There are different forms of commercial modeling: catalogue, cosmetics, commercial print, product, and swimsuit. Catalogue models vary from height and weight, compared to high fashion models. Unlike high fashion models, commercial models include plus-size models. The size of the model depends on the clothing (i.e. Plus sized models model for plus sized clothing). These models appear in catalogues. Cosmetics models model for makeup companies such as Revlon and Maybelline. Cosmetics models work for television commercials, magazine advertisements, newspaper advertisements, and billboards. Commercial print models promote clothing/products on billboards, buses, magazines and newspapers.

The Association of Model Agents (AMA) says that female models should be around 34-24-34 inches (86-61-86 cm) and at least five feet eight inches (1.72 m) tall and 108 pounds on average. Currently, the height required to do fashion shows has increased. During the last fashion shows in Europe, the average height was 1.79 m, the average weight was 50kg, with bust between 85 to 90 cm, waist under 62 cm, and hips under 90 cm, to fit the 34/36 size of haute Couture prototypes. Average dimensions for a male model are a height of 180-187 cm (5′11″- 6′2″) and a weight of 64-75 kg (140-165 lbs). Male models are also toned and fit as opposed to bulging with muscle.

Supermodels

Supermodels are highly paid, top fashion models. These (usually female) celebrities appear on top fashion magazine covers, in catalogues and in fashion shows. Supermodels are often paid tens of thousands of dollars every day, even for a simple photo shoot (photography session).

The first model to pave the way for what would become the supermodel was Lisa Fonssagrives. The relationship between her image on over 200 Vogue covers and her name recognition led to the future importance of Vogue in shaping future supermodels. Fonssagrives at the height of her career could be both sophisticated and yet a kook, with which every American woman could identify. Her image appeared on cover of every fashion magazine during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s from Town & Country, Life and Vogue, to the original Vanity Fair.

Notable supermodels have included Tyra Banks, Gisele Bündchen, Christie Brinkley, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Heidi Klum, Elle Macpherson, Kate Moss, Beverly Peele, Claudia Schiffer, Karolina Kurkova, and Adriana Lima.