Top 10 Modeling Agencies in New York – Women’s Division

Teen girls through young women looking for representation by reputable modeling agencies in NYC—the biggest modeling hub of the U.S.—this is the list for you! Agencies go in and out of vogue as fast as models do, so it’s key to have up-to-date info on the who’s who of the booking world. You also have to look out for all the modeling scams out there; plenty of slimeballs are ready to take advantage of your modeling dreams and turn them into a nightmare. The modeling agencies on this list are not going to ask for money to see them or sign with them. They are the real deal and they are very busy, so rather than pestering them by phone, refer to the info and their website links below to find out how to submit your photos or attend an open call [What to Wear to an Open Call]. You also can submit to my model search to be seen by top agents: Enter the Modeling Mentor Model Search 

If you are looking for an agency for your child, refer to this post: Top Kids Modeling Agencies in NYC

If you are looking for a top modeling agency for men, look for a blog post on that topic coming soon!

DNA

Models on DNA’s main board

DNA Models

T. 212-226-0080
555 West 25th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10001

Elite

Elite Models “Elite” Division

Open Call: Tuesdays at 5 pm
(Must be at least 5’7″ and 15 years old)
Empower Me/Submissions: Elite
245 5th Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, New York 10016

Ford Models

Models on Ford’s Women’s Board

Get Scouted: Ford Models

T. 212-219-6500
11 East 26th Street, 14th Floor
New York, NY 10010

IMG

Models from IMG’s Women’s Division

Get Scouted: IMG Models

T. 212-253-8884
304 Park Avenue South, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10010

New York Model Management

Models in the Women’s Division at New York Models

Open Call: Thursdays, 10:30 to 11:30 am
(Age 13+, 5’9″ to 6′)
Become a Model: New York Models

T. 212-539-1700
71 West 23rd Street, Suite 301
New York, NY
10010 United States

Next

Models from Next’s Women’s Division

The Industry Model Management

Models from Industry’s New Gen board, including Modeling Mentor Model of the Year Alexa Kissling

Some of the models on Industry’s Management board

How to be Discovered by: The Industry

infoNY@theindustrymodelmgmt.com
T. 212-660-8800
Pier 59 Studios
59 Chelsea Piers, LEVEL 3
NY, NY 10011

The Lions

Models in the The Lions Women’s Division

About: The Lions

T. 212 226 7360
Email: bediscovered@thelionsny.com
286 5th Avenue, 12th FL
New York, NY 10012

The Society

Models in Society’s Women’s Division

The Society
Submissions: Scouting@thesocietymanagement.com
212 377-5025
156 5th Avenue, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10010

Women Management

Models on the main board at Women Management

Become a Model: Women
T. 212 334 7480
199 Lafayette Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10012

ENTER THE MODELING MENTOR MODEL SEARCH AND BE DISCOVERED!

A panel of fashion industry powerhouses are currently reviewing the Modeling Mentor Model Search finalists and voting on Model of the Year!

Meet the Model Search judges:

Erin Lundgren-Scimeca, Director of Scouting at New York Model Management

Some of New York Model Management’s Stars

Erin has been in the industry for almost 20 years.  She worked as a scout at Elite in the 90’s when they represented most of the supermodels in the industry.  Erin organized the Elite Model Look contest and then was promoted to Director of Elite Model Look North America. Five years later, she moved to New York Models to run their scouting division. Erin oversees the new faces as well as the movement and placement of the models at the agency.

Page Parkes, Founder/Owner of Page Parkes Corporation

Models in the Women’s Division at Page Parkes in Dallas

Page founded her agency in Texas almost 30 years ago and made a name for herself throughout the international modeling circuit. She was one of the first agents to open a branch in the lucrative Miami market (her agency there eventually merged with Ford). She has discovered big-name stars, including Channing Tatum, Shannon Elizabeth, Woody Harrelson, Brooke Burns, and Alexis Bledel. Her finds are placed in major agencies across the globe and her expert eye landed her on E!’s reality show Scouted. Read all about Page here: Exclusive Interview With Page Parkes From Scouted

Susan Miner, Supermodel, Psychologist and Founder of Susan Miner Beauty

Susan Miner

During her career Susan Miner graced the cover of top magazines like Vogue and Elle and was one of the faces of Revlon Cosmetics. She then embarked on a journey to heal the insecurities she felt during her years modeling. She studied psychology in college and graduate school and ultimately became an adjunct professor. Currently, as a workshop leader, keynote speaker, writer, and counselor, Susan helps others find “beauty from the inside out.” Read my interview with Susan Miner.

Jill Johnson, Former Model and Magazine Editor; Current Writer, Modeling Mentor, and Mom . Read more about Jill Johnson.

Subscribe to the free monthly Modeling Mentor Newsletter and be first to see who wins Model of the Year 2013!

See the 2013 Modeling Mentor Model Search Finalists

I’ve written about modeling scams before, but the questions about dubious modeling services, agencies, and scouts keep coming. As long as there are modeling scams (which there will be for as long as there are aspiring models), I’ll keep issuing warnings!

How to Spot a Modeling Scam

Often you can tell a legit website with photos of successful models from one with sub-par models featured on the home page.

IMG London: A Legit Model Agency Site

That’s one tip that could help this reader, as well as a reminder that alarm bells should go off if a company asks for money up front (in this case, even before meeting the aspiring model).

Her Question:

“I recently put up a pic and applied to a website in London (I am from Ireland); I received a text message saying they saw my application and would like me to ring them on a number he had sent me in the text. I did and he said they would like to see me in three weeks as my pic shows modeling potential. They sent me an email and would like to see me to assess me. They need 50 pounds deposit and I will get it back if I show up.”

My Answer:

Stay tuned for a blog post on model agency open call times, coming next week.

Don’t forget to enter the Modeling Mentor Model Search!

Subscribe to my free monthly Modeling Newsletter and be first to see the finalists, plus stay up to date on modeling tips and news!

I get many requests for info about commercial modeling. Aspiring models who don’t hit the 5’9″ fashion modeling standard often figure they’ll go the commercial route. “Commercial” does not mean just doing TV commercials, though that is part of it. “Commercial” is a term used to describe a more girl-next-door (guy-next-door), real person look, versus a more extreme editorial look.

Commercial Modeling and Acting Prep

Those same aspiring commercial models who write to me sometimes think this whole commercial modeling thing is a snap. Actually, you need to hone your craft more in this field than you do with straight-forward posing and catwalking. Take some acting classes! Take acting classes before you even think about approaching agents. If you are near New York City, you can attend workshops with actual casting directors, like Jen Rudin. My son participated in her Mock Audition Boot Camp this weekend and got valuable feedback from someone who casts kids for a living. You will NOT get feedback from actual castings or auditions; casting directors are too busy to hand out personal critiques. It can get frustrating wondering what you are doing wrong when you don’t book jobs (half the time you probably just aren’t the right look for the part, but you won’t be privy to that self-confidence saving nugget of truth).

Jen Rudin’s Mock Audition Boot Camp

Stay tuned for a review of Jen Rudin’s book, Confessions of a Casting Director, hitting stores on December 31!

Audition Attitude

I can’t say it any better than Breaking Bad‘s Bryan Cranston:

See a listing of the top New York Commercial Agents

Don’t forget to enter the Modeling Mentor Model Search. Top agents like Elite, New York Model Management, Click, and Page Parkes have contacted me about the finalists. This is your chance to get discovered!

Sign up for my free monthly Modeling Newsletter and be the first to see the finalists!

The Best Modeling Agencies in New York

Click  (Women, Men, Plus, Fitting & Showroom)

Click Models

DNA  (Women, Men)

DNA Models

Elite  (Women, Showroom & Fittings)

Elite Models

Ford  (Women, Men, Plus, Artists)

Fusion  (Women, Men)

IMG  (Women, Men)

Major  (Women, Men)

Marilyn  (Women, Celebrities)

New York Models  (Women, Men, Children)

Next  (Women, Talent, Musicians, Chefs, Artists)

One Management  (Women, Men, Celebrities)

Red  (Men)

Request  (Men, Women)

Root  (Men)

Soul Artist Management  (Men, Women)

Supreme  (Women)

The Society   (Women)

Trump  (Women)

VNY  (Men, Women)

Wilhelmina  (Women, Men, Artists, Creative, Kids & Teens)

Women  (Women)

Don’t forget to enter the Modeling Mentor Model Search!

And subscribe to my free monthly Modeling Newsletter to be first to see the finalists!

Top Model Devon Aoki

Top Ten Tips for Aspiring Models

5 Warning Signs You Are Being Scammed by an Agency

Modeling Schools and Scouting Conventions—Scams or Not?

The Best Cities for Models

Top Commercial Agencies in New York

Modeling Tip: What’s the Difference Between an Agent and a Manager?

My Favorite Modeling Articles

If you are seeking advice for kids, reference these links also:

Child Models

Child Actors

Be sure to sign up for my free monthly Modeling Newsletter!

AND Enter the Modeling Mentor Model Search to be seen by agents like Page Parkes, Elite, and Click!

Joan Smalls, the first Latina face of Estee Lauder

I don’t think all this rejection is a bad thing. In the real world, everyone is not the Most Valuable Player on the team and feelings are not protected by a fabricated culture of ultra fairness, as is the case often in school these days. What a model must recognize is that the rejection is not personal. By and large modeling is about superficial characteristics: your figure, your hair color, your petite nose, your symmetrical face. Aside from taking care of yourself—working out, eating healthy, getting enough sleep, plucking your brows, maintaining your highlights, dressing in flattering clothes—you have little control over how much you will work. Personality plays a part. It can help to be cheery, agreeable, funny, and interesting, but those qualities alone will not make you a supermodel. The genetic lottery will.

Lauren Hutton, one of the most enduring models

The hardest part is determining when to believe the naysayers and perhaps pursue a different career, and when to soldier on and keep chasing the dream. Plenty of models have defied the odds and proven that determination pays off: gap-toothed 5’7″ Lauren Hutton (she lived on pot pies while spending months trying to get an agent in New York), Kate Moss (a midget next to the supermodels on the scene when she started modeling), Puerto Rican supermodel Joan Smalls (rejected at first in New York for being too “dark,” until IMG’s Ivan Bart accompanied her to castings as her cheerleader. Now rated the #1 model in the world on models.com). Heidi Klum was originally relegated to catalog modeling at Metropolitan until Elite reinvented her as an editorial girl.

Heidi Klum, hardly the catalog girl she was originally labelled

The bottom line: Models need to have a thick skin. The great news is, the color of their skin doesn’t matter so much anymore.

There’s still time to be considered for June Model of the Month! ENTER now—it’s easy, just e-mail a snapshot and some stats.

SUBSCRIBE to my free monthly newsletter and be the first to see the finalists! Also remember to “like” the page of you favorite model(s) of the month.