Top Modeling Manga Recommendations

Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu

Also known as The Dangers in My Heart.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

Ichikawa Kyoutarou, a boy barely clinging to the bottom rung of his school’s social ladder, secretly believes he’s the tortured lead in some psychological thriller. He spends his days dreaming up ways to disrupt his classmates’ peaceful lives and pining after Anna Yamada, the class idol. But Kyotaro’s not nearly the troubled teen he pretends to be…and it turns out Anna’s a bit odd herself!



Notes:
- Winner of the Tsugi ni Kuru Web Manga 2020 Award.
- Nominee for the 2020 Manga Taisho Award.

Tags: Heterosexual , School , Male Protagonist , Coming of Age , Female Protagonist , Shounen , Iyashikei , Meta , Chuunibyou , Acting , Modeling

Paradise Kiss

Also known as Paradise Kiss.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance

Yukari wants nothing more than to make her parents happy by studying hard and getting into a good college. One afternoon, however, she is kidnapped by a group of self-styled fashionistas calling themselves "Paradise Kiss." Yukari suddenly finds herself flung into the roller-coaster life of the fashion world, guided by George, art-snob extraordinaire. In a glamorous makeover of body, mind and soul, she is turned from a hapless bookworm into her friends 22 own exclusive clothing model.



Tags: Josei , Coming of Age , Fashion , Female Protagonist , Heterosexual , School , Meta , Bisexual , LGBTQ+ Themes , Ensemble Cast , Love Triangle , Modeling , Time Skip , Transgender , Unrequited Love , Nudity , Found Family , Boys' Love

Hourou Musuko

Also known as Wandering Son.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

Fifth grade friends Shuichi Nitori and Yoshino Takatsuki have happy homes, loving families, and are well-liked by their classmates. But they share a secret that further complicates a time of life that is awkward for anyone: Shuichi is a transgender girl, and Yoshino is transgender boy.



Tags: LGBTQ+ Themes , Coming of Age , Transgender , School , Gender Bending , Female Protagonist , Crossdressing , Fashion , Primarily Female Cast , Bullying , Acting , Seinen , Writing , Yuri , Modeling , Primarily Teen Cast , Body Horror

Helter Skelter

Also known as Helter Skelter: Fashion Unfriendly.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Psychological

If you are aware of fashion in Japan, you must have seen Liliko's face. For the last few years, she has been at the top of the modeling world, with her face and body promoting the biggest brands. But as everyone who is in this world admits, staying on top is a constant and never ending battle. There are always new faces introduced to the public. Younger models and new looks are brought into the fold every season. And keeping that position means learning to adapt and learning to cope with change.

To maintain her position Liliko has decided to go under the knife. This is not her first go with this service. It is yet another round of plastic surgery, all done to keep herself looking young and vibrant. However, in this case just a little nip and tuck was not enough. Liliko is bent on undergoing a full body makeover. From head-to-toe, every inch of her will undergo cosmetic surgery, and thus begins her madness.



Tags: Josei , Female Protagonist , Fashion , Primarily Adult Cast , Philosophy , Tragedy , Primarily Female Cast , Body Horror , Acting , Drugs , Nudity , Revenge , Idol , Urban , Body Image , Police , Modeling , Detective , Bisexual , Suicide , Yuri , Time Skip , Unrequited Love , Work

Himaten!

Also known as Hima-Ten!.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

High school home ec expert Tenichi earns extra money with a part-time job cleaning houses. But one day, Himari, the owner and model of the popular cosmetics brand Hima Riz, transfers into his class. Say hello to some company president girl x house-cleaner boy romantic comedy hijinks!



Tags: Love Triangle , Heterosexual , Female Harem , Shounen , School , Male Protagonist , Work , Primarily Teen Cast , Modeling , Makeup , Food , Nudity

Runway de Waratte

Also known as Smile Down the Runway.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

Chiyuki Fujito has a dream: to become a Paris Collection model. The problem is, she’s too short to be a model, and everyone around her tells her so! But no matter what they say, she won’t give up. Her classmate, a poor student named Ikuto Tsumura, also has a dream: to become a fashion designer. One day Chiyuki tells him that it’s “probably impossible” for him, causing him to consider giving it up … ?! This is the story of two individuals wholeheartedly chasing after their dreams in spite of all the negativity that comes after them!



Note: Nominated for the 11th Manga Taishou Awards in 2018.

Tags: Fashion , Work , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Coming of Age , Shounen , School , Modeling

Bless

Also known as Bless.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Slice of Life

They said Aia was destined to be a model, and Jun was bullied for her freckles. Together, they will take back the power to define themselves in an inspirational fashion manga that asks cutting questions about what it really means to be beautiful—and what it takes to overcome an arbitrary system that seems to respect talent over hard work.



Tags: Makeup , Fashion , Male Protagonist , Coming of Age , Shounen , Female Protagonist , School , LGBTQ+ Themes , Modeling

Oboreru Knife

Also known as Drowning Love.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Psychological , Romance , Slice of Life

"I don't know what this feeling is … I don't know what I should do now … all I know is, I want him." They fight one another, they chase after one another, they capture one another—a turbulent tale of preteens on the brink of self-destruction, masterfully brought to life by George Asakura!

Tags: Shoujo , Gods , Heterosexual , Coming of Age , Female Protagonist , Psychosexual , Rural , Tragedy , Mythology , Fashion , School , Photography , Love Triangle , Crime , Delinquents , Acting , Gangs , Coastal , Suicide , Modeling

Kyou mo Veranda de

Status: Finished
Genres: Romance , Slice of Life

A freelance designer loves to relax from work through gardening on his balcony. One day, a somewhat unconventional, natural woman moves in next door. Through casual encounters, they start exchanging words across the balcony without ever seeing each other's faces.



Tags: Heterosexual , Female Protagonist , Horticulture , Primarily Adult Cast , Acting , Male Protagonist , Seinen , Urban , Work , Food , Educational , Cohabitation , Nudity , Modeling

Dulingfengsao

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Psychological , Romance , Slice of Life

Cane Lele was born into the fashion industry. Her mother, Ye Feii, was Taiwan's top model, and her father was also a model, until a tragic airplane crash left Lele without parents.

Therefore it is no surprise that Lele hates the industry, thinking it superficial and unnecessary. Raised by her paternal grandmother, Lele reaches seventeen before she is sucked in by her mother's sister, Ye Feihung, a fashion agent (and former model) who "convinces" the reluctant Lele to pose. Lele is adverse to the whole idea, until she sees a photo shoot of popular American model Angus Lanson, and she begins to see modeling as an art form.

When Aunt Feihung's magazine editor invites Angus Lanson to a meeting of all the top fashion ambassadors, Lele is invited along and is curious to meet Angus. She does not know that Angus' twin elder brother, Eros Lanson, is secretly accompanying his brother. This obviously leads to confusion and is the start of a charming story of Lele's goals: Fashion in New York city, becoming a top model, and love?

Tags: Fashion , LGBTQ+ Themes , Modeling , Coming of Age

Luminous = Blue

Status: Finished
Genres: Romance

Kou Tarumizu transfers to the high school of her idol and 2 time photography contest winner, Uchiho Hayama, only to find that the photography club has been disbanded and Uchiho is in a photographic slump. To revive the club and get Uchiho out of her slump, Kou decides to enter a photography contest and chooses her classmates Nene and Amane as her subjects. But it turns out that the two of them used to be a couple...

Note: Chapter count includes two extra chapters.

Tags: Love Triangle , Polyamorous , Primarily Teen Cast , Yuri , Photography , Primarily Female Cast , Female Protagonist , Modeling , School Club , School , LGBTQ+ Themes , Marriage , Gyaru , Unrequited Love

Sono Bijin (Otoko) Fushidara ni Tsuki

Also known as That Beauty Is a Tramp.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance

Cool and tomboyish Nagi wants a boyfriend, but has one big problem—ever since an incident in college, her body reflexively rejects the touch of any man. That is, until she encounters the beautiful male model Aran, who uses his androgynous look to effortlessly model both masculine and feminine styles. She’s shocked to discover that she can touch him without having a reaction, and when he asks her to join him in an upcoming photo shoot with a famous photographer, she agrees, on one condition—be her practice boyfriend for one month, and help her conquer her aversion once and for all. By the author of Such a Treacherous Piano Sonata!



Tags: Josei , Crossdressing , Fashion , Heterosexual , Female Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Cohabitation , Modeling

Nousatsu Junkie

Also known as Nosatsu Junkie.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance

Naka is an aspiring young model with a problem: her face tenses up into a terrifying spectacle whenever she gets nervous on photo shoots! Naka's rival is Umi, the hottest model at their agency. But Naka soon discovers Umi's secret--and hilarity ensues behind the cameras!



Note: Includes two extra chapters.

Tags: School , Shoujo , Crossdressing , Tsundere , Gender Bending , Twins , Fashion , Female Protagonist , Modeling

Model-chan to Jimi Mane-san

Status: Finished
Genres: Romance

Top fashion model Yuria has a reputation for being aloof. When young manager Okabe Ayumi is assigned to her due to the previous manager being injured, she can barely get the model to acknowledge her, much less anyone else.

Chapter count includes two extras.

Tags: Work , Primarily Adult Cast , Fashion , Female Protagonist , Makeup , Yuri , Primarily Female Cast , Modeling , Office Lady

Momoiro Heaven!

Also known as Peach Heaven.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance

At first glance, Momoko Shiina may appear to be nothing more than your average high school girl, but she has a secret identity—as the famous erotica author "George Aihara"! After she witnesses an intimate moment between one of her teachers and the supermodel Ranmaru, she borrows a little too much from reality in an effort to beat the deadline on her latest story. When Ranmaru gets wind of this, he makes Momoko an offer she can’t refuse…



Note: Includes the one-shot "Snap Beads"

Tags: School , Shoujo , Writing , Heterosexual , Family Life , Female Protagonist , Modeling , Work

Shiny Doll

Status: Finished
Genres: Romance , Slice of Life

Akari is an unfashionable first-year high school student who just moved from the countryside to the big city. While taking pictures of "Nana-chan," a huge mannequin at the mall, Akari accidentally bumps into into a handsome boy who compliments her on her eyes. Little does she know that the boy who has taken a fascination with her is actually Kanda, an extremely fashionable model and the heartthrob at her new school! What happens when he decides to make Akari stylish enough to land on the front cover of a magazine?

Tags: School , Shoujo , Heterosexual , Female Protagonist , Modeling

Ni De Weidao You Dian Tian

Also known as Your Scent is a Little Sweet.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance

Due to past psychological trauma, Tang Chao never developed secondary sexual characteristics, so she lived life as a beta working as a magazine model. After an accidental one-night stand with an omega, she found out that she felt strongly attracted to that omega. The next day she met a new colleague Li Zhixu, who seemed to be that omega. But... this Li Zhixu was suppose to be a beta?



Tags: Yuri , Omegaverse , Full Color , Urban , Modeling

Kanyou Shoujo

Also known as Dolls.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Psychological , Supernatural

Dolls are living plant life forms that look like beautiful women which can be purchased at a special shop for the right price. But be careful what you wish for. Set in an upside-down world combining a murky mix of science fiction, reality and moral ambiguity, Yumiko Kawahara's short stories examine the ineffable disparities that exist between the lover and the loved one.



Note: Chapter count includes three unrelated one shots and seven previously uncollated chapters from the kanzenban edition.

Tags: Josei , Urban Fantasy , Episodic , Time Skip , Adoption , Amnesia , Crossdressing , Urban , Modeling , Angels

Kawaii

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Psychological

Meet Yukiho Amamiya, a 14-year-old girl who becomes a gravure idol to help her sister. She's cute, and she knows it - but she can't seem to be cute around the boy she likes. Will she ever hear him call her "cute"?

Tags: Seinen , Female Protagonist , Photography , Bullying , Heterosexual , Masturbation , Modeling , Primarily Teen Cast , School

Hana wa Knife wo Mi ni Matou

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Romance

Kako Saeki is a senior in high school. She has been modeling and harboring her love for her favorite art teacher, Enjoe. Her heart breaks when she finds out that her love is actually engaged. Now, Kako's innocent love takes a dangerous turn when she finds out who is he engaged to.....



Included One Shot: Beautiful World

Tags: Shoujo , Yandere , Age Gap , Unrequited Love , School , Teacher , Heterosexual , Female Protagonist , Love Triangle , Modeling