Alternative model

A female alternative model with a mohawk.

Greek alternative model Anastasia Rousaki (also known as Absinthia Stacy) poses for a photoshoot which involves strong make-up, coloured hair, and Nunchaku weapons

Alternative modeling is a branch of the modeling industry that features models who do not conform to mainstream ideals of beauty. Alternative models are often niche-specific, with a personal style that represents subcultures like goth, burlesque, latex, and fetishism. An alternative model may, for example, be tattooed, pierced, or have body modifications, or have distinctively subcultural hair such as being shaved, dyed a distinctively unnatural color, or styled into a mohawk or dreadlocks. Alternative modeling can be clothed or unclothed. Billi Gordon, was by far the most successful and widely known Alternative model, whose image spawned a cottage industry [1] Although a male, Hollywood believed he was a female, and played females in Coming To America[2], Married with Children[3], and Fox Television's Women in Prison[4] and In Living Color and the Party Animal [5] appeared on more greeting cards than any other model in the world, and at the height of her/his career was paid $12,000 an hour.[6] Gordon is the only alternative model that was successful enough to warrant representation by the prestigious and exclusive William Morris Agency.[7] Gordon's high-powered agent, William Morris V.P., Elizabeth Fanning, also represented Cindy Crawford at the time,[8] who was also at the height of her career.[9] Alternative modeling was given substantial mainstream media coverage in the last decade, partly through the creation and popularization of community-based alternative modeling sites, like GodsGirls and SuicideGirls. Alternative modeling community sites promoted their models for their personality as well as for their looks and portfolio.

Markets

Alternative models are often employed to promote niche products, either in shops or online, particular subcultural clothing shops and websites.

See

• Alternative culture
• Model (profession)
• Fetish model