A reason to Watch 20/20 on Friday: Secret Designs

I want to vomit just thinking about how scamful the modeling business as become since the Internet-age. Or more like, how full of scams "the pursuit of being a model" has become. I made many mistakes as a model, but I thankfully overcame them and my self esteem and confidence and belief in my self did not alter.

I wrote about my early modeling pursuits in my memoir Almost 5'4" honestly and open because I think being honest can inspire girls who are pursuing modeling to skip the scams. I also touch upon modeling scams, and Internet scams and amateur modeling mistakes in my graphic novel Model Life: The Journey of a Pint-Size Fashion Warrior.

I can honestly say I am lucky to have survived some of the bad experiences I had during my early modeling pursuits.

Some things to keep in mind when pursuing as a model.

1. Don't be desperate to succeed, so much that you lose your dignity.
2. Don't think ONE person can make you famous or successful.
3. Don't think it happens over night.
4. Beware of online casting calls, scams lerk.

This Friday, December 18th, on 20/20 at 9pm there is a special hour featuring the Rise and Fall of Anand Jon. ((I had a friend who did go to a casting at his studio in NYC, and she was called fat and dissed by him even though she has a fab body.))

Here is the link for more info on the segment:
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/anand-jon-fashion-designer-convicted-serial-sexual-assault/story?id=9344417

I suggest watching this feature on ABC 20/20, to hear the sad story of girls falling for the wrong fashion opportunity.

Many of Anand's castings were on the Internet, emails written, also the encounters stemmed from Internet social site communication, Myspace, etc.

The Internet has caused a lot of hype and interest among curious girls who want to be models,-they go to Google and search, upload photos and flaunt, but the truth is They Are Setting Themselves Up For Scams. I believe the Internet is NOT a way that aspiring models can get ahead. It is best to NOT promote yourself on a model on it on random social sites.

It might seem easy, convenient, and normal to find castings, and promote yourself as a model on the web but it is amateur and typically only brings amateur opportunities. I think the Internet is the totally opposite and wrong way to promote your self as a model. Scams and people like Anand are found on the Internet, and you should focus on professionalism and if you want to really find professional opportunities as a model they do not happen on the Internet, it is better to get a comp card made, mail it aggressively to print modeling and talent agencies and aim higher.

Modeling is not showing off, being pretty, or the right size, a model is someone who is "modeling for something" and in a professional environment consistently, and to do it you should not lose your dignity or think you have to sleep with someone to get ahead or put your self in a situation where your worth is tested.

Watch 20/20 at 9pm this Friday, December 18th.

Don't be obsessed with fame and being in the spot light that you lose your dignity. If you are looking for a short-cut, you just might find a scam or even worse.

Also keep in mind
1. you don't need to have sex with someone, make out, or date someone to get ahead.
2. it is possible to get a modeling agency and gete professional modeling jobs but you DO have to work hard for it.
3. Make sure you are comfortable at a casting, on the job, etc, if you are not leave the atmosphere, there will be other opportunities out there.

A girl asked me: is this a model scam?

A girl asked me recently about a modeling scam and she told me she met an agency at a hotel and they were going to sign her. They wanted money like $600 and then another chunk for photos. She asked if it was a scam, and hit me up on twitter with her concerns because she only had another day left to end the contract.


I told her to end it.

NEVER, ever, ever, ever pay to be on a modeling agency website. Never ever pay an agency for photos. It is a total scam. However you DO have to take it upon yourself for the work of being a model. You will have to make your own compcard, portfolio, and legit print modeling agencies or talent agencies, WILL work with the compcard you mail them.


Don't forget agents have jobs, their job is to market the models they work with. Usually for a shorter girl it will be a print modeling agency and there will be less hands on involvement from the agency. They will be a booking service but not giving you so much attention towards your marketing material. Basically it should go like this:

You mail them your compcard,
The agency likes it, or something about it.
They call you.
You meet them.
You might sign a non-exclusive contract but typically you will not be signed at all.
You will freelance with this agency, you will be free to work with other agencies as well.
You will give the agency more compcards to use to market you.
You will get called to go on castings, or emailed the info, (however the agency does it), and you will use, bring, and drop off your compcard at the casting.
If you get booked the agency get 20% of your payment. (which is typically already taken out before you get paid by the agency).

DO NOT EVER pay the agency for photos, or to be on the website. The agents job is to market their models and the clients can be directed to the website, but the website alone should not be only how the agency is marketing you.

If an agency says "you must pay to be on the website," or "You should have your photo on the website because our clietns see the models on the website," don't do it. It is a scam.

The agent has a job, and it is not just to wait to see who happens to click on your photo on the modeling agency website. So do not ever pay to be on an agency website. I work with professional agencies in NYC and I do not pay to be on their website. The website is just one tool that an agency should use, not the end-all…so to not be deceived.

I work with great agencies in NYC for print work and I do not pay them to be on their website.