can petite black women model in Japan?

I was wondering if there are any black models modeling in Japan. I am not the typical type of black woman either. I'm pretty petite and thin, and skin complexion is more of a golden brown. I was just wondering because it seems to me that there are so many caucasian models working in Japan and I wasn't sure if the agencies didn't accept skin darker than caucasians and Japanese.

There are indeed black models in Japan. Dante known as "yosou-guy" is probably the most famous one at the moment.
http://www.remix-model.co.jp/model/dante.html

His agent seems to handle a lot of black women, too.
http://www.remix-model.co.jp/model/woman/kokujin.html

And "mix"ed women.
http://www.remix-model.co.jp/model/woman/mix.html

But apparently, most of them aren't fashion models. I have the impression that they mainly work as extras. Some build their little career by being noticed from working as an extra, and moving on to variety shows and then on to commercials and small acts on films.

But I'm not sure how much money they're making. Probably for most of them, modeling is a side job.

I am a print model (posters, magazines, catalogs etc mostly for seasonal clothes) in Tokyo. Are you interested in that kind of modeling or more the high fashion modeling where you walk the catwalk etc? Oh, are you tall? That is an important factor.

You can do anything you set your mind to. Being hot doesn't hurt either. ;)

I'm pretty short or petite so I could never do fashion or the runway. I am more interested in print modeling involving magazines, posters etc. I am going to attend TUJ in 2010, and I'm aware of students in Japan are not suppose to work or to only work for a so many hours.

Although it's nice to think that you can do anything you can set your mind to, the reality is that models in Japan are expected to be taller than average as well. Although the average is shorter here than in the US or Australia for example, petite women just aren't in demand as models anymore here than they are elsewhere.

I think that what Chrissy is aiming for are the so-called "gravure idols." In that case, your height will not be an issue at all. For example, the star Yumi Adachi is only 156cm. It would be more about how charming you appear in front of the camera. Unfortunately however, I don't see a huge demand of petite black models in Japan. But as I mentioned previously, they do exist.

um, I'm not really aiming for that at all. I know what gravure modeling is. I am 5'0 3/4 and I do weight 90lb. But, I was aiming for just print modeling for catalogs, magazines and such.

You are actually considerably smaller than the average Japanese girl, as you probably know. You could always try, but it's a competitive industry and models here seem to be at least 5'5"- it's basically an industry for taller people and always has been. You wouldn't be the first person who wanted to be a model who was frustrated by lack of height.

Well, I didn't exactly mean bathing suits, but for starters, I think you are too thin to be on catalogs or magazines.

I see. So, what is the required weight for print modeling? I am still not sure about the Gravure idol modeling. But, what else is considered in gravure modeling?

"Gravure" is just a word I thought would explain your needs, Chrissy, to other viewers of the thread. Perhaps not. I'm not sure.

But if you're aiming for any sort of modeling that is meant to show new clothes, then as Sira mentioned, you do need more height.

Either way, I did a very quick search on the interent and found a Japanese website that autimatically calculates the ideal weight per height.

According to the site, you should at least weigh 93.7 lb even if you're aiming for a really skinny super-model figure. To look fashionable and pretty just like the average girls on magazines, you should weigh 97.66 lb and you need to eat 1552 kcal per day. The site calls this the "model figure," btw. The site also says that normally men would prefer girls around 104.5 lb if she were as tall as you are.

Thank you for your advice, it really helped alot. I have another question, If I was interested in gravure idol modeling, would I have to be a B cup size? I'm only an A cup though.

Well, height wise anyways xD
I'm 5', but I'll probably grow another inch or two (if I'm lucky)

Can you please post the site you found that information on, please? Thanks much!

Good luck to all who wants to be a model/actor!

Chrissy, asking if you need to be B cup to pose in bathing suits is like asking if you can model as a petite black woman. It's not impossible, but frankly, the market is small.

But why not think about it anyway? By aiming whatever is at the highest level of your dreams, you can move forward, and then you might find better things along the way. You have to start somewhere. Why not start by dreaming.

And of course you're an A cup if you weigh so little. By gaining weight, you might become a B cup or even a C. Some models say that if you try to squeeze all the flesh you can into your bra, as if to tell your flesh they belong there, they will. So eat and excercise properly, and at least you'll be prettier than you probably already are. If you're just a teen now, you may even become taller.

I see what you mean Uco. I was wondering if you heard of American model, Emily. I think she is pretty fluent in Japanese and is a gravure idol now. But, I'm not going to grow anymore, I'm twenty right now.

Sorry, I don't know Emily, but you know what? I'm in my forties and I still grow about 1 or 2 milimeters a year!

Uco, I don't know about the gravure modeling, I heard that if you have no talent then you might end up in porn or Adult videos. I also heard that some conpanies like ATOP like to trick models in to that sort of thing.

You may still be growing Uco san, but I am 174.5cm, which is exactly what I was at age 14- I haven't grown a millimetre in the last 20 years! My mother is in her mid 50s and is about 3cm shorter than she used to be, so you must just be lucky
(^-^)