Those shorter than that can work only very rarely in the commercial market. The fact is that many clients don t much care about the height of their models. Most art directors want rough parity in the height of the models they use. Since most models are on the tall side, it s more likely that another tall model will fit in. So the taller girls can do virtually all the commercial jobs that the short ones can, but the reverse is not true.
Shorter models can only do a fraction of the work available.
That means agencies strongly prefer to carry only taller models on the books. So they want to sign models that can work in as much of the market for their type as possible. And that means taller models. We have one on our books who is 21 years old, but could play the part of a 12 year-old. Everyone tells me I ought to be a model.