Red Management / Measuring for your profile
Your measurements.
Clearly recorded.
A flexible tape measure, a mirror and a quiet moment are useful starting points. Learn how to measure height, chest or bust, waist and hips and record them clearly. Follow the agency’s or photographer’s requested method; this guide does not prescribe desired body measurements.
Read the article ↗Explore the possibilities ↓
Prepare a simple measuring setup
Use a tape measure that does not stretch, a mirror and somewhere to record the results. For height, a straight wall without an obstructive skirting board, a flat book and a helper can be useful.
Measure circumferences over thin, close-fitting clothing or underwear you are comfortable wearing. Avoid padding and thick seams. Do not pull your stomach in or hold your breath. Let the tape sit close without pressing into your skin and check that it stays level all the way around. Repeat if the tape is crooked or you are unsure of the result.
Height
Stand without shoes on a flat floor, feet together, looking straight ahead with a natural posture. Ask a helper to place a flat book horizontally on your head and mark the height on the wall. Measure from the floor to the mark.
A high bun or raised hairstyle does not count. Measuring with help is preferable to stretching towards the mark yourself.
Chest or bust circumference
Place the tape around the fullest part of your chest or bust, including across your back. Keep it horizontal and relax your arms before reading it. Breathe normally and do not tighten the tape.
This measurement is not the same as an underbust measurement or bra size. If a particular application specifies a method, follow it.
Waist
Measure around your natural waist, generally the narrower part of the torso between the lower ribs and the top of your hips. Keep your abdomen relaxed and check that the tape does not slope up or down.
The waistband of your trousers may not sit at your natural waist, so do not automatically use it as the measuring line.
Hip circumference
Stand with your feet together and place the tape around the widest part of your hips and buttocks. Check from the side in a mirror that the fullest part is included and that the tape stays level.
Do not measure only around the hip bones. The greatest circumference may sit lower than expected. These chest or bust, waist and hip points follow the ASOS measuring explanation linked in the original guide; a specific brief may ask for a different method.
Record the label and unit
Write each measurement’s name and unit, not just three unexplained numbers. Note the measurement date privately so you can judge how current the information is.
Clothing sizes vary by brand and sizing system. State EU, for example, alongside clothing and shoe sizes. Do not infer body measurements from a trouser label. Keep relevant details consistent across your comp card and portfolio.
A simple note for your own use
Height: … cm. Chest or bust: … cm. Waist: … cm. Hips: … cm. Clothing and shoes: … EU. Measured on: … / … / ….
This is an example for your notes, not a set of prescribed measurements. Include only the categories relevant to your application.
Decide what is relevant before sharing
A photographer or client may need measurements for clothing, styling or practical preparation. Ask what information will be used for if the reason is unclear. Not every profile needs every detail.
A public comp card can use a work name, relevant measurements and a business contact route. A home address, identity document or private phone number does not automatically belong in your public presentation. Do not alter your measurements to match what you think someone wants to read. Current, clear information helps prevent fitting and preparation misunderstandings.
Check before using the results
Have you followed the requested measuring method? Have you kept the tape level and checked again? Does every measurement have a label and unit? Are your information and photographs current? Are you sharing only what this application needs?
Do I need particular measurements to be a model?
That depends on the assignment. This guide does not set entry requirements or ideal measurements. Read what is requested and discuss your presentation without supplying figures different from your actual measurements.
When should I measure again, and what if results differ?
Check before a new application if the figures are old or your body has changed, then update every version of your profile. Keeping a measurement date in your notes helps.
If readings differ, check posture, tape position and tension. Repeat calmly under the same conditions or ask for help. Do not simply choose the number you prefer.
Does my weight have to be on my comp card?
Not automatically. Consider the purpose and what the recipient requests. This guide covers height and circumferences; you do not need extra personal details merely to fill space. Combine accurate information with photographs showing your current appearance.
Adapted from our Dutch practical guide. The photographs illustrate style and presentation. Read the original in Dutch ↗