ModelLand

Awesome design and fun visit.

Loved it, beautifully designed.

Metal Earth puzzles

The Instagram and Fever ads suggested I would have the time of my life learning model poses and walks and getting to practice them with real feedback. I thought I would have my picture taken by skilled photographers and I would have lots of beautiful full length photos (not just selfies) and a pint of smize ice cream to take home at the end of my session. Most of that didn't happen. The concept of this is fantastic! The execution is a little lack luster and the venue felt cheesy. The entrance is hard to find and there is no signage at the street level saying go to the 2nd floor. The staff was warm and kind and I could tell they really worked hard to make it great! But the script/roles they have to play are corny. I appreciate their positive attitude but they didn't really teach me anything. The experience's failure isn't their fault. You move from room to room with a different theme and different décor where the facilitator is in character and tells you something about the imaginary ModelLand and inserts 1-2 tidbits about posing that aren't really emphasized or practiced. In the 2nd exhibit 1 participant is told to do the New York pose. But there is no catchy phrase or guide to teaching everyone else how to remember the pose or the chance to try it. The experience felt like I was at a modeling class for 8 year olds held in a midwest mall lead by an lady that use to do live modeling in a department store in the 80s. Another attendee actually said the evet didn't seem up to the level of what she expected to see in Los Angeles and I agree. I paid 49 admission, 30 for the up charge, and 25 to park. Loved the wigs by Kim Kimble in the wig room. There should be signage saying that she designed them though and describing who she is. Kim is one of those often unsung heros of the beauty world and she deserves her shine. I've actually been a client of hers so I know what I'm talking about. The most important thing people want to learn coming to this is how to smize! It is buried in a video in a room after the wig room and the sound of the video was terrible because 6 people are in a room playing a video with sound starting at different times so you just hear chatter. Specifically the part where Tyra describes smizing isn't enunciated well. The presenter that starts the video is loud and clear but Tyra's parts (the only part anyone cares about) are fast and slightly inaudible. I paid the 30 upcharge to buy a highlighter wand and a lip gloss which allowed me to go into a special beauty room to do something special. Before I made the purchase I asked what the surprise was and I was told they couldn't tell me. It would have been much better to tell me it was just a 5 min session about how to apply highlighter so I can decide if it is worth it instead of making me gamble its value. The add on is great for an 8 year old girl who doesn't know anything about makeup but not worth it for an adult on Instagram that knows the basics. The makeup quality was about the quality of Wet N Wild, it got the job done but it felt cheap and I wasn't impressed and I felt duped. The ballet type room where you learn to walk was small and there wasn't really enough room for all in my group to walk. The music ended before each in my group was able to walk so they 2 people felt crummy walking to just clapping and cheers when everyone else got music. HOW TO IMPROVE: I left with tons of selfies but anyone can do selfie's anywhere. It didn't feel special or worth the event. I was hoping for a live photo or boomerang type video of me walking through the runway/tunnel. It would have been nice during the posing walking class if when the camera clicks in the music cameras snapped shots of each participant. It also would have been much cooler if skilled photogs gave each participant a 7-10 min session at the end using all the posing or walking tips and these photos were emailed to the participant. There are tons of out of work photographers that could do this and it would add a lot to the experience. Also the lighting throughout the exhibit was just okay, I had far better lighting at many of the pop ups I went to throughout LA this year (Hermes, Dior, Adidas Gucci, Maisel etc) You get about 2 tablespoons total of ice cream but the marketing shows people leaving with pints of ice cream. The ice cream we were served was hard as a rock, I could tell it melted and was refrozen for a long time. The ice cream also wasn't remarkable and seemed like a random and unnecessary add to the experience. FINAL THOUGHTS: Go to Modelland if you are responsible for entertaining someone aged 13 or under that is interested in Modelling in a fun Build a Bear at the mall type way. Skip it and save your coins if you older or have a real interest in modeling or in getting great pics. You will learn more just hanging out at popular hang outs in LA. PS: I love Tyra and I don't want to kill her business or risk the jobs of the lovely people that work there.

This experience is as not what I thought it would be. This is geared more towards children and teens. I came solo as an adult because the ad made it seem like it was an actual modeling training event but it's actually like a kid fantasy event. Everyone was extremely nice but the characters that they were playing is definitely more of an experience for children and teens. I agree with the previous reviewer. Everything that she said in her review was my exact experience. Even the ice cream was hard as she stated but was tasty. I would only attend this as something to bring your kids to, not if you are actually looking for real modeling help events.