Plus size modelling in Australia has quietly become one of the fastest-growing segments of the local fashion industry, and frankly, it’s about time. For years, curve models were treated as an afterthought by agencies that didn’t know what to do with them. That’s changed. Australian brands are now actively scouting curve talent, day rates have climbed to match straight-size bookings, and the work pipeline has never looked healthier.
If you’re a size 12 and above and you’ve ever wondered whether there’s a real career waiting for you in front of the camera, the short answer is yes. The longer answer is what this guide is for. At Hunter Talent, we manage adult talent across every size, shape, and background, and we’ve watched the plus size category transform from “niche” to “non-negotiable” for any brand wanting to stay relevant in 2026.
What Is Plus Size Modelling in Australia?
Plus size modelling, also called curve modelling, refers to commercial and editorial work booked through models who sit above the traditional straight-size range. In the Australian market, this typically starts at size 12 and extends through size 24 and beyond, though the definition has loosened significantly in the last five years.
The category covers everything from catalogue shoots for major department stores to high-fashion editorials, swimwear campaigns, activewear brand ambassadorships, and runway work during Australian Fashion Week’s dedicated curve showcases. It’s no longer a separate-but-smaller corner of the industry. Curve bookings now sit alongside straight-size bookings on the same casting briefs, often with the same budgets attached.
What’s shifted is the client expectation. Brands aren’t casting plus size models as a diversity checkbox anymore. They’re casting because their customers are plus size, their sales data backs it up, and their marketing teams have finally caught up to reality. Hunter Talent has noticed a genuine uptick in briefs where agencies are specifically requesting a mix of sizes across the same campaign, rather than siloing curve talent into separate shoots.
What Sizes Are Considered Plus in Australian Modelling?
Here’s where things get interesting, and slightly confusing. Australian plus size modelling generally begins at a size 14, though many agencies and clients start the bracket at size 12. The upper end has expanded dramatically. Five years ago, size 18 was considered the cap for most commercial work. In 2026, we regularly book models sizes 20, 22, and 24 for major campaigns.
The technical breakdown looks roughly like this:
- Size 12-14: Often called “in-between” or “mid-size” in the industry. Highly versatile and frequently booked for mainstream commercial work.
- Size 14-18: The core commercial plus size range. Most department store catalogues, e-commerce, and lookbook work falls here.
- Size 18-22: Expanding rapidly. Specialist curve brands and inclusive campaigns are driving demand.
- Size 22+: Still a smaller pool of talent, but growing, with body-positive labels and international clients leading the charge.
Height requirements are more flexible than straight-size modelling. Where traditional fashion demands 175cm and above, plus size clients regularly book models from 168cm upwards, especially for commercial and e-commerce work. Runway and editorial still lean taller, but the gap is closing.
What Work Is Available for Plus Size Models?
The work available to plus size models in Australia falls into several clear categories, and most successful curve models rotate between all of them rather than specialising in just one.
Commercial and catalogue work is the bread and butter. Department stores, online retailers, and fashion labels produce thousands of e-commerce images every month, and they need models who represent their actual customer base. This is consistent, well-paid work that can run four or five days a week for established talent.
Editorial shoots for magazines and online publications offer lower pay but significant portfolio value. Landing an editorial in a respected title instantly elevates a model’s marketability for higher-paying commercial bookings.
Swimwear and lingerie is booming. Australian swimwear brands have woken up to the fact that their biggest customers aren’t size 8, and the resulting campaigns have become some of the most lucrative in the curve category.
Runway work, particularly during Australian Fashion Week and for brands hosting standalone shows, continues to expand. Curve-inclusive runways are no longer rare.
Brand ambassadorships represent the biggest earning potential. When a brand signs a plus size model as the face of their campaign for 6 or 12 months, rates can run into five and six figures depending on usage and exclusivity.
Television commercials, content creation, and social media partnerships round out the mix, with many curve models building substantial secondary income through brand collaborations on their own platforms.
Which Australian Brands Hire Plus Size Models?
The list of Australian brands actively booking plus size talent has grown dramatically, and the names on it might surprise you. A decade ago, curve-specialist labels were the only reliable clients. Today, mainstream brands are competing for the same talent pool.
City Chic remains one of the largest dedicated curve retailers in the country and books consistently across e-commerce, campaign, and editorial work. 17 Sundays has built its entire brand identity around inclusive sizing and runs multiple shoots a month. Sara has expanded its curve division significantly and frequently casts Hunter Talent models for its seasonal campaigns.
Beyond the curve specialists, mainstream Australian labels including major department stores, activewear giants, swimwear labels, and denim brands have all introduced or expanded their plus size offerings. Many now require every campaign to include curve representation as standard. The result is a booking landscape where a plus size model can realistically sustain a full-time career without ever leaving Australia.
International clients with Australian offices also cast locally, and the rise of remote casting via self-tape has opened doors to European and American bookings for Australian-based curve talent. Hunter Talent has placed models with overseas clients who wouldn’t have considered the Australian market five years ago.
How Much Do Plus Size Models Earn in Australia?
Pay scales for plus size modelling in Australia now broadly match straight-size rates, which wasn’t the case even a few years ago. The gap has closed because the demand has caught up.
A typical e-commerce day rate for an experienced plus size model sits between $800 and $1,500 per day, depending on the client and usage terms. Lookbook and catalogue shoots fall in a similar bracket. Editorial work pays less, often between $300 and $800 for a full day, but the portfolio value makes it worthwhile.
Campaign and advertising work is where serious money starts. A single campaign booking with broad usage rights can pay anywhere from $3,000 to $15,000 for one or two days of shooting. Brand ambassador contracts running over several months regularly land between $20,000 and $100,000 depending on the scale of the brand and the exclusivity clauses involved.
Social media content, television commercials, and runway work add further income streams. A full-time working plus size model in Australia can realistically earn between $80,000 and $250,000 a year, with top-tier talent pulling in significantly more through a combination of bookings and long-term brand partnerships.
The Australian plus size fashion market itself has grown substantially year on year, and that growth translates directly into booking volume. Brands are spending more, shooting more, and paying more competitively than ever.
How Is Plus Size Modelling Different from Straight Size?
The fundamentals are identical. You still need to know your angles, take direction well, show up prepared, and treat every booking like the professional engagement it is. What differs is more subtle.
Plus size modelling places even more emphasis on confidence on camera. Brands booking curve models are almost always selling a body-positive message alongside their product, and clients can spot insecurity in a frame immediately. The models who thrive are the ones who genuinely own their bodies in front of the lens.
Measurements matter differently. Straight-size models are expected to maintain very specific measurements across hips, waist, and bust. Plus size models have more natural variation, but consistency still counts. Clients book based on current measurements, and dramatic fluctuations create problems when campaigns are shot months apart.
The casting process is often faster. The pool of established plus size talent is smaller than straight-size, which means agencies with strong curve rosters tend to get called first. Once you’re signed to the right agency, the work can start coming quickly.
1. Get Honest About Your Measurements
Before you do anything else, take accurate measurements of your bust, waist, hips, and height. Don’t guess. Don’t estimate. Agencies need real numbers, and if you submit measurements that don’t match what walks through the door, it wastes everyone’s time. Measurements will change slightly over time, and that’s fine, but your starting point needs to be truthful.
2. Build a Basic Set of Digitals
You don’t need a professional portfolio to apply to an agency. What you need are clean, unedited digitals. These are simple photos taken against a plain wall in fitted clothing, showing your face, full body front, full body side, and full body back. No filters. No heavy makeup. No dramatic poses. Agencies want to see you as you actually are so they can judge your potential.
3. Research Agencies Properly
Not every agency handles plus size talent well. Some treat curve as an afterthought, slot you into a tiny roster, and forget about you. Look for agencies with established curve divisions, active client lists, and visible results. Check their social media for recent bookings. See which brands their models are working with. Hunter Talent’s roster and recent work is publicly visible for exactly this reason.
4. Submit Your Application
Once you’ve found agencies that genuinely represent plus size talent, submit your application through the proper channels. Most reputable agencies have a dedicated application form on their website. Don’t message them on Instagram. Don’t cold email the founder. Fill in the form, attach your digitals, and wait for a response. Agencies review submissions constantly, and the professional route always works faster.
5. Prepare for Your Meeting
If an agency likes what they see, they’ll invite you in for a meeting. Dress simply. Minimal makeup. Bring your ID. Expect to have polaroids taken on the day. They’ll want to talk to you about your availability, your goals, and your existing commitments. This meeting is as much about personality fit as it is about measurements, because agencies are signing you for years, not weeks.
6. Invest in a Test Shoot
Once you’re signed, your agency will likely arrange a test shoot to build your portfolio. This is where a quality photography partner makes all the difference. POP Photography, part of the Hunter Talent family, runs test shoots designed specifically to generate commercial-ready images for new talent. A strong portfolio means stronger submissions to clients, which means more bookings. This stage is not optional if you want to work at a professional level.
7. Say Yes, Show Up, and Learn on Set
Once the bookings start coming, the real work begins. Say yes to everything you can, even when the rate seems small, because early bookings build the relationships that lead to bigger ones. Show up on time, every time. Watch experienced models on set and learn from them. The models who build long careers in plus size are the ones who are easy to work with, not just the ones who look good in frame.
Why Hunter Talent for Plus Size Modelling
Hunter Talent represents adult talent across every size and background, and our curve roster is one of the most active in the country. We work directly with the brands driving the plus size market in Australia, and our model management approach means our talent gets real bookings, proper support, and fair rates. We’re not interested in signing hundreds of models and hoping some of them book. We sign curve talent we believe we can work with, and we put the effort in to make sure they succeed.
If you’re ready to find out whether plus size modelling is a real career for you, the next step is simple. Head to become a model and follow the application process. We review every submission personally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need modelling experience to get signed as a plus size model?
No. Most of the curve talent we sign at Hunter Talent has no prior experience. Agencies are looking for potential, presence, and the right measurements, not a finished portfolio. Experience is something we help build after signing.
Is there an age limit for plus size modelling in Australia?
Hunter Talent represents adult talent from 18 upwards, and there’s genuinely no upper age limit. The curve market books models in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s, particularly for lifestyle and commercial campaigns where brands want their models to reflect their actual customer base.
What happens if my size changes after I’m signed?
Sizes change, and agencies understand this. What matters is that your agency knows your current measurements so they can submit you for the right jobs. Communicate any changes early and honestly, and your bookings will adjust around them.
Do I need to live in Sydney or Melbourne to work as a plus size model?
Being based in a major city helps with in-person bookings, but it’s not essential. Self-tape casting has changed the industry, and Hunter Talent works with models across Australia. Travel is often paid for by clients when a brief specifically requires you.
How long does it take to start earning from plus size modelling?
Realistically, the first bookings usually come within a few months of signing, assuming you have a strong portfolio and your agency is actively pitching you. Building to full-time income generally takes one to two years of consistent work.
Do plus size models need to follow strict diets or fitness routines?
No strict diets, no extreme routines. Clients book plus size models because they want plus size bodies. General health and consistency matter, but the pressure to maintain unrealistic standards doesn’t apply the same way it does in straight-size modelling. Look after yourself, stay confident, and let your natural size do the work.
