Behind the spotlight, modeling also has a dark side, experienced model trainers have warned, as many parents in Vietnam decide to let their teenage children follow the runway dream.

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“A lot of parents come here to watch what their children are learning,” said Nguyen Phuoc Vinh from the CA3 modeling school in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City. “Because of that, many of them have realized the real value and the requirement for hard work in the profession.”

Vinh said at his center, besides learning runway skills, posing and styling, the trainees are also made aware that the career includes another side behind the spotlight.

According to him, trainers teach their trainees based on their own experience.

The bright and dark sides of the career are also shared to those who dream of being a model so that they can understand the profession fully before deciding if they would pursue it.

Former model Xuan Lan said children are innocent, and if adults force or put high hopes on them, they will suffer the pressure and sometimes have incorrect perspectives on the occupation.

“We deliver to them the real values of the profession so they can appreciate the career and the effort they put in it,” the ex-model said. “There is no promise that they will become professional models or get invited to perform at fashion shows after finishing these courses.”

According to Lan, those training classes should be considered “playgrounds” for them to learn to be more confident or to beautify the way they walk and sit.

“They learn to shine, not to be illusive about their beauty,” she added.

Meanwhile, Lam Quoc Thao, a coach at the Ruby model training center in the city’s District 1, concurs with Lan in creating such “playgrounds” for the trainees to learn skills and relax after school time, and not to solely focus on whether they can pursue professional modeling.

“We only offer career orientation for learners above 18 and introduce them to fashion shows,” Thao said. “The young trainees learn for fun, not to perform.”

He also emphasized that what his center hopes to deliver to its trainees is a realization that stepping into the modeling industry means becoming a public figure.

It requires hopefuls to have enough bravery and passion to stay with the profession.

Also, according to local life skill expert Do Linh, orientations on professions like modeling or acting should be offered carefully.

“In my opinion, we should focus on orienting the young trainees’ thoughts and perspective first,” he said. “When they are in, the orientation will take effect.”

Linh also provided advice for parents saying they should get to know the curriculum and the training team of the center they want to send their kids to.

“It’s very dangerous if the trainees establish thoughts that they should only focus on how they look, not the real value of the profession,” Linh warned.

Meanwhile, Dr. Huynh Van Son, a well-know psychologist, said parents should respect children’s comprehensive development and not “explore” their gift at too young an age.

“It’s important to know basic knowledge of life and society to do any kind of job,” Dr. Son said.

One thing he wanted adults to remember is that children participating in such training do not mean they are guaranteed a future career.

Thus, the most important thing to memorize is not to make children a working tool for adults, he advised.

Teenage modeling is not illegal

According to Trang Le, CEO of MultiMedia, which organizes the Vietnamese version of the "America's Next Top Model" reality show, there is no regulation on which age a model should start training.

“Model contests require participants to be from 18, according to the law,” she said. “However, modeling companies have the right to choose models from several months old for performances, photo shoots or commercials.”

She added that a large number of teenagers have applied for the “Vietnam’s Next Top Model” show, despite being ineligible.

“They have potential and passion while many companies need models, so we really want to offer a ‘playground’ for them to find little models,” Trang said. “However, that’s just an idea because it’s already hard enough to organize a contest for mature models.”

“Little models may have to suffer more prejudice,” she added. “Still, I want to create a safe ‘playground’ for them where they are secured by reputable companies, and carefully trained so that unexpected incidents are less likely to occur.”

Fashion designer Chung Thanh Phong said little models should always work under the supervision of their families.

“The Vietnamese law doesn’t ban little models from strutting with older models, as long as the performing doesn’t offend local customs or violate the rules,” he said.

“Moreover, if families do not support them to be on stage, designers would never dare to invite or let them strut on the runway,” he added.

“I personally think the suitable age for a Vietnamese model to step in the industry is 16,” he said.

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