HOW TO BECOME A FETISH MODEL
by Bianca Beauchamp
WWW.LATEXLAIR.COM



Ever since Bianca’s Latex Lair has come into existence I’ve received compliments on my work, my body, and my passion, and for this I thank you. Sometimes I also get letters from women who congratulate me on my work, but also ask for advice on “how to become a model.” I’ve been asked this question for many years and over time I have been able to identify the ingredients that I believe are needed to become a model. And since I am being asked for this recipe more and more frequently on my forum and by email, I told myself I had better write my thoughts and reflections on the subject of modelling in my diary so that those aspiring models can benefit from them. Unlike the previous entries, this one will be more practical than literary. In order to make things as clear as possible, I am dividing this entry into different categories that will make both my advice and comments easy to find.


1) Why Be a Fetish Model?
First off I have to ask why you want to become a model. I’ll tell you straight up that if money is your main reason, you’re starting your career off on the wrong foot! I know very few fetish models that were able to quit their day jobs in order to focus solely on their modeling careers. I can count those who were able to on one hand. In my case it took several years of investing in my site and my wardrobe before I was able to quit my job and school. I consider myself lucky to be amongst those who can earn a living through fetish modeling. But before getting to this point I had to invest a lot of time, money, and motivation. Which brings me to my second point…


2) The Motivation? Pleasure.
As I said before, if making money is your only motivation for modeling, or your main one, you risk failing. When I started this site I was around 18 years old, I was studying to become a teacher, and I was working at McDonalds. My boyfriend Martin and I have always enjoyed experimenting with our sexuality and it didn’t take long, in fact it was near the beginning of our relationship, before I discovered latex in a sex shop and bought a dress to seduce Martin. That purchase marked the beginning of my passion for latex, but also for photography. Martin thought I was so cute that one day he asked me to pose for him. Though he wasn’t a professional photographer, he liked to take pictures here and there, from time to time. He also had a fine arts background in school, and after seeing some of his drawings; I knew he had the soul of an artist. As for me and my more scientific way of thinking, I couldn’t really imagine posing for him. I was also convinced that it would make me look ridiculous. This fear is something that would return later on. But finally I decided that I would let him take pictures of me one time, and then a second time, and then a third. I posed for him to seduce him, but also to seduce myself. I have to admit that I always had a bit of vanity when I was younger. Finding myself in front of the camera fed my desire to be sexy. And since the photographer was my boyfriend, the photo shoots were very sensual and personal. We laughed a lot, and often ended up both being naked. Hey hey!

When Martin suggested starting Bianca’s Latex Lair, I was afraid that this photo-seduction dynamic would change. I didn’t want photography to become a job, work done in order to make money. We promised that the day we no longer got real pleasure from shooting and that it became only for the money we would close the site. Because the real motivation for becoming a model isn’t money, it is pleasure and a passion for seduction and play. I prioritize my relationship with Martin over my work. Since we often work together it is important that modeling for him remains a game and a passion rather than a job. Martin always said I was his muse. I recently asked him if it was still true, after 10 years of this career. After all, he’s taken hundreds of thousands of pictures of me! And nonetheless he says I still am, and I believe him. This is because in my case, I still am happier to work with him than with anyone else.


3) The Fear of Ridicule
Before posing for Martin I didn’t think that I was photogenic, and felt that I looked ridiculous in pictures. In the beginning, when he would take pictures of me and hang them on the wall, I always ended up secretly stealing them and tearing them up without telling Martin. I eventually accepted seeing pictures of me here and there on the walls, but when I was modeling for Martin I always had bouts of insecurity. I would be posing and criticizing myself at the same time, even before having seen the final result. It was as though while I was posing I was also seeing an image of myself doing it in my head. And my mind would turn the image into something ridiculous. It was this fear of looking stupid that for a long time stopped me from letting my emotions free and achieving the pleasure I spoke about in section 2. Even though I had a strong personality and wasn’t shy I had the tendency to be hard on myself and to criticize myself. I had to do everything perfectly and so if I saw something that was maybe not as good I would put myself down and think I looked ridiculous. One day I came to understand that I would have to work on this fear. I asked myself what it really mattered if I looked ridiculous once in a while? And did I really look ridiculous or just fun? Where did this fear come from? And from that moment on my fear disappeared because I realized I couldn’t always do everything perfectly. Fear of ridicule doesn’t only happen in modeling. It is everywhere around us, preventing us from living life to the fullest. The day I was able to laugh at myself when I looked weird in a picture was the day that I appreciated modeling 100%, and was when modeling became a true passion for me.


4) Making Choices; Making Compromises
At one point I had to choose to believe that I could not only do amateur modeling, but actually make it a career. I had to invest all my meagre savings from McDonalds to buy shoes, backdrops, and clothing. The vision Martin and I had was to make a classically attractive site, but also a very personal one. The hours spent working on were a remarkable investment, and still are today. Once more, if you’re primarily interested in making money, you risk ending up with a site that is a carbon copy of other sites that are already on the Internet. The Lair is nice because of all the passion, time, and devotion that go into it. It has become like a second family for me. As a model you also have to decide on your limits, and respect them. In my case, I didn’t want to do pics with dildos, spread legs, and more hardcore styles. It took years for me to decide to show my breast on the Lair. It is for you to decide what you are comfortable showing. But you should be aware that once your pictures are on the Internet, anyone can find them and use them against you. When I was a student a professor at my university found my site and reported me. I then had to choose between a career as a model, or as a teacher. I don’t regret my decision, but it was still a very difficult one to make. It was my passion for modeling, and posing for Martin, the man I love, that ultimately made me this career over the other one. He then had to make a choice of his own. The choice to believe in himself as well… This career is full of choices you will have to make. There is really no one to guide you, since it is an independent career. Thus you have to rely on your instincts, your tastes, your dreams, your desires, etc.


5) Your Body
By far, the question I am asked most often is how I stay fit. Well my friends, there aren’t any secrets. You have to eat right! And yes, it is sometimes boring to always eat right, but I think it grows on you eventually. This from me, who used to spend my breaks at McDonalds eating Big Macs! Today I rarely eat fast food, when I do it is usually after having gone to a club and having a bit too much to drink, oops. Otherwise I stick to chicken, salads, and fruits and vegetables. I really like eating while watching a movie; it’s like a tradition. Therefore, I make a point of avoiding chips and chocolate, instead choosing cherries, oranges, or nuts; things that are healthy and light. I also prefer to have many small meals throughout the day instead of three large ones. When I eat bread or pasta, I opt for whole wheat, etc. It’s not that hard, just a question of habit.

What’s hardest for me is not on the diet side, but rather the exercise side. I am not very sporty, but I know that I have to combine good nutrition with exercise. This is why I go to the gym 3 to 4 times a week. I do an hour of free weights and a half hour of cardio. Sometimes I lack motivation, which is why if you can afford it, it is a good idea to get a personal trainer who can accompany you for your whole workout and make sure you do the exercises correctly.

However, don’t think that to be a fetish model you have to be skinny. This isn’t a Christian Dior fashion show! Besides, I think too skinny girls are not very attractive. So don’t be afraid of your curves! Working out and eating right are mostly important for your health, not your career. I am 5’2” and weigh 120 lbs. I once weighed 103 lbs, and yet still thought I was fat. It is very easy to become overly critical and compare yourself to others when you are a model. But don’t compare yourself. Every woman is different, and they all have their own beauty. It would be terribly boring if we were all skinny and looked the same! I realized that, and also that I was not very healthy. That is why I chose to start eating right and working out. It isn’t the weight that matters; liking what you see in the mirror does. When I look at myself in the mirror, I tend to first see what I don’t like; like most women I guess. But we have to get past that and see what we do like. Nothing is just black or white, it is important to balance your judgement.


6) Plastic Surgery
While we’re on the subject of the body, I want to take the time to address plastic surgery; a subject I am also asked about frequently. So yes, I have had breast implants, twice in fact. The first time was 300cc of saline. Due to having thin skins I ended up with implant ripples and one breast much smaller than the other after a year (needed more CC in one implant), so I switched them for 600cc of silicone in order to get a measurement of 32DD. I also had the bump on my nose filed, which had made me look even more Italian (my Mom is Italian.) The question people often ask me is if I did this for my career. The answer is no. Hard to believe, I know. I’m not trying to convince anyone and you can believe what you want. I did it simply because I did not like my breasts or my nose.

Now for the second question: has it helped my career? The answer is yes. I don’t think I would have made the cover of Playboy Lingerie for example, with the saggy breasts I used to have (I got a breast lift during my first surgery.) You think this is superficial? Maybe, but that is how show business is. To enter this field of work is to understand the rules of the game and accept them, then decide how you want to play. Prejudices will slow you down and will bring you nowhere, especially in Fetish Modeling.

Know this though: if you get a breast enlargement only for your career, you will live to regret it. A career is one thing, but there is life in general outside of that. How are you going to feel when guys whistle at you every time you go get some milk at the store? How are you going to feel when girls talk behind your back and make fun of you? (YES, they DO.) Also, how are you going to react when you go to buy bras or even dresses and nothing fits you because your chest is too big for the size of your waist? What will you do when you can’t sleep on your stomach anymore, even though it is your favourite position? And so on. No, breast augmentation is not something to be taken lightly and I strongly suggest no one get it for their career only. This has to be a personal choice. As a rule of thumb, know that breast implants are for life. Period.

There is nothing wrong with surgery, but you have to know which to get and when to stop. Personally I don’t like lip enhancements. I think 90% of them look fake. So be careful; after all, it is your face.


7) Facial Expressions
Let’s talk about your face. You know, it takes more than just a body to land a magazine cover. You need a good face and facial expressions. Often Martin and I see gorgeous bodies, but there is no expression in the face. For one thing, in my opinion eyebrows that are completely plucked look more severe, and sometimes even masculine. It is really up to you to decide. Personally, I like that less. You should also use your smile; it’s so pretty! Relax your face and have fun. It shows in your eyes. Pleasure, again this pleasure I talk about so much, will illuminate your face and your pictures will be gorgeous. If you aren’t enjoying yourself, it’ll show!

One thing photography does is allow me to show my emotions. For a long time I kept them locked inside because I was afraid of being hurt by people and life. Modeling was for me a kind of therapy where I could open my heart and express myself. I often looked at myself in the mirror when I was angry, sad, or calm. Our facial expressions change depending on our moods. If you know what you look like when you are angry, you can mimic that look in a picture. In certain cases, you have to play with emotion. 2 examples:
  • You are not in the mood to shoot. The cover of Playboy was done at a time when I was very sad because my ferret was about to die, and that ferret was the love of my life (after Martin of course, hey hey.) Leaving him at the vet’s with Martin (yet another choice to make) was one of the most difficult decisions I had to make. But, I decided to go to the shoot since there was nothing I could do here that Martin couldn’t (I was in Montreal and the shoot was in NY.) In the end, I had to fake happiness and seduction, and I think I succeeded...
  • You are shooting a theme. For example, when I play the role of Little Red Riding Hood I don’t make any harsh expressions, but rather mischievous ones.
You might say being a model is like being an actress. That is sort of true, but in my case I generally really feel the emotions that I externalise. It is rare that I don’t feel like shooting but choose to do so anyway. In general if I am not up to it, be it physically or emotionally, I don’t shoot. I do it some other time.


8) Technical Aspects
Once you know your motivation, enjoy your work and have your health under control, there are technical things to keep in mind.
  • For your photographer, do you have someone reliable to work with? If not, you will spend a lot of time traveling around to work with different photographers, and traveling comes with costs! Also, be sure to read model release forms carefully and make sure it is written somewhere when and how many photos you will get from the shoot!
  • Making a web site? It is the best way to be able to finance your clothing and photo equipment. However, you will need to find a good webmaster and they don’t come cheap! If you know how to do it yourself, it’s the best way to start.
  • Work in digital. It will allow you to avoid film development costs.
  • Learn to use Photoshop in order to do basic photo enhancements such as working with the lighting, getting rid of red eye and dark circles under the eyes, etc. Otherwise, find someone who can do it for you.
  • Put together a portfolio of different styles and send them to fetish magazines like Marquis and Skin Two. The more you get published, the more you make a name for yourself and increase site traffic.
  • Exchange photo galleries with other models. It is good for visibility.
  • Take pictures for your site as much as possible, but also take plenty of back-up pictures. Think about it: what if you break an arm or a leg…
  • Try to find a specialty. There are tons of models. What makes you special?
  • Be nice to other models as well as fans. Nobody likes snobby, pretentious people. Be real with yourself and others!!
  • Be loyal to those who help you. Don’t forget the help they gave you!
  • Have fun!
These are the most important points, in my opinion, on how to become a fetish model. Martin has talked about putting together his own guide for would-be photographers. It should be interesting. To be continued… Meanwhile, I wish you good luck and success.


Do you have questions/comments regarding this Diary Entry?
We'd love to hear your feedback in the FORUM!