The catwalk is no cakewalk

Staying fit

Staying in good shape is vital to a model's career. Dang says besides working out at a gym, she also plays badminton.

"I wear 10-cm high heels and stand still against the wall with a book on my head for an hour," she says. "My feet have been covered with Band-Aids for years."

For girls in their early 20s, snacking is a necessity. But Dang stays away from snacks because she wants to stay in the best shape possible.

"Modeling is a profession for young people. I studied fashion design in college, and I hope to earn some money before I leave the profession and establish a fashion brand under my name," she says.

"I don't want to be like those models who wait for days without any job opportunities ... The women who model are not anything like what people imagine. There are many good girls who hope to find their Mr Right and have ordinary lives.

"I hope people can better understand us."

Han Junhong and Zhang Xiaomin contributed to this story.