Foreign hopefuls attend a casting session for a company promotion in Shanghai. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]

Pozhar said that when he first arrived in China, most agencies had no more than 10 foreign models, but in recent years, the number has tripled.

"A decade ago, winning a modeling contract in another country was like 'Wow! Out of the whole town I'm the one!' However, now it seems that everyone who is young and tall flies overseas to work as a model," he said.

Even though he has worked for several international brands, including Hermes and Christian Dior, Pozhar has often had to compete with younger peers, who are mostly about age 18 and in their best years in terms of looks and body shape.

In some cases, he has endured demanding and unreasonable clients.

"On countless occasions, clients put far too much makeup on my face, which I didn't like at all and spent two days removing. But I cannot lose my temper. If I reject an opportunity, they will still have 100 people to choose from," he said.

There have also been times when he has been hired to model 10 pieces of clothing, but once on set he has been asked to model five more items, without receiving extra pay.

"I have a well-honed figure, so sometimes I am asked to go shirtless, for which I should be paid extra. In most cases I remain silent because I don't want to lose clients or cause trouble," he said.

Models are paid by the hour, so from the time they arrive at a shoot the client and their makeup team urge them to change clothes quickly－usually in about 30 seconds－and rarely communicate about anything else.