Women Model Management

PRO: The turbulence experienced by Women Model Management earlier in 2008 created for some the impression that the very foundations of that company was about to come apart. But then something quite intriguing happened. The bookings of models both rising (see Toni Garrn) and established (Natasha Poly) actually super-sized, testifying to the value of the shrewd experience and the deep network of connections current Director Louie Chaban has brought to the company.All the stars are still here and the aggressive scouting network in play makes it clear that mother agencies are giving this operation first choice on many of their best prospects. As a result Women has gone to the head of the class in the breaking faces sweepstakes at the same time it has been scooping up a pack of MVPs from vulnerable agencies thus boosting Women's numbers on MDC's Top 50 to an all time high. Frankly New York is now a city defined by the IMG/Women balance of power. That leverage is a massive asset for a mother agency looking to position a girl authoritatively on the New York market. The presence of that critical mass of bold face names means the Women bookers wielding the phone on the behalf of that fledgling star has a lot of muscle on their behalf. As for the ability of this agency to market a new star...the evidence is inarguable.

CON: To manage and maintain such a large volume of girls at one agency must be a staggering and exhausting challenge. In many ways Women is essentially feeding that incessant market demand for "the next new model". One hopes though that at one point that market cycle will slow down and the focus will be those emerging girls who carry the best possibility for longevity. Given the changes of the past decade this industry needs as many Maria Carlas as it can get.
SCOUTING CALL: The fact is now established that a mother agency looking to give their girl the spin of ultimate cool in NY is going to get major dividends at Supreme/ Women. Before those dividends were slanted in a haute editorial direction. Now that super-cool girl finds herself nestling in big money contract offers and lucrative bookings at the best rates. It's a brave new business model, no? The power-fusion at Women is a bold new experiment, and if the walls hold, signals that the future is indeed Women/Supreme