Model mum Cis Aisles has supervised son Mark's modelling career for years, writes KATHARINE MacALISTER. Now 16, Mark began modelling when he was nine and one of his first assignments was for a Korean Harris Tweed advert.

It was filmed at Broughton Castle, near Banbury, in the middle of summer and the models sweltered.

Cis, 47, who lives in Abingdon, remembered: "They brought in snow machines and everything. I thought it was hysterical because all the leaves were still on the trees.

"It was very hard work and involved a lot of hanging around, but Mark enjoyed it. If he didn't, he'd stop. I certainly don't push him into it. I just monitor the situation."

But she added: "I think a lot of mums push their children into it because they like the idea of it. Mark has always chosen what he does."

Over the years, modelling has been a nice little earner for the Abingdon School pupil. He played the teenage son in a Vauxhall Sharan car advert, worked a computer for a technology company and posed for a "Learn English" Turkish book. But Cis warned: "It can be very boring. We often travel to London for a casting, only to find his face doesn't suit the look they want. You don't get paid for that. The other main problem for me is that it can interfere with school work. I have put my foot down now that Mark's taking his GCSEs."

Chantel Rhone, aged four-and-a-half, has wanted to be a model since she was just two. Every morning she bounces out of bed and chooses her clothes for the day. And she won't leave the family home in Balfour Road, Blackbird Leys, until her hair's done.

She loves playing with make-up and when they go shopping always chooses her own clothes.

Her 34-year-old mum Deborah was never interested in the same things when she was young but she is determined to give Chantel her chance.

She said: "I'm deadly serious about it and am keeping my fingers crossed. I don't think it will go to her head if she does make the big time."

Chantel starts school in January, but if modelling assignments take her away for a day here and there, Deborah is not unduly worried about it. The single mum has even joined a local agency to boost Chantel's chances. Anne Johnson, of north Oxford, is also a modelling veteran. Her two children have been on the books of an Oxford modelling agency for four years and they work on about two jobs a year each.

Rachel has mainly modelled clothes for companies such as Mothercare, while Sean, 12, goes on more general assignments. He has recently finished working on an Oxford University Press book.

All the Frideswide pupils' earnings go into a savings account and they do it because they enjoy it.

Anne always makes sure they are chaperoned wherever they go and often takes them herself.

She said: "It's not glamorous at all, standing round for ages with the kids doing the same pose for hours on end. There's a lot of waiting around.

"The kids have to be disciplined to do it because the employers know exactly what they want. And very few actually hit the big time."

The archaeologist warned: "The assignments often clash with my working day so I have to pay someone else to take them, which is a pain. And they have been known to come out of school specially. Employers rarely give much notice."

LONG AND WINDING ROAD TO THE TOP

Agent June Surrage runs the Sparkle Stage Set in Risinghurst. She acts not only for kids on the stage but also for those wanting to get into the modelling spotlight. With numerous advertising successes under her belt June certainly knows what's what.

She said: "Parents never realise it's such a long wait between the first job - if they get one - and the next.

"We take on about a quarter of the children we see. They have to be photogenic with a good personality. They can't get bored easily or be badly behaved, because there is a lot of waiting about at shoots.

"Parents also have to be willing to travel all over the country."

And regardless of how angelic individual children may appear, June is usually approached for a particular look. Advertisers know what they are looking for and detail the weight, age, size and hair colour they require.

"My oddest request was for a baby that looked like Winston Churchill.

"At the moment there is a great need for ethnic children who, ironically, seem to be the ones most reluctant to come forward.

"On the positive side, kids can earn £30 an hour on an assignment which can last from a few seconds to several months. "My advice is to give it a try but be prepared for hard work, patience and disappointment."

*June can be contacted by telephone on 01865 765732.

HANDY HINTS FOR PARENTS

Val Hiett, of the Elliott Brown Agency in Abingdon, offers some cautious words of advice for wannabe model parents:

*A reliable car is essential and kids who suffer from car sickness may be a problem;

*A good wardrobe is vital as clothes are only provided on fashion shoots. Advertising products or services require a model's own clothes, which must be in excellent condition;

*There are no guarantees of the amount of work models get;

*Early starts are routine - and you should never be late for an appointment as you could be liable for the fees of other models kept waiting;

*A child model has to enjoy being in front of the camera and must be able to cope with strangers and strange places, as well as being polite and well-behaved;

*Deducted expenses include travel, wardrobe and haircuts.

*Contact the Elliott Brown Agency on 01235 524617.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.