Models who resemble Jesus are earning up to $200 an hour as demand for their divine likeness skyrockets. From family portraits to Christmas cards, these “Messiah models” are hired for a variety of photo shoots that require a holy touch. Bob Sagers, a 6-foot-5 model discovered at a music festival, said, “I make for a pretty tall Jesus,” and has been posing as the Savior for four years. To perfect the role, models must not only look the part with long hair, beards, and robes but also embody Christlike qualities. “Be the most Christlike person you can be, or people will be able to tell it’s not real,” one client told Jai Knighton, another Jesus lookalike.
Photographers are also cashing in on the trend, with Utah-based photographer MaKayla Avalos seeing a surge in her business after sharing photos of a Jesus-themed shoot. “I was flooded with requests after that,” she said, revealing she’s now completed over 50 similar projects. However, she warns parents, “If your kid doesn’t like sitting on Santa’s lap, they probably won’t enjoy this experience with Jesus either.” In one heartwarming instance, model Terry Holker was mistaken for the real Jesus by a passerby during a shoot, showing the emotional impact these portrayals can have.
Inside the ‘Jesus model’ boom — where Christ lookalikes make $200 an hour posing for holiday cards https://t.co/qRZR1bPeFq pic.twitter.com/G7oPKHUTpm
— New York Post (@nypost) December 18, 2024
Models who look like Jesus are in high demand in Utah. That’s because, for a growing number of people in the state, a family portrait isn’t complete without Him. https://t.co/pcMGFzXgIM
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) December 18, 2024
Source: NY Post
