Narrator: These are the feet of a foot model.
But besides having sample-sized feet,
what separates a truly great foot model
from someone with nice feet?
Maria: Honestly, this angle
probably wouldn't be that good,
because the legs look shorter.
The front leg has to be straight
and another one is a little bit bent, like this.
Narrator: These feet --
and the expertise of how to use them --
belong to Maria Sivakova,
who's modeled for brands like Steve Madden,
Sam Edelman, and Bliss.
For me, the largest rate I've ever gotten
doing foot modeling
is about $8,000 for just one gig.
Which I think is pretty amazing,
because sometimes you don't even get a chance
to make that much money as a model modeling clothes.
Narrator: Maria has been a foot model for eight years,
and she books about 10 to 15 gigs a month.
In 2021, that earned her more than $80,000,
not including money she makes from social media.
But what is it about Maria's feet
that make them so photogenic?
According to Maria,
her complexion is ideal for photo editing.
Maria: If it's a photo,
they can always adjust the skin tone.
They can make it brighter
or they can make it darker.
So I'm kind of in between.
Narrator: Maria's feet are also the ideal size.
Maria: It's genetics, basically.
Clients prefer smaller feet
because they look more photogenic.
Like, smaller, cuter.
You definitely need to have size 6,
or 36 European.
Why is it 36?
I guess the samples come in this size,
and they want someone to try the samples.
Narrator: Since the majority of Maria's work
is for shoe brands, her feet are often covered,
which means there are certain expectations
that Maria has to work to maintain.
Maria: They want to see beautiful, long, toned legs
with particular type of shoes,
for example, heels or sandals.
For the last seven years, I've been doing barre class.
So it's kind of a workout routine
that you actually can do everywhere,
at home, when you travel.
This helps your legs not to get too big,
too masculine, but instead you can get more toned.
Narrator: Maria does barre and Pilates workouts
four days a week, even on vacations.
Her workout routine provides the strength
and flexibility she needs on set.
Maria: When I'm posing for pictures,
I have to hold a certain position for a long time.
Like, for example, lifting my legs up for a long time,
it gets really tiring.
My core is really strong.
You also have to be flexible for certain poses.
You have to be able to do a split if they ask you
or stand on one foot for a long time.
So barre class and Pilates,
they help you to balance better.
And definitely a lot of core work.
Narrator: On set, finding the right pose
is a collaborative effort.
Crystal: For a few of the shots,
if you can lift the heel up a little bit.
So, yeah.
Maria: Yeah, like, for example,
if I put it like this, right?
Crystal: Yeah, it's too flat.
Maria: It's too flat.
We do a lot of different stuff.
We jump on the set if we have to.
We run on the set if we have to.
We do stop motion.
We do videos.
So, right now, we're going to recreate a picture
that I've done for Bliss World.
I have to interact with this ball using my feet
and emphasize how beautiful
and flawless my skin is
and elongate them, make them look long and nice.
So one leg is always straight,
and another one is, like, bent in a little bit.
'Cause if it's like this,
then it looks like I have one leg, right?
So it has to be a little separation here.
Narrator: On set, Maria's feet aren't the only thing
that needs to be picture-perfect.
Maria: I always have to make sure
that the shoes are perfect.
For example, adjust the lace
or back of the shoe or whatever it is
to make it look better.
Narrator: After eight years of modeling
and posing with thousands of shoes,
Maria can pinpoint the angles and poses
that best highlight the shoes' features.
Maria: We're shooting a flat shoe,
but it does have a little bit of a platform.
In order to show it and emphasize it,
better to put legs on the side,
so you can see all the angles of the shoe.
Not just the front part,
but also the outside part of the shoe,
which is also very important.
Sometimes I get to wear and try on
shoes that are not comfortable,
and they can create little bruises
and little scratches or redness on my skin.
So that's why makeup for your face
can be a lifesaver
and can take away all this redness in a second.
Crystal: Try folding it in half.
Maria: Sometimes after I shot for several hours,
for, like, eight hours, nine hours,
I need to make sure that blood flow is good
and circulation is great.
So I usually put my legs on the wall
for, like, 20 minutes while I'm watching TV.
So I'm making sure that
there's no tension in my muscles.
Narrator: Maria spends about $400 a month
to keep her feet and legs camera-ready.
Usually, I go to nail salon
every two weeks, every 10 days.
Certain clients, they want specific nail polish.
If it's summertime, they love yellow and blue.
For winter and holiday season,
they like silver, gold, and red.
Sometimes I end up changing my nail polish
several times a week.
After I leave nail salon,
I would wear flip-flops outside,
even if it's very cold,
even during the wintertime when it's zero degrees outside,
because I don't want to mess up my nails.
They have to be perfect.
I have work tomorrow.
If I have to take a cab and drive for, like, five minutes
from nail salon to my home, I will do it.
I can't have any blisters,
so I try to wear sneakers
most of the time, or flats.
Basically very simple shoes.
Narrator: But Maria doesn't spend all of her time
on sets doing photo and video shoots.
In fact, some of her work isn't filmed at all.
Shoe companies hire Maria
to test prototypes of footwear they're developing.
Maria: They need someone to try first samples
and make some corrections on the style.
That's why they need a shoe model to try on the shoe
and give some feedback about the comfort,
about the style.
Sometimes it takes several hours.
I just come to work
and I try shoes for, like, 10 hours straight.
Narrator: Maria also privately models
upcoming collections for retailers
to help them decide which styles
will make it to their shelves.
My task is to try on the shoes really fast.
So when they start speaking about the new shoe,
I'm already in it and I'm already out there
doing my little runaway show.
Narrator: Maria is represented by a modeling agency,
but the amount of work available to foot models
changes from week to week,
and as freelancers, a steady salary isn't guaranteed.
Maria: So it really depends on
how many projects you do per year,
because the more projects you do,
the more money you make.
Narrator: Day rates typically range
from $200 to $2,000,
and in some cases, even more.
And sometimes, Maria's booked at the last minute.
Maria: So this is the challenge of being a foot model,
is to always be ready anytime of the day,
anytime of the week,
and sometimes cancel your plans
for the weekend with friends, if I must.
Crystal: No, yeah. This way is better.
Maria: This feeling is very rewarding.
I like to know that my clients
really care for me, really love me.
They keep hiring me.
They keep asking for me,
and you are the one to get this job
because no one else can do it better than you.
And it's a really nice feeling.
I have my legs out, but my face out --
[laughs] whoa!
Out of the frame. My God.
I can't even. [laughs]