Whether the fashion industry acknowledges this, or not, models are guided to "turn on the charm" with clients. (a.k.a. flirting) It's not just for female models with male clients, but heterosexual (straight) male models know that if they flirt with known homosexual (gay) clients...they increase their chances of getting the booking.
The fashion industry has a large percentage of gay men as clients, but it's not a fact that the male models "must" be gay, too. There isn't the same demand for "men in modeling", so it still is considered to be dominated as a women's industry. With the competition for booking males so high, it's common to see a male model "flirt" with the client.
Some people in the industry call that tactic "Gay for Pay", but some straight male models just want to express that they are not homophobic and they just want to show their respect by being "fun" in their charming way.
I note this about male models because many of them say they are very straight and love all of their opportunities to meet female models. The males can even be considered "hyper-sexual" and "overly-masculine", but they still know how to turn on the charm.
I've gotten to know many male models over the past 2+ decades and many knew how to flip the "straight-flirt" with me to the "gay-flirt" with gay clients. I was confused at first, and yet, amazed that I just didn't know the difference, sometimes! Soon, I stopped trying to guess because there really is no reason for me to care "who" was "what"...I just wanted to ensure everyone (model & client) was being respectful and professional for their bookings.
The fashion industry has a large percentage of gay men as clients, but it's not a fact that the male models "must" be gay, too. There isn't the same demand for "men in modeling", so it still is considered to be dominated as a women's industry. With the competition for booking males so high, it's common to see a male model "flirt" with the client.
Some people in the industry call that tactic "Gay for Pay", but some straight male models just want to express that they are not homophobic and they just want to show their respect by being "fun" in their charming way.
I note this about male models because many of them say they are very straight and love all of their opportunities to meet female models. The males can even be considered "hyper-sexual" and "overly-masculine", but they still know how to turn on the charm.
I've gotten to know many male models over the past 2+ decades and many knew how to flip the "straight-flirt" with me to the "gay-flirt" with gay clients. I was confused at first, and yet, amazed that I just didn't know the difference, sometimes! Soon, I stopped trying to guess because there really is no reason for me to care "who" was "what"...I just wanted to ensure everyone (model & client) was being respectful and professional for their bookings.
