TikTok creator and model @Khorshid came to Korea with a pretty straightforward plan: spend three months in the country, attend castings, and hopefully turn those castings into actual modeling jobs.
Simple enough, right?
Well…not exactly.
After documenting her experience on TikTok, Khorshid is now finding herself in that awkward little space between “I’m living my Korean modeling dream” and “why has nobody booked me yet?”
And naturally, TikTok has opinions.
Lots of them.
She Came to Korea to Model, But the Bookings Aren’t Exactly Pouring In
On July 21, Khorshid opened up about what her casting experience had been like since arriving in Korea. She said she had only one casting during her first week, followed by five castings on Tuesday, while having nothing booked for Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday. The video quickly picked up steam, racking up more than 130,000 views.
She went on to ask whether the lack of consistent castings was normal for someone new to the Korean modeling scene, and whether clients had offered any feedback on what she could improve.
“Since I arrived, I’ve had one casting last week, five on Tuesday this week, but none on Monday, today, or tomorrow.”
She followed that by asking:
“I was just wondering if this is normal at this stage, or if there’s any feedback from clients or anything I could improve.”
Honestly, that’s probably one of the more reasonable questions a new model can ask.
Because five castings sounds fantastic until you remember the very important distinction between getting seen and getting hired.
You can spend hours getting ready, traveling across Seoul, meeting a client, taking photos, trying on clothes, smiling politely, and doing the whole model thing, only to walk away with absolutely nothing. No campaign, no paycheck, and sometimes not even a response afterward.
Khorshid has been documenting that reality with videos like her “Get Ready With Me for 5 Casting Day,” showing viewers the preparation that goes into what can ultimately amount to a whole lot of waiting.
And then there was the slightly more self-aware TikTok where she danced while the text on screen read:
“When I posted a Tik Tok saying I moved to Korea to model and people are telling me to just go home (I haven’t booked a single job yet).”
At least she’s taking the criticism with a sense of humor. Because apparently some people saw “I moved to Korea to model” and immediately translated it into “I should already have a campaign on a billboard in Gangnam.”
Who Is Khorshid?
For those who haven’t been following Khorshid before her Korean modeling experiment, @Khorshid is a fashion model represented by Montage Models in Montreal and scouted by Sarah Scouts Models. She stands at 5’8″ (173 cm), with dark brown hair and brown eyes, and lists measurements of 32″ bust, 23″ waist, and 34″ hips.
Her representation also gives this whole Korea situation a little more context. Montreal-based Montage Models, established in 1990, is an established Canadian modeling and talent agency representing women, men, and curve talent, with an emphasis on developing models and placing them with fashion brands internationally.
In other words, Khorshid isn’t exactly a random TikToker who decided to fly to Seoul with a suitcase and declare herself a model. She already has professional representation and is pursuing modeling as an actual career.
The Comment Section Has Become an Unofficial Modeling Focus Group
If there is one thing TikTok loves, it is diagnosing a stranger’s career from a comment section.
Khorshid’s videos have produced plenty of theories about why she hasn’t booked yet, and some of the comments are surprisingly revealing about how people perceive the Korean modeling industry.
One commenter offered the blunt assessment:
“You are gorgeous, but they mostly want blond mediocre, cutsie girlies.”
Khorshid’s response was:
“Time to go blonde🏃🏻♀️➡️🏃🏻♀️➡️”
Honestly, points for committing to the joke.
But that comment also illustrates one of the stereotypes surrounding foreign models in Korea: the idea that Korean brands are primarily searching for one very specific type of Western-looking woman. The “blonde, cute, approachable foreign girl” has certainly been a recognizable commercial archetype, particularly in advertising and lifestyle content aimed at Korean consumers.
However, treating that as the entire Korean modeling industry would be just as inaccurate as pretending appearance and beauty standards play no role at all.
The Korean fashion and advertising markets are much broader than the stereotypical image of the foreign blonde model. There is editorial fashion, e-commerce, beauty advertising, hair campaigns, commercial work, lifestyle advertising, sports and fitness, social media campaigns, runway work, and international brands operating in Korea. Different clients are looking for very different faces.
That distinction is important because a model can be objectively attractive and still not be what a particular client is searching for.
In modeling, “beautiful” isn’t really the job description. “Fits the brief” is.
Another Commenter Pointed Out That Korea’s Market Is Changing
Interestingly, another commenter pushed back on the idea that Korea only wants one particular type of foreign model.
They wrote:
“Starting to see a lot of black models in Korean ads to as well southeast Asians, and even elderly models ,., must be kinda hard for models, the look is becoming more diversified.”
That may actually be one of the more useful comments in the entire discussion.
Korean advertising has become more visually diverse over the years, particularly as brands compete for international audiences and Korean companies increasingly market themselves globally. Foreign faces are not limited to one narrow category, and Korean brands have increasingly used models with different ethnicities, ages, body types, and aesthetics depending on the campaign.
That doesn’t mean Korea has suddenly abandoned its beauty standards. It hasn’t.
It simply means that the market isn’t one giant casting call for the same face.
And that makes it even harder to determine from the outside why a particular model isn’t booking.
Maybe Khorshid’s look isn’t what a particular client wants. Maybe another model’s portfolio is stronger. Maybe the client needs someone with Korean campaign experience. Maybe the campaign is looking for a specific demographic. Maybe her agency needs more time to get her in front of the right clients.
Or maybe the casting director just liked somebody else.
That last possibility is probably the least exciting for TikTok, but it is also one of the most normal explanations in modeling.
Then Someone Brought Up the Skinny Issue
And then came another comment that was arguably a little more pointed.
One commenter replied to a discussion about Khorshid’s lack of bookings:
“Not to be mean, but you’re a healthy skinny guy, so that might be why.”
Khorshid responded by jokingly photoshopping herself to look dramatically thinner.
Obviously, the exaggerated Photoshop was meant as a joke. But the joke hits a little closer to reality than some people might want to admit.
Thinness is not an imaginary factor in Korean beauty culture. Korea has historically maintained very narrow expectations surrounding women’s bodies, particularly in entertainment, fashion, and celebrity culture. Certain sections of the modeling industry can be especially particular about measurements and proportions, depending on the type of work.
That doesn’t mean Khorshid isn’t booking because she isn’t skinny enough. There is absolutely no evidence to establish that.
But the commenter isn’t completely inventing the existence of body expectations either.
And this is where Khorshid’s Photoshop response becomes interesting. She took the comment to an absurd extreme, essentially turning herself into a caricature of what someone might imagine a “perfect” ultra-thin model to look like.
The joke works because there is a real conversation underneath it: how much are clients actually looking for a particular body type, and how much does that matter compared with everything else?
The answer will vary from client to client, which is precisely why reducing Khorshid’s lack of bookings to her weight would be lazy.
Modeling isn’t a mathematical formula where tall + pretty + skinny automatically equals employment. A client can have a very specific concept, and sometimes a model who doesn’t look like the stereotypical “ideal” can be exactly what they want.
“Maybe I Should Go Blonde?”
The blonde comment and Khorshid’s response also touch on another issue foreign models can encounter when working in Korea: the temptation to start changing themselves based on every opinion they hear.
When the bookings aren’t coming, it becomes very easy to start wondering whether the problem is your hair, makeup, body, facial features, portfolio, clothes, or overall image.
Suddenly, every TikTok comment becomes potential career advice.
One person says go blonde. Another says you’re too thin. Someone else thinks you need a different makeup style. Another person says you don’t fit Korean beauty standards. Eventually you’re left wondering whether you need a completely new face before your next casting.
That is probably why actual feedback from agencies and clients is much more valuable than random TikTok commentary.
And Khorshid specifically asked whether there was feedback from clients about anything she could improve, which suggests she understands that distinction.
The problem is that clients don’t always give detailed feedback after a casting. Sometimes the model simply doesn’t hear anything back.
And silence can be incredibly difficult to interpret.
Someone With Firsthand Experience Told Her to Be Patient
Buried among the usual TikTok hot takes was a comment from someone who claimed to have experienced the Korean modeling industry herself.
She told Khorshid:
“i feel you girl. when i came to korea for the first time (aug/sept) it was my first ever contract. for me personally the jobs and castings picked up during my second month there. after that, when i got more photos from jobs to my book, clients booked me regularly. with this industry i think its best to be patient”
This may have been the most useful comment Khorshid received.
Instead of telling her she doesn’t fit the Korean beauty standard or that she should go home, this person essentially said: give it time.
And there is a reason that advice makes sense.
A model entering a new market doesn’t necessarily have an established book of local work. Even if the model has professional photos and experience elsewhere, Korean clients may want to see how that person photographs in Korean campaigns, what kinds of jobs they have done locally, and whether their look translates to the type of work the client is hiring for.
One Korean job can potentially help lead to another because it gives the model new portfolio material and demonstrates that she has already been selected by someone in that market.
In other words, the first booking can be the hardest one.
That doesn’t mean every new model eventually reaches the point where clients are “booking them regularly,” but the comment is a useful reminder that Khorshid is still early in the process.
Then Someone Had to Mention the Money
Because apparently we can’t have a conversation about modeling in Korea without someone bringing up the paycheck.
One commenter warned:
“Heads up Korea doesn’t pay much or they either take months to pay you”
Khorshid’s response?
“it’s okay we here for the vibes”
Girl.
The vibes are apparently doing unpaid labor.
But underneath the joke is another important reality about modeling abroad: getting work and making money are two separate questions.
Even when models do book campaigns, payment schedules, agency commissions, expenses, and the amount of work available can make the financial reality very different from what social media suggests. A foreign model may spend considerable time traveling to castings and working on jobs without having a predictable stream of income.
The TikTok version is GRWM, casting, Seoul cafe, cute outfit, booked.
The actual version can involve getting ready before sunrise, crossing the city for a casting, waiting around, going to another casting, hearing nothing back, and doing it again the next day.
Very glamorous.
Her Agency Is Actually the One Who Brought Her to Korea
Another commenter asked a question that provides important context:
“Did your agency move you or you move on your own?”
Khorshid clarified:
“Agency moved me!”
That detail matters.
She’s not simply a foreigner who independently bought a plane ticket to Seoul and decided she would try to become a model. According to Khorshid, her agency brought her to Korea.
That means there was presumably already a professional relationship and some expectation that she would be available for modeling opportunities.
It also makes her question about the lack of bookings more understandable.
If an agency has relocated you to a new market, it is natural to wonder whether the amount of casting activity you’re experiencing is normal, whether your availability is being maximized, and whether there is something you should be doing differently.
Of course, an agency getting a model into castings cannot force a client to book them. The final decision still belongs to the client.
But it does mean Khorshid isn’t exactly navigating this completely alone.
The “Just Go Home” Crowd Needs to Relax
Perhaps the funniest part of all of this is the people telling her to simply leave Korea because she hasn’t booked yet.
Imagine arriving in a new country, being there for a relatively short amount of time, attending multiple castings, and strangers online deciding that Seoul has officially rejected you.
That seems a little premature.
Khorshid has said she plans to be in Korea for three months. She is already attending castings, and someone with firsthand experience has told her that their own work didn’t really pick up until the second month.
If she reaches the end of those three months without meaningful work, then it would certainly be reasonable for her to reassess whether Korea is the right market for her.
But she’s nowhere near that point yet.
Right now, she’s basically doing what new models are expected to do: show up, audition, build relationships, learn the market, and hope one casting eventually turns into the booking that opens the next door.
The Korean Modeling Industry Is More Complicated Than “You Don’t Fit the Beauty Standard”
This is probably where the conversation needs a little more nuance.
It is tempting to explain Khorshid’s lack of bookings by saying she doesn’t fit Korean beauty standards, particularly because she appears to have a look that is different from the stereotypical image some people associate with Korean commercial beauty.
But “Korean beauty standards” is not one universal checklist that every casting director uses.
Korean beauty culture can absolutely influence advertising and casting, particularly in industries where conventional Korean beauty ideals are central to the product being sold. But modeling is ultimately commercial. A client is looking for someone who fits a specific campaign, and that campaign can demand a very different aesthetic from the next one.
There is also a difference between fashion modeling and commercial modeling. High-fashion clients may actively want unusual or distinctive features, while a beauty company may want a very specific approachable image. A sportswear brand may care more about physique and movement. An e-commerce company may simply need someone who photographs well in clothes.
A model can therefore be “wrong” for one casting and perfect for another.
That is why it would be unfair to look at Khorshid’s current situation and declare that Korea doesn’t like her look.
We simply don’t know that.
But the Reality Check Is Still Interesting
At the same time, Khorshid’s experience does highlight something that social media tends to gloss over.
Moving to Korea because you want to model there is not the same thing as becoming a working model in Korea.
There is a huge difference between being able to get castings and being able to consistently book jobs.
And there is an even bigger difference between booking jobs and actually making enough money to sustain yourself.
Social media tends to compress all of those steps into one cute narrative: I moved to Seoul to model.
The reality is considerably messier.
You need an agency or reliable industry connections. You need a portfolio that appeals to the local market. You need to understand what types of jobs are available. You need to be prepared for rejection. You need to deal with inconsistent work. You may need to adapt your presentation. And you need enough patience to survive the stretches where nothing seems to be happening.
Khorshid appears to be somewhere in the middle of that process right now.
So, Is She Doing Something Wrong?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
And that’s the frustrating part.
She herself seems to be asking the right question by wondering whether clients have given feedback or whether there is something she could improve. That is much more useful than simply assuming every rejection means the industry is biased against her.
But she also shouldn’t necessarily take every TikTok comment as gospel.
The person telling her to go blonde may be right for one specific type of campaign and completely wrong for another. The person saying she’s too big or too thin may have absolutely no idea what clients are actually requesting. The person saying Korean clients only want a certain type of foreign girl is relying on a stereotype. And the person telling her to go home after a few weeks probably needs to find a hobby.
The firsthand account from another model is arguably much more useful: sometimes the work simply takes time to pick up.
And if Khorshid’s agency continues sending her to castings, that suggests she is at least getting opportunities to be considered.
Three Months in Seoul: Let’s See What Happens
Ultimately, Khorshid has given herself three months in Korea, and right now she’s still in the early portion of that experiment.
She could start booking regularly once she gets more Korean work into her portfolio. She could discover that the market isn’t as compatible with her look as she expected. She could make adjustments to her presentation, get a few campaigns under her belt, and suddenly have a completely different experience by month three.
She could even go blonde, just to make TikTok happy.
But that’s the part that makes her content worth watching. Instead of presenting the polished fantasy of “I moved to Korea and became a model,” she’s showing the considerably less glamorous part where you’re getting dressed for five castings and still haven’t booked a single job.
And honestly, that is probably more representative of modeling than the fantasy.
Because being tall and pretty may get you through the door, but getting booked is an entirely different game.
For now, Seoul hasn’t exactly said no to Khorshid. It has simply given her the most annoying answer possible:
“We’ll see.”
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