There is a recruitment for the catwalk school of the model agency of Sergei Nagorny. "Who does not play ... a model" Interview with Nina Draco Model school of Nagorny

- At what age is it best to start a modeling career, and at what is it too late?

- It's better to start at 13-14 years old - this is the time when you can already see the perspective in the model. It is at this age that we can spot the model, and at 15-16, she may well enter the professional podium for the first time. Our models retire at the age of 25.

- How many models leave Belarus abroad?

- No. This is a very competitive environment, so only a few are leaving. We do not set ourselves such a goal - to bring everyone to the world podiums. Even the most European agencies cannot boast of one or two world-famous stars. We already have such ones - this is the world's supermodel Katya Domankova and our famous model from Brest Anastasia Belikova, who are now conquering world catwalks and working with the most famous designers such as Armani and Cavalli, and constantly participating in FashionTV shows.

- Girls with what parameters are now in the top of the world modeling business?

- In the top are petite girls with a height of 178 cm and above. We don't pay attention to the chest, but more to the waist and hips - 60 and 90, respectively. The parameters should not go beyond these limits, and this is clearly stated in the contracts. If a girl goes beyond these parameters, then her work can be canceled and the model returned.

- But what about the famous stereotype that breasts can interfere with the work of a model?

- Not true. If a girl has good breasts, then she will also work in lingerie shows. This can be a plus.

- Can a girl from the street, without going through a model school, become a model if she has the makings?

- Of course, we have scouts who simply stop the girls who are suitable for us on the street, and in a month they can go to the podium with a famous designer. Scouts work not only in Minsk, but also in other cities. But mostly we, of course, feed on the catwalk school.

- Is it possible to say that Belarus is a full-fledged platform for world fashion, or are we still somewhere on the sidelines?

- Of course you can, but why not? You know, my family lives in Mallorca. I often go there and remember that the FashionTV channel broadcasts Belarusian designers from high fashion weeks and other fashion events. I think we have enough of these events and designers. Quite recently, I talked with some - they just arrived from China, participated in the fashion week there. There are already names in Belarus, there are interesting collections, and they are also going to make good sales. Maybe they are not yet of an international level and they do not yet have representative offices abroad, but in our country they work actively and well-known persons of show business are happy to order costumes from them.

- Is it true that often rich businessmen take pictures of models right from the catwalk and girls agree to their conditions, go into private life, abandon work?

- You can now stay in the hall after the show and see if someone is removed from the podium today 🙂 Of course, for every girl in any profession, personal life is very important. I can only say that our agency never interferes with the personal choice of a girl. If she decides to sacrifice her career, the podium and goes into her personal life, she breathes a lot in her back. beautiful girls, there are enough of them in Belarus. So if not her, then another. The agency does not follow the personal lives of its models. The only one, in this case, she must clearly say either "I am ready to work", or "I will take care of my family, children." Sometimes girls choose to study, but many also combine it with work - they only go to summer shows abroad.

- How are the fees of models abroad and in Belarus different?

- Fees in Belarus are five times less than in Europe. But if the model works actively, then it can earn the same amount here. And this money may be enough to pay for university studies or in the future, for example, to open a business or help parents buy an apartment.

- Do we have hardworking models in Belarus? In particular, in Baranovichi?

- Hardworking, very. Well, because money is hard to make now. And a model is a profession that at a young age already gives a girl independence. Perhaps, only sports and the modeling business make it possible to make money at this age, because there you have to become independent early.

- In which countries are Belarusian models most interested in? Where are they more often invited?

- The best market where our models are actively working is America. But in order to get to America, you still need to go through the launching pad in Europe or Asia. Therefore, most often our models start from Paris, Milan, London, and then they can be invited to America. There are more interesting contracts, more work. The Chinese market has also become more active, Japan and North Korea are still interested in our models.

- How can parents ensure the safety of a child who is already being offered contracts abroad? Do they need to personally check overseas agencies?

- We have a license for employment of models abroad, respectively, each contract with us is checked by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and officially registered. We do not work with countries where the modeling business is very weak, such as Turkey. And we work with european capitals fashion, where everything is cultural, legal and such dangerous moments are excluded.

- What should parents be prepared for when sending their children to the podium school? What do you have to sacrifice?

“You’ll have to sacrifice your time on weekends. And clearly understand that the children they bring go to study at the school of aesthetic development. They must be prepared that children at this age do not yet become stars, they do more for themselves, in order to be flexible, artistic, to know etiquette - all this set of disciplines will come in handy in every child's life anyway. And only in the older groups, the top ones, where they are engaged from the age of 15, we look at teenagers for work throughout Belarus. Some Baranovichi models are already working abroad. We scan all Belarus for beauty.

I spoke with the director of the podium school modeling agency Sergei Nagorny Fashion Studio, directed by the wonderful Nina Draco.

- The runway school of Sergei Nagorny is directly related to fashion, and you are probably aware of the trends that dominate this season. Tell us about the trends in the appearance of fashion models. What girls are in demand now?

Professional model in demand! And this is the quintessence of external data, artistic abilities, graceful plasticity, inexhaustible energy, ability to work, talent, intelligence, etc. Today, the model is a part and embodiment of the author's artistic idea. As a rule, in the arsenal of a model during a fashion show there are not so many means of expressiveness - these are plastic, individual manner of movement, a good fashion show and, of course, the ability and talent to delight! Moreover, the model must be able to subtly draw a line that simultaneously unites and divides her personality and the artistic design image that she creates and represents. Each Fashion House seeks and creates its own image and its own history of the new season. Designers look through many portfolios of the best of the best applicants, carefully select models based on the artistic idea of \u200b\u200bthe collection and the concept of the entire show. For example, the show from the Roberto Cavalli Fashion House has an atmosphere of splendor, luxury and wild charm, so to speak. Accordingly, the heroines of his fashion story will look appropriate. The show from the Valentino Fashion House on the runway of the model is the very epitome of luxury. They create images of sophisticated, sensual, passionate divas. And completely opposite types of models will come out to fashionable viewers in the Vivienne Westwood show, where the spirit of freedom and outrageousness never disappears. Vivienne creates clothes that allow you to stand out from the crowd: from rude punk to sophisticated historical costumes, from mud-stained fashion models to classic luxury. Vivienne Westwood's shows and models are shaking the world of haute couture like thunder.

For this reason, it is impossible to say about some strict types that dominate the podium this season. But I can say with confidence: for many more years on the catwalk we will contemplate tall, graceful models, and strict ordinary people will criticize them for being too thin.

Since we have touched on the topic of model types, let's talk about the parameters, which of the models can apply to this or that category.

On this occasion, I have prepared a whole table for you (laughs), of course, this is quite general information, and each type of model may have its own exceptions to the rules.

- Thank you for being so prepared for the interview! How is the learning process organized in your school?
- The catwalk school of the Sergey Nagorny modeling agency is 17 years old .. During this time, our team has implemented many ideas, plans and projects. Of course, we are not going to stop there. Every year we set new tasks for ourselves and maintain our leading positions. Our school annually accepts a large number of students for training from 6 to 25 years old, and last season we opened a group for girls "25+". It should be noted that most of the listeners come to us not for advertising, but for recommendations. Many children have been studying at school for several years, this is the choice not only of our pupils, but also of their parents, who see and highly value the result of the teachers' work. A very strong and professional team of specialist teachers cooperates with the agency, these are the best teachers of our country, most of them graduates of postgraduate studies, master's degrees from prestigious educational institutions. Our colleagues are the authors of numerous articles and work in teams of international projects. Therefore, the podium school gives high results. Many students, of course, do not come to connect their professional history with the catwalk in the future; the school accepts both beginner models and those who want to reveal their hidden abilities and talents, gain self-confidence. In the learning process, attention is paid to the desire to harmoniously develop the personality, to give skills that will definitely come in handy in life. The agency of Sergei Nagorny received a license, which confirms the status of the school, the training program is approved by the Ministry of Education and is aimed at the aesthetic nature of the development and education of students. It includes such important disciplines as fashion shows, stage skills, etiquette, creative training, the basics of classical dance, plastic arts, aerobics, lectures on fashion, a master class with stylists on make-up, hairstyle, and photography. This program is useful not only for future professional models, but also for every modern girl! We have opened our branches of the Podium School in many cities of Belarus, where strong professional teams of teachers also work.

- External beauty, of course, is a beautiful thing, but how do you develop inner beauty in models?
- Today a model is a part of the author's image in the collection of this or that designer, it is not just a clothing demonstrator. You need to be part of the picture, and without inner content and meaning in the eyes, this is simply impossible. I am proud to say that our models destroy all the stereotypes about "beautiful is stupid". Today the profession of a model demands so much from those who choose it. Our models are beautiful, smart, well-mannered, stylish girls. Many of them graduate with honors from their schools, gymnasiums, enter prestigious higher educational institutions in our country or abroad. Many fashion fans follow the professional stories of our successful models, who represent Belarus and our agency on the most prestigious catwalks in the world of haute couture. Of course, they are inspired by the victories of our graduates and their professional achievements in the field of modeling. Now the World Haute Couture Week is taking place, and our best graduates present collections of eminent couturiers and famous fashion houses in New York, Milan, London, Paris. We are proud of our joint work results!

“It’s impossible to see a man on the street,
come up and say: “Tomorrow Milan is waiting for you,
I see it "- it smells of divorce here"

- Often girls say: “I want to be a model!”, But they do not specify which one.
- At casting, mothers with their children often come up to me and hopefully ask me: "Look, is my child a model?" I always answer with a smile: “Of course! And your child, and you, and me - we are all models! But in the mirror, not in a professional sense. " We must love ourselves, accept the way we came into this world, and constantly improve our body and soul. As for the answer to the question: "Am I a model?" - this understanding comes only in the course of work. It is impossible to see a person on the street, come up and say: “Tomorrow Milan is waiting for you, I can see it” - at least it sounds unconvincing. To achieve high results in the career of a model, a long and hard work is required both for a particular girl and a team of professionals who lead her to victory. A confident, beautiful gait on the podium for a high brand is already a result, but behind the scenes there is persistent work on oneself: this is sport, and the development of professional abilities, language learning, work on every centimeter of your body and much more.

- What is the difference between a catwalk model and a photo model?
- A fashion model is, first of all, a person who has some unique beautiful part of the body: face, eyes, mole, neck, legs, waist, hands, etc. This is what will be emphasized in photography. But often famous artists, athletes, actors are invited as a photo model for advertising, who represent a particular brand through their name and status.

Each catwalk model can act as a photo model, and less often it happens the other way around.

“Today the model is part of the author's
forming collections of one designer or another,
it's not just a clothing demonstrator,
need to be part of the picture
but without internal content and meaning
it is simply impossible in the eyes "

- Tell us about fashion prospects for the near future? What's in store for us?
- The podium is getting younger. In the near future we will see more and more youthful faces. There is an opinion that now, instead of personalities, no name models appear on the catwalks, while the catwalk in the 90s belonged to the most famous models: Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, Linda Evangelista. Everyone knew and recognized them. Sometimes, in order to draw attention to the show, designers deviate from high model standards and the show may include "bbw models" or ordinary people from the street crowd of different ages and status. In one of the shows, designer Michael Michalski invited a guy with a prosthetic leg instead of a leg, and Spanish designer Juan Duyos presented some of his creations on models over 60 years old. And, it should be noted, made a big splash!

But I can confidently say: no matter how critics fight against high model standards and no matter how much they oppose the excessive thinness of girls on the catwalk, in the coming fashion seasons we will contemplate exactly slender and tall models on the catwalks of the world.

- Do you work with plus models?
- On the territory of the Republic of Belarus there is a demand for plus models, and most often these are age models, say, after 35 years. Unfortunately, our database does not have models of this category, but we are open to cooperation.

- How do you feel about Belarusian designers?
- With deep respect, I know many personally! I always admire talented and gifted people. A lot of interesting young artists come to Belarusian fashion today - both in clothing design and in the design of accessories. But which of them will be able to become popular, famous, time will tell. On my own behalf, I wish you all good luck, patience, believe in yourself and realize your talent. Of course, it is very important for novice artists to have the opportunity to present their work at shows, in photo shoots, to be published in professional magazines, to create author's shows, to have the opportunity to participate in international projects, forums in the field of fashion, in order to be recognized and in demand not only in Belarus. I am always proud of the successes of Belarusian designers who could declare themselves outside our country! And I exclaim with pride: "These are ours !!!".

“I really respect Belarusian designers!
For both talent and struggle "

- Do you wear the clothes of our designers yourself?
- I wear and buy high-quality exclusive items of Belarusian designers with pleasure. In my wardrobe you can find things from

The ninth-grader Ekaterina Kashtelian never thought of becoming a model, in her life there were other hobbies: study, sports, dancing. But fate gave her a unique chance. By chance, Katya ended up in the modeling agency of Sergei Nagorny, and this opened up a completely different world for the girl.

In the summer of last year, a scout wrote to me on VKontakte social networks (this is the name for people who are looking for girls on the Internet for modeling) and asked me to send a snap photo without makeup. I sent. Later I was invited to Sergey Nagorny's modeling agency. At first I thought it was some kind of joke. But everything turned out to be true, - says Katya Kashtelyan. - Usually Nagorny's agency conducts auditions to select girls. But it also happens when they are found using the Internet.

Since September, Katya has been training at the modeling agency of Sergei Nagorny. From time to time she travels to Minsk for photography, which so far are mainly focused on creating a portfolio. At first, as the Brest woman says, she was embarrassed to pose for the camera. But photographers came to the rescue. And then experience already began to help.

The agency of Sergey Nagorny works closely with agencies abroad, so girls have ample opportunities to practice modeling with world-famous designers, photographers, organizations and companies. A Japanese modeling agency became interested in Katya. Together with another girl from Minsk, the Brest woman went on January 7 this year to her first overseas internship in Tokyo. For two months, the Belarusian women went to various auditions to fashion designers, photographers, magazine editors who chose girls for photo shoots or shows.

There are a lot of models in Japan. There I met girls from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine. The competition was very tough, says Katya.

Nevertheless, the Brest woman became one of the girls who was chosen for the filming of Vogue Taiwan magazine. The result of the work has already been published last month. More photos are coming soon. Indeed, over these two months, Katya had numerous shootings for various catalogs, magazines, and websites.

The internship in Japan did not affect Katya's studies, but she studies at the "nines" and "tens".

I returned from Japan on March 8 - just two weeks before the end of the third quarter. However, there were no problems with studies. I studied school material on my own back in Japan. And upon arrival, I passed all the necessary work and tests. The teachers treat me with understanding, so there were no questions or problems, - says young model.

So far, Katya is only engaged in photography. She still needs to grow up to show clothes in the truest sense of the word. Girls with a height of 175 cm are invited to the podium. The Brest woman is still two centimeters short. However, everything is still ahead. Katya has high parents, so the genes will obviously take their toll. In addition, sports will help you stretch. Katya, in addition to modeling and studying, is also professionally engaged in volleyball.

I am very glad that I became a model. I love doing it, and it's a great way to see the world. I plan to study at the university and at the same time be a model. I have many friends girls who manage to combine this. I think I will succeed too, - the young model says about the future.

Katya has another internship planned for the summer. The girl still keeps the country a secret. So, perhaps, the Brest woman will appear on the pages of other fashionable glossy magazines. By the way, in the modeling agency of Sergei Nagorny there are quite a few women from Brest who also take part in various photography in Belarus and abroad. Perhaps one of them will join the list of world-famous models from Belarus, such as Yekaterina Domankava, Zhenya Katova, Stasha Yatchuk ...