Kate Heussler

Kate Heussler is a branding, etiquette, and image consultant based in Sydney, Australia. With over 20 years of experience across the fashion, corporate, beauty, wellness, and military sectors, Kate is the founder of The Institute of Modelling and brings expertise in marketing, digital design, social media strategy, and modern manners. She combines her background in fashion and communications with her ongoing work mentoring teenagers in the Australian Air Force Cadets, promoting confidence, professionalism, and modern etiquette. Kate holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts and Advanced Diplomas in Business, Leadership & Management, and Entrepreneurship. She is a Master Certified Image Consultant with the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and the Association of Image Consultants International (AICI), holding advanced credentials in Colour Analysis and professional presence.

Education

  • Bachelor of Visual Arts (Major: Digital Design & Photography), Charles Darwin University
  • Australia Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design, Charles Darwin University
  • Australia Advanced Diploma of Business, Southern Cross University
  • Advanced Diploma of Leadership & Management, Southern Cross University
  • Certificate IV Entrepreneurship, Sydney Business
  • Certificate IV Graphic Design Foundations, Charles Darwin University

Professional Achievements

  • Founder of The Institute of Modelling and a leading authority in personal branding, modern etiquette and model education
  • Featured as an expert in major media outlets, including News.com.au, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Daily Telegraph, Mamamia, ABC, Body+Soul, Daily Mail UK, and The New York Post
  • Delivered etiquette and branding insights on radio, national publications, and digital platforms, and is regularly sought after for commentary on modern manners, confidence, and the modelling industry internationally
  • Spent more than two decades mentoring teenagers within the Australian Air Force Cadets, receiving ongoing training by the Royal Australian Air Force, where she plays a pivotal role in youth leadership communication and professional development of tomorrow's leaders

Certifications & Organizations

  • Master Certified Image Consultant, Color & Image Institute USA (IACET & AICI Accredited) 2025
  • Working With Children’s Check (WWCC) NSW, Australia
  • Australian Cadet Forces Service Medal (ACFSM), 2022

Favorite Piece of Advice

One of my favourite pieces of advice is to show up as the most intentional and authentic version of yourself. Your presence speaks before you do - your outfit (colour & style), gesture & body language, words and choices should reinforce the story you want others to remember.

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Forum Comments (3)

What is a personal color analysis?
I've been working with the Pantone International Color System for more than 20 years as a graphic designer. Pantone is a color system that's universal, no matter the country or the output, whether it's a beach towel, website color, or clothing item.

Color analysis deals with how color is shown on the human body. It blends creativity and art with science. Think about the difference between wearing red and wearing blue. When you see someone wearing red, they're immediately noticeable, and you don't really know why. This is because red is a symbol of loyalty, of love, of passion, of respect, of power. When you see someone wearing blue, which you'll see a lot in men's suits or women's dresses, you'll instead think of loyalty, leadership, calm, or business settings. When you wear different colors, you ultimately tap into a psychology that most people don't even know that they have.

What I do in color analysis is help my clients choose their best colors to match their skin tone, eye color, hair color, and vibe. Everyone has a unique set. When you wear the colors that are right for you, it immediately makes you more noticeable to others. Others will see your personality, your aura, and your energy. You'll look vibrant, and people will want to talk to you. If you wear colors that aren't suited for you, you look older and more tired. In color analysis, there are 16 different seasons that I'll try to match with your unique qualities, then give you a set of colors that match your given season.
How do you choose what colors to wear in the winter?
For winter, I recommend deep, dark colors that are jewel-toned, like burgundy, jade, and sapphire.
What does it take to become a model?
I believe that every single person on the planet can be a model, but not everyone can work as a model. Ask yourself, "do I want to be a model, or do I want to work as a model?" Make sure you aren't doing this because you feel a need for external validation. Instead, you should have a genuine love of fashion and want to participate in a creative space. The industry can be quite cutthroat, and if you are lacking in self-esteem, it will be very hard for you.

Make sure you know what you don't know. If you're a complete beginner, you'll be far more susceptible to scams — being trafficked, being coerced, and being manipulated — which means you need to be educated. In order to be educated, you need to get into an agency that's trustworthy and reputable, or you need to find yourself a model coach.

The next thing that you need to consider is your finances. When you're starting out, you need to come in with some savings, or you need to come in with a backup career. A lot of people start when they are much younger and living at home, but I started at 24, so I'd already had a significant period of time in a corporate career and had savings behind me to fall back on. It takes you two years to fully establish yourself if you're trying this full-time, so you'll need to make sure you can support yourself for those two years with savings or low costs.

Next, look at things like your health, your fitness, and your wellness. You need to amplify these because your brain, body, heart, aesthetics, and soul will be essential for your modeling career. Once you've dialed in your physical and mental self, you need to start taking photos. Know that you do not need to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a portfolio. The only quality images that you need to start with are called "model digis." I have all these resources on my website at kateheussler.com. Look for comp card curation and model digis.

Find a photographer. Where I'm based, you don't need to pay any more than $80 USD. Get some high-quality digis: a great headshot, a full-length shot, a partial back shot, a left side shot, a right side shot, a full back shot, and a full front shot. From there, submit these to agencies, and don't be afraid to put yourself out there.

Co-authored Articles (10)