Woman who ‘hated’ lengthy fingers now earns £1.8k a day as sought-after hand mannequin
Kitty Wan, 29, transitioned into hand modelling after 10 years as a regular model – and now works with brands like Apple, Starbucks and Walmart earning up to £1,800 a shoot
Kitty Wan used to be insecure about her long fingers – but they are now making her serious money(Image: )
A woman who grew up feeling “self-conscious” about her long fingers now rakes in up to £1.8k a day as a professional hand model. Kitty Wan, 29, has been working as a regular model for the past decade but noticed photographers would remark on her hands during photo sessions.
After discovering an agency specialising in body part models in March 2023, she has since made the switch to hand modelling – collaborating with major brands including Walmart, Starbucks and Apple.
Pocketing up to $2,400 per photo session, Kitty brings home $70,000 annually from this work, which she combines with her role as a UGC content creator.
To maintain her hands in pristine condition, she will “always” apply a hand mask the evening before a photoshoot and carries hand cream, cuticle serum and oil to ensure “everything is hydrated”.
Kitty, from Los Angeles, California, US, said: “I feel like every job in passing when I was a regular model wanted to see my hands – not for a particular shot, but sometimes I’d get hired by a brand and they’d say ‘oh your hands are nice’.
“I always grew up thinking my hands and fingers were long and big. I was definitely insecure about it growing up. I never thought about it but seeing pictures I’m like ‘wow this is why my hands are pretty’. I get booked pretty often at least twice a week I’d say.
“I really loved shooting with Apple, it was an interesting shoot. They’re a big brand and to be a part of it was really cool.” Kitty was taken on by her agency two years ago and ensures her hands remain in tip-top condition ahead of any shoot.
She explained: “The night before I always do a hand mask and the day of I just always bring with me on set hand lotion, cuticle serum and cuticle oil to make sure everything is hydrated.
“But when I’m not shooting I do try to hydrate my hands and be careful with every day things.”
As an avid beach volleyball enthusiast, Kitty must also guarantee she doesn’t damage her hands but maintains she simply attempts to “live my life”.
She explained: “All my friends I play with are aware of it [hand modelling] – I try to still have fun, not tense up or not jam into my friends.
“I try not to think too much, when I overthink it I injure myself.”
When showcasing her unusual career on social media, she discovers her followers are “curious” to discover more about it.
She revealed: “I have a lot of girls reaching out to me saying ‘I think I could be a hand model’.
“I never knew people would be so interested in this but also I get it as it is such a unique job.”
Kitty revealed the ultimate advice she offers for maintaining gorgeous hands is to pamper your hands with the identical attention you would lavish on your face.
