting with the right people to get their modeling career started, and agencies are able to see a wide selection of models from all parts of the world.”

The website has been launched in its initial version, with added features being updated to forward the user experience. Model Network is associated with Photography Network (http://www.photography-network.net) a dedicated social network for photographers worldwide.

For press, marketing or website enquiries:
T: +44 (0)117 3119 338
E: [email protected]