Few people believe in regional modelling in Russia. Nevertheless, sometimes stars are found even in the most unknown cities. An example is Irina Sheik from Yemanzhelinsk (we bet you don’t even know where this place is), Tatyana Churbanova from Orel, Oleg Sedantsov from Penza…You just need to believe in luck, adequately assess yourself and work on yourself. According to the head of the New Look Model Management Tobolsk modelling studio Diana Abigalova, models from regional agencies, unfortunately, are often not interested in either one or the other.
— How did you become head of the agency? Did you model yourself?
— I came to modelling from a competition. A few years later, I had several competitions, modelling schools and good experience behind me. I started to think about working abroad and I continue to tell my story as a negative example of how one refusal at a casting can erase everything. I did not wait any longer for opportunities, returned to my hometown of Tobolsk and began to manage a local modelling studio.
— What are the features of regional agencies? What are the most common problems?
– Low motivation of models and remoteness from large cities to send the model for snaps or tests for example. Moscow appears to be somewhat distant and fabulous. Everyone needs to be accompanied. This is the first thing parents ask for. There are also many distractions: a young man, studies, exams, friends… After the pandemic, we are accustomed to working online and because of this there are many scammers that undermine the credibility of the field and offers. And more importantly there is a long wait for foreign contracts, which often then expire.
— What projects do you carry out in the agency?
— Previously, models could be found at castings, student events, competitive projects. Now we are focusing more on photo and video projects that allow us to almost immediately see the model at work, how responsible she is at events and track punctuality and readiness for work.
Text by K. Mironova
Photo provided by D. Agibalova
