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The Cast Index
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Transparent by design

Formula v1.0
Effective 13 July 2026

How influence
becomes an index.

The Index Rating turns verifiable work into a comparable 0–100 score. It measures current fashion influence—not beauty, character, or human worth.

Quantitative evidence establishes what happened. Editorial weighting reflects how much that work matters within the industry. Every published score shows both.

01 / The formula

Four signals.
One current score.

01

40%

Runway presence

Verified show volume, weighted by house prestige and market. Opening and closing positions add value; a documented city or worldwide exclusive receives the strongest single booking bonus.

  • Show volume
  • Open / close multiplier
  • Exclusive bonus
  • Cross-city consistency

02

30%

Blue-chip campaigns

Global luxury campaigns carry the highest weight. Major beauty and commercial contracts follow; regional or social-only placements contribute less.

  • Luxury house tier
  • Global usage
  • Beauty contracts
  • Ambassadorship term

03

20%

Editorial authority

Solo covers for the major Vogue editions lead the category, followed by high-authority fashion titles, independent culture magazines, and inside editorials.

  • Major covers
  • Independent covers
  • Photographer authority
  • Inside editorial depth

04

10%

Cultural aura

Engagement quality, measurable fashion-week conversation, media impact, and official ambassador roles capture influence beyond traditional bookings.

  • Engagement quality
  • Media impact
  • Cultural moments
  • Global ambassador roles

02 / Eligibility window

Current work or no rank.

The Global Index is a live measure, not a hall of fame. Every ranked model needs meaningful evidence dated within the last five years.

Priority window
2024–2026 work drives selection and score movement.
Maximum window
2021–2026 work can establish continuing relevance.
Before 2021
Historic work can add context but cannot qualify a model by itself.

03 / Global discovery

Attention can start anywhere.

The candidate pool is not limited to a country checklist or the Big Four circuit. Local authority can be the first signal of global potential.

  • Repeated domestic runway attention can trigger a Rising review
  • High-authority national and regional covers establish local relevance
  • Major-brand work or a recognised international editorial is required for the Global 100
  • Sustained cross-market runway work can independently establish Global 100 eligibility

Geography is a discovery signal, never a score bonus or penalty. Once admitted to review, every model is measured with the same four pillars and published confidence standard.

04 / Time decay

Fashion has a short memory.

Current-year achievements keep their full value. One year later they retain half. From year two onward they contribute ten percent.

100%2026 / Current
50%2025 / Prior
10%2024 & earlier

Example: a 100-point major cover contributes 100 weighted units in 2026, 50 in 2027, and 10 from 2028. Source records remain visible even after their ranking value decays.

05 / Evidence standard

A number is only as strong as its sources.

High confidence

Current work, fully reviewed

Multiple first-party or recognised industry sources cover the current scoring window.

Medium confidence

Strong, partial record

The central claims are supported, but one or more categories need further verification.

Baseline

Audit still in progress

The person is real and sourced; the displayed pilot score is provisional and visually labelled.

Methodology FAQ

The rating, answered

How does The Cast Index rank models?
Each Index Rating is a weighted score out of 100: Runway Presence and Exclusives 40%, Campaign and Commercial Blue-Chips 30%, Editorial Authority 20%, and Cultural Impact and Aura 10%. Evidence is reviewed by the editorial desk and every profile displays its confidence state.
How does time decay work?
An achievement from the current index year keeps 100% of its value. It retains 50% in the following year and 10% from the second year onward. Historic achievements remain visible, but current work drives the ranking.
How recent must a model’s work be to qualify?
A ranked model must have meaningful, source-backed runway, campaign, editorial, or cultural work within the rolling five-year eligibility window, currently 2021–2026. Work from 2024–2026 receives priority. A historic career alone does not qualify a profile.
Can a model, agency, or brand pay for rank?
No. Paid placements, directory listings, advertising, and People’s Choice voting are kept separate from the editorial Index Rating.
How are models discovered outside the major Western fashion markets?
The review pool is global and has no fixed country list. Strong domestic runway work, respected local covers, regional campaigns, cultural attention, and international crossover can trigger an audit. Geography never reduces a model’s score; the same four achievement pillars apply in every market.
When does a regional model enter Rising instead of the Global 100?
Repeated attention at a national fashion week or in respected local fashion media can qualify a model for the unnumbered Rising board. A Global 100 rank additionally requires verified major-brand work, a high-authority international editorial, or sustained cross-market runway evidence within 2021–2026.
Is the score an objective fact?
No. Bookings can be counted, but prestige weighting requires editorial judgement. The formula, cited evidence, update date, and confidence label are published so readers can challenge the assessment.