Diverse Modelling Matters – more than ever

The 2021 census recently landed on our doorsteps and we were asked to fill in our details again so that we could help form a picture of all the people and households in England and Wales. Once the ONS (Office for National Statistics) gathers all the data in England and Wales, we will know how the population has changed since the last time the census was performed which was 10 years ago. 

The median age in 2020 was 40.5, rather than 35.8 in previous years, according to Statista. Do advertising and marketing reflect the ageing population? Yes!

The ONS states that in 2019, the non-UK-born population was 9.5 million and the non-British population was 6.2 million, making our country more diverse than ever. But are companies marketing these different cultures? Yes!

Why are we talking about this? 

As a UK number 1 modelling agency, Models Direct understands that with the changing population, diversity needs to be at the forefront of advertising and marketing to represent everyone collectively. Are we getting there? Definitely – with our diverse models being booked with top clients such as BBC, Sky Sports and Aviva, diverse modelling is continuing to climb the ladder fast! We want to help this movement by playing our part as a talent seeking agency. We want to continue representing all of the intricacies of society be it someone who has a disability, a 65-year-old lady or a size 20 talent. 

Major brands such as L’Oréal, River Island and Nike have implemented diverse models to connect to their target audience, and it’s worked! Their sales have rocketed and continue to reach a wider audience, capturing more interest. Their campaigns have been successful due to their choice of models where they have captivated consumers. 

We can take further interest in this division by heading over to social media platforms such as Instagram where social influencers such as Tess Holliday and Olakemi are really hotting up the place by being vocal about body positivity. Age-positive models Nicola Griffin, Jacky O’Shaughnessy and Marie-Sophie Wilson are making waves on the modelling scene as famous mature models. There’s an unbelievable amount of potential in this division and every day new faces and new talent are being added and booked with top clients. The diverse world is expanding and we’re on board to help facilitate it!

The takeaway

We’re guessing that our population is continuing to diversify and expand with more age groups, genders, sizes, cultures and disabilities. We’ll only find out the initial census findings in March next year and the final release of outputs in the following March of 2023. We’re sure it will encompass diversity and reveal how rich our population is. 

Are you a budding model or know someone who wants to be one or would make a great model? Get in touch with our professional agency to find out what the next steps are in our registration process or if you’re ready, hit the apply button and fill in our simple application form to get the ball rolling. 2021 could be your year of doing something out-of-the-box, quirky and interesting, and of course, adding ‘model’ as your profession.