Meet 4'11" Petite Fashion Model Marissa Rose.
When it comes to the modelling industry, there's a common misconception that taller is the only way. But 4'11" model Marissa Rose is here to prove them wrong. She's showing the world that height has nothing to do with talent, confidence, and style.
Shortest professional model (female) 📸✨ Wildine Aumoithe (USA) - 72 cm (28.3 in)
7 Sara Sampaio: 5'7”
At 5'8, it's up for debate whether Sara classifies as a petite model, but one thing is for sure: she's one of the shortest models to have ever walked the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Sara recently became the face of Calvin Klein, Balmain, Marchesa, Tommy Hilfiger and Tory Burch.
Petite/Plus Size Modeling
The term petite model refers to a person between 5' and 5'6". Agencies and brands use petite models for all types of campaigns. From commercial, high-street fashion brands who's sizes are for the average-sized consumer to beauty products where height is often irrelevant.
Women must ideally sit between 5'1 – 5'7 and men should be above 5'4 and under 5'9. These requirements may vary an inch or two depending on your representative. The important fact to note is that the industry is full of jobs where height isn't considered to be a vital attribute.
Female measurements: Female models working in commercial advertising can have a variety of measurements, but most are at least 5'6” tall. Male measurements: While a commercial male model can be any size and height, they tend to be at least 5'10” tall.
Thankfully, there are more opportunities for models of all sizes, including models who are too short to qualify for the typical fashion model requirements. One of these niches is petite modeling.
Yoga is great, but the reality of being booked by Victoria's Secret—and of modelling in general—is that most models are tall (over 5'9") and thin.
The shortest professional model (female) is Wildine Aumoithe (USA), who measured 72 cm (28.3 in), and modelled in Brooklyn, New York, USA, on 13 September 2023.
As a rule of thumb with modelling agencies, a teen would need to lie between 5'6” to 6'0” however, meeting these requirements isn't always possible. Should that mean you won't have a chance to even attempt this exciting career? Well, no. Models Direct welcome models of all heights, despite the industry's requirements.
Following Amge's 18th birthday on 16 December 2011, she was officially declared the world's shortest living woman by Guinness World Records with a height of 62.8 centimetres (2 ft 3⁄4 in). Her restricted height is due to a genetic disorder called primordial dwarfism.
The average height of women 20 and older is 5 feet, 2 inches, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Payne is 5 feet, 7 inches, which is considered either tall or small, depending on which friendship group she is with.
You can be 5'7"-ish only if you're 14 years old and still growing — or if you're Kate Moss.) With similarly precious few exceptions (and thus discounting the plus-size sector) to the industry rule, female models weigh in between 90 lbs. and 120 lbs; male models, 120 lbs. to 160 lbs.
You don't need to be tall to become a model. While most models are typically 5'9" to 6", you can still be signed with an agency even if you fall under this height range. Tall models may dominate the high fashion world, but there are plenty of other opportunities out there.
Taija Kerr: Taija is 4'11'' and is represented by Wilhelmina Models.
For female runway models, the height standard has been quite consistent over the years. Generally, the industry looks for female models who stand between 5'9″ and 6'0″, with the average model height hitting right in the middle at 5'9.5”.
The good news is that tattoos are becoming more and more commonplace in the modelling industry. In the past, finding a high-profile model with tattoos was very rare, but these days, many huge names are showing off their incredible body art.
Standing at 72 cm (28.3 in), Miami resident Wildine Aumoithe was recognized as the shortest-non mobile woman in the world in 2021. She was 18 at the time and, two years later, she also became the shortest professional model after starring in Runway of Dreams: A Fashion Revolution during the 2023 New York Fashion Week.
While ZipRecruiter is seeing hourly wages as high as $142.55 and as low as $10.10, the majority of Runway Model wages currently range between $14.90 (25th percentile) to $72.12 (75th percentile) across the United States.
The average height for women in the U.S. is 5 feet 3.5 inches. Genetics initially determine your height potential. From there, socioeconomic impacts—like malnutrition and a lack of medical care—can hinder growth enough that people cannot reach their height potential.