There’s a certain alchemy to casting. It’s not just height, bone structure, or the right walk—it’s presence, energy, and, sometimes, sheer luck. Lorenz Namalata, who’s been deep in the trenches of New York Fashion Week casting, knows this firsthand. This season, the casting assistant had a hand in shaping lineups for designers like Prabal Gurung, Bronx and Banco, and Gabby Garcia’s Tagpi at FILIPINXT. When he’s not scouting the right faces for the runway, he’s running Fatbrain Collective, a Manila-NYC creative agency built by creatives, for creatives. If anyone understands the industry’s moving parts, it’s him.
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The Right Model, the Right Time
“The model can be booked as early or as late in the process, which is pretty wild,” Namalata says. “And by late, I mean, two to three hours before the show, a model can still be thrown in the current cast!”
A casting starts as a general go-see, where models present themselves in front of the casting director. Once a brand’s desired aesthetic solidifies, the process tightens into curated castings. The callbacks—essentially the final hurdle—determine who fits the designer’s vision best.
Casting is a high-stakes matchmaking game: a designer swipes right on a vision, but agency politics decide who actually shows up for the date. “Lead time, budget, what shows are on the same schedule, the casting director’s network, and the brand’s influence—all of these things come into play,” he explains.
A designer may dream up a lineup, but the actual booking process depends on other external factors. “I think that in a city like New York, the right models for any brand or designer exist,” Namalata says. “It’s impossible not to find them when you have about 100+ modeling agencies to choose from!”
A model might be ideal for a show, but if their agency declines due to brand conflicts or a scheduling clash, they’re out. The ones who make it fit not just the look but the moment. Thus, the key for models is to make yourself an undeniable choice.
What Makes a Model Unmissable?
Namalata has been on both sides—casting and agency. He’s seen careers made and momentum lost in the span of a single go-see. “A model who is engaged, receptive, and has confidence can really book a job right then and there,” he says. “Presence is everything.”
It’s not about knowing your angles—it’s about knowing yourself. “Your energy is currency. It’s the way you present yourself, your body language, how receptive you are, and how comfortable you are in your skin,” he says. The ones who stand out don’t try to be what they think the industry wants, because they show up as themselves.
“A model who has their own identity is felt, seen, and acknowledged. That beats the hundred others still questioning their persona.”
– Lorenz Namalata on finding the right model
Every now and then, a model steps into a casting room and changes the entire atmosphere. “It’s amazing when that happens,” Namalata says. It’s not forced confidence or performative coolness—it’s the comfort of someone who knows their presence has significance. “It’s not feeling yourself too much, but the moment they work the room, there’s still that ‘rizz’—the sureness in their look.”
“It’s pretty much like One Direction’s song with a line that goes, ‘You don’t know you’re beautiful, and that’s what makes you beautiful.’” The ones who get it? They don’t overthink it, but they also don’t shrink themselves.
Social Media Is Also Your Portfolio
A model’s Instagram is now as crucial as their comp card. “I honestly thought we all look past that, but alas, it matters, and it matters a lot,” Namalata admits. Clients want to see a return on investment, and a model’s social media presence can tip the scales.
“Everyone checks out somebody’s Instagram for an easier download of who someone is. Aesthetics, presentation, branding—these things are priorities when you work in a very image-driven and conscious world like fashion.”
– Lorenz Namalata on social media’s power
Reputation Travels Faster Than You Do
A model’s name is often spoken in rooms they aren’t in. “Whether it’s your agent pushing for you, a casting director being familiar with you, or a client interested in working with you, your reputation, your social media; it’s more important than you think,” Namalata says.
The trick isn’t curating a picture-perfect version of yourself, but rather being intentional about what you put out into the world. It’s often fashion’s biggest lesson: In an industry where presence is everything, the right eyes are always watching—even when you don’t realize it. Just ask Lorenz Namalata.
Visit the website https://www.fatbraincollective.com to find out how they can help you book a modeling job in New York.
Photos courtesy of LORENZ NAMALATA
