Redheads are an increasingly rare phenomenon: they make up only 2% of the world's population. If you have red hair and blue eyes, it's even rarer; only 0.17% of the world's population have both.

Due to their rarity, you don't often see redheads in movies, on TV or on the catwalk, but when you do see them, they always make an impression.

Here we take a look at some of the top redhead models.

Redheads in the media
Many redheads face a lot of personal prejudice because of their hair color, and the media isn't exactly kind to redheads either. Male redheads in movies and television are often portrayed as comedic relief rather than serious or sexy characters. Often, redheads who make it into strong leading roles are replaced (Bill in the book "IT" was a redhead, but became a brunette in the movie).

Girls are also regularly cast as villains (Myrtle in Lilo and Stitch) or nerds (Willow in Buffy The Vampire Slayer) and very rarely play a leading role. Redheads are regularly portrayed as overweight and are often shy, nerdy, insecure and unpopular.

However, popular culture is changing. Thanks to the increasing popularity of redheaded celebrities (Ed Sheeran, Emma Stone, Jessica Chastain, Karen Gillan, Prince Harry), redheads have finally been able to break away from typecasting and play more interesting roles.

Vivian in Pretty Woman (played by Julia Roberts) has beautiful thick red curls (which she admittedly hides under a blonde wig at the beginning). Black Widow in the Avengers films (played by Scarlett Johansson) sported bright red locks - although she slowly transforms into a blonde later in the films. Christina Hendricks played a curvy redhead in Mad Men. In the Netflix series Bridgerton, there is a redheaded family, one of whom becomes the main character, played by Nicola Coughlan. The character Gisele (played by actress Amy Adams) in the movie Enchanted has long red hair. Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones (played by Sophie Turner) was a striking redhead. And Emma Stone starred as a redhead in the movie 'Easy A'.

However, all of these actresses have one thing in common - none of them are naturally red-haired.

Fortunately, things are different in the modeling industry these days. Redheads have a very iconic look that is hard to replicate: pale skin, freckles, pale eyelashes and eyebrows. Anyone who dyes their hair has to think about maintenance, which is difficult, costly and time-consuming. Natural redheads stand out from the crowd of blondes and brunettes, which makes their demand skyrocket.

That's not to say that redheads haven't had a hard time finding work in the past. As recently as 2012, agencies were claiming that they didn't have any redheads on their books because there was no demand for them. Fortunately, this has changed over the last two decades and redheads now have a great chance of being contracted and finding work. Today, most agencies have at least one redhead under contract.

Redhead models
What do you have to do to become a redhead model?
Like any hair color, redhead models have to meet the criteria that are set for all models. This means that high fashion models must be at least 6 feet tall and have a dress size of 6-8 and a chest, waist and hip measurement of 34″-24″-34″. Commercial models do not have to meet such strict requirements, depending on the niche they are modeling in.

Due to their light skin, red-haired models must be careful not to have bruises or other marks on their skin, as this could cause them to lose work. Redhead models also need to be more aware of sun damage as they burn more easily; they should apply sunscreen to uncovered areas of skin such as the face and neck every day.

If a redhead model has freckles, they should also take care to protect them. The sun leads to more/larger and darker freckles, which can look very attractive on the face, but can also become blotchy with age or too much sun exposure.

Redheads often have more sensitive skin than other people, so their skincare and makeup routine may differ slightly to protect their delicate skin.

Some redhead models dye their eyebrows and eyelashes to make them stand out more, but some agencies and brands prefer a natural pale look.

Because their hair is so much lighter than brunette models, their leg and underarm hair is far less visible, although redhead models still need to make sure these areas are smooth and hair-free.


Top redhead models
Karen Elson

Cintia Dicker

Lily Cole

Alexina Graham

Julia Hafstrom

Rianne Van Rompaey

Karen Gillan

Kiki Willems

Male redhead models
Marc Goldfinger

Peabo Powell

Ben Bengtsson

Linus W

Why modeling agencies love redheads
- Redheads stand out from the crowd, and most agencies prefer to have a wide range of models to cover all requests from brands.

- Brands like to hire redheads because they really stand out, especially when cast alongside blondes and brunettes.

- Brands try to showcase their products on a wide range of skin tones. Redheads have notoriously pale skin, which can make products appear in a whole new light.

- Freckles have become incredibly popular in fashion. Some even get them tattooed, while others prefer to imitate them with makeup. Natural redheads with freckles are all the rage at the moment.

Brands that redheads love:
- Marc Jacobs

- Dior

- Givenchy

- Louis Vuitton

- Tom Ford

- Yves Saint Laurent

- Chanel

- Valentino

- Victoria's secret

- Versace

- Alexander McQueen

- Jean Paul Gaultier


How to make the most of your red hair
Red hair can be very beautiful, but you need to look after it to make the most of it.

Red hair tends to be thicker per strand than other hair types, but thinner overall (compared to blonde and brunette hair, a redhead generally has less hair on their head). This means that red hair needs a good conditioner to keep the strands moisturized and shiny. There are also hair products designed specifically for redheads to enhance the color and shine.

Red hair can often look greasier than other hair types as it tends to reflect oil more. Hair should be washed and if the scalp is too shiny, a dry shampoo should be used between washes.

It should also be regularly groomed by a professional hairdresser who can cut off split ends and choose a haircut that best suits your face shape.

Some people opt for highlights or streaks in their red hair, while others go for intensive treatments to refresh their red color and make it glow.

Top makeup artists advise against using red eyebrow products as they can look unnatural and it can be incredibly difficult to match the color of red hair exactly. Makeup in general needs to be chosen carefully. It can be difficult to find foundation and concealer shades that suit pale skin, and bronzer can sometimes look too orange.


Famous celebrities with red hair
- Ed Sheeran

- Jessica Chastain

- Julianne Moore

- Bryce Dallas Howard

- Nicole Kidman

- Tom Hiddleston

- Michael Fassbender

- Rupert Grint

- Madelaine Petsch

How to be a redhead ambassador
Redhead models should be proud of their hair and skin and not try to hide it. If a glowing complexion is desired, use fake tan, but don't feel the need to mask or hide a beautiful ivory complexion. Most brands and agencies love redheads who embrace their look and make it work for them, rather than fighting against what nature has given them.

Just like other models, redhead models have to meet the requirements of high fashion if they want to work for designer brands and on the catwalk. This means that they have to meet the required height and body measurements. High fashion models are tall and slim and have an hourglass figure. Catalog models can be a little looser in their body measurements, but they are still expected to be proportioned and have a narrow waist.

If you're not sure if you have the right look to become a model, get in touch with us today. We can advise you on your entry into the modeling industry.