When you think of top models, you don’t just picture tall frames and perfect skin. You see someone who walks into a room and owns it-not because they’re told to, but because they believe they belong there. That’s confidence on display. It’s not something you buy with a contract or learn in a class. It’s built, day after day, in front of mirrors, on runways, and under harsh lights that never lie.
What Makes a Model ‘Top’?
The term ‘top model’ isn’t just about who gets the most magazine covers. It’s about who holds power in the industry. In 2025, the top models aren’t just signed to big agencies like IMG or Elite. They’re running their own brands, launching makeup lines, and speaking at fashion summits. Gigi Hadid doesn’t just walk for Chanel-she co-designed a collection with them. Adut Akech turned her runway dominance into a global advocacy platform for refugee youth.
These women and men didn’t get there by accident. They had to survive rejection after rejection. One model told me she went to 47 castings before landing her first job. Another said she cried in the bathroom after every show for the first six months. Confidence doesn’t come from being chosen. It comes from choosing yourself-even when no one else does.
The Psychology Behind the Pose
Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, show that top models have a unique ability to regulate stress hormones during high-pressure situations. Their cortisol levels stay lower than average during fittings, shoots, and backstage chaos. How? They’ve trained their minds like athletes train their bodies.
Many work with sports psychologists. They use visualization: imagining the walk before they even step onto the runway. They rehearse breathing patterns-four seconds in, hold for six, release for eight-to stay grounded. One Victoria’s Secret Angel told me she repeats a single phrase before every show: “I am not here to please. I am here to perform.”
That’s the difference between a model and a top model. One waits for approval. The other commands space.
Confidence Isn’t Always Loud
People assume confidence means big smiles, wide stances, and bold eye contact. But some of the most powerful models walk with quiet intensity. Kaia Gerber doesn’t need to flash teeth. She holds her head just a fraction higher, lets her shoulders relax, and lets the camera catch her gaze without forcing it. That’s confidence without performance.
Same with male models like Matias Sosa. He doesn’t pose. He exists. His walk isn’t exaggerated-it’s effortless. And that’s what makes it unforgettable. In a world where everyone is trying too hard, the ones who don’t try at all stand out the most.
How They Built It: Real Stories
Let’s talk about what actually happened.
- Emily Ratajkowski didn’t start as a top model. She was a college student working part-time at a boutique. She got discovered after a stranger took her photo at a farmers market. She turned down five offers before saying yes to one that gave her creative control.
- Winnie Harlow was bullied as a child for her vitiligo. She entered a modeling competition at 17, didn’t win, but kept going. She didn’t change her skin. She changed how people saw it.
- Andreja Pejić transitioned mid-career. Agencies told her she’d never work again. She walked for Chanel and Balenciaga within two years. Her confidence wasn’t loud. It was stubborn.
There’s no formula. No magic pose. No secret diet. Just persistence, self-respect, and the refusal to shrink.
The New Rules of Modeling
The old model archetype-skinny, silent, perfectly posed-is gone. In 2025, top models are multi-platform creators. They post behind-the-scenes clips on TikTok. They answer DMs from aspiring models. They call out toxic casting practices.
They also demand better pay. The average top model now earns between $500,000 and $2 million a year-not just from runway shows, but from YouTube channels, Instagram collabs, and brand partnerships they own outright. Many hire their own managers, lawyers, and publicists. They’re not just faces. They’re CEOs of their own brand.
And the industry? It’s catching up. Agencies now require mental health screenings before signing new talent. Some even offer therapy sessions as part of contracts. That’s progress.
What You Can Learn From Them
You don’t need to be a model to use their confidence playbook. Here’s what works in real life:
- Own your space. Sit up straight. Make eye contact. Don’t apologize for taking up room.
- Practice your walk. Literally. Walk around your apartment like you’re on a runway. Feel your heels. Lift your chin. Breathe.
- Stop waiting for permission. Top models didn’t wait to be told they were ready. They started anyway.
- Define your own beauty. If you’re told you’re “too tall,” “too short,” “too different”-that’s not a limit. It’s a signal.
- Rehearse your mindset. What do you say to yourself before a big meeting? A date? An interview? Change that script.
Confidence isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present. And the top models? They show up-even when they’re scared.
Why This Matters Now
Today’s world tells you to be smaller. To fit in. To quiet down. But the top models? They remind us that the most powerful thing you can do is stand tall-exactly as you are.
It’s not about the clothes. It’s not about the lighting. It’s about the belief that you belong, even when the room says otherwise.
What’s the difference between a model and a top model?
A model follows direction. A top model sets the tone. Top models have creative control, own their brand, negotiate their own deals, and influence trends-not just follow them. They’re not just hired for their look; they’re hired for their presence, their voice, and their ability to command attention without saying a word.
Can anyone become a top model?
There’s no single body type, age, or background that guarantees success. Top models today come in all shapes, sizes, ethnicities, and gender identities. What they all share is resilience, self-belief, and the willingness to keep going after rejection. If you’re willing to build confidence through action-not just aspiration-you can carve out your own space in the industry.
Do top models still need agencies?
Many still work with agencies for access to big shows and campaigns, but fewer rely on them for survival. Top models now often manage their own social media, negotiate contracts directly, and hire independent teams. Some even launch their own modeling agencies to represent others on their terms. The power has shifted-from agencies to the models themselves.
How do top models handle rejection?
They treat it like data, not destiny. One top model keeps a journal of every casting she attends-whether she books it or not. She tracks patterns: which designers respond to her look, which cities feel right, which times of year she performs best. Rejection isn’t personal. It’s feedback. She uses it to refine her approach, not to doubt her worth.
Is modeling still a viable career today?
Yes-but not the way it used to be. The old model career path-agency, magazine covers, runway, then retirement-is rare. Today’s top models build multiple income streams: content creation, product lines, public speaking, mentoring. The most successful ones aren’t just models. They’re entrepreneurs who use their visibility to create lasting value beyond the camera.
Final Thought
The next time you see a top model on a billboard or scrolling past you on Instagram, don’t just admire the look. Notice the stillness. The calm. The quiet certainty. That’s not just good lighting. That’s confidence built brick by brick, over years, through failure, through silence, through choosing to show up-again and again-when no one was watching.
