Ten Popular Modeling Agencies
By Ariel D.

Top Model Agencies

Some modeling agencies are more successful and recognized than others. A modeling agency becomes popular if it is responsible for discovering several models who go on to become international celebrities. This motivates other aspiring models to audition with that agency and try to get hired as one of their models too.

There are modeling agencies in every big city in the world. Most of the top modeling agencies are located in New York City and Paris. If you’re an aspiring model who is looking to get hired, then you’ll definitely want to move to one of those cities. Either that or at least send your headshots to them.

Many beautiful teenage adults have a dream of getting discovered by a top modeling agency. To help you figure out the best way to get discovered, let’s explore the top 10 modeling agencies in the modeling industry today.

Top 10 Modeling Agencies

Elite Model Management has been a big name in the industry since 1977. It is a modeling agency that discovered so many famous models who have become household names. Some of which include Cindy Crawford, Paulina Porizkova, Kendall Jenner, Linda Evangelista, Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks, Coco Rocha, Cara Delevingne and Gisele Bundchen. The modeling agency is always looking for younger and taller models between the ages of 14 and 19. Their height should be anywhere from 5’7” to 6’0”.

DNA Models has been around since 1996. It was started by David Bonnouvrier and Jerome Bonnouvrier. They accept both male and female models. Any aspiring model wishing to apply is supposed to send their headshots to the agency via email. DNA Models represents several commercially successful models, including Doutzen Kroes, Dree Hemingway, and Julia Nobis.

IMG is an internationally recognized modeling agency with offices throughout the world. Some of their biggest models of the past have been Liya Kebede, Kate Moss, and Heidi Klum. They currently represent Gigi Hadid, Lara Stone and Chanel Iman. IMG likes to find runway models. In addition to submitting a full-length photograph and headshot, they also want you to send a video of yourself doing a casual walk to and from the camera. There is a lot more competition here, but the rewards are much better if you’re hired.

The Society New York is a subsidiary modeling agency owned by their parent company, Elite World. They’ve discovered many high-fashion models for advertisements and editorials. Their list of successes includes Lindsey Wixson, Kendall Jenner, Liu Wen, and Adriana Lima.

Next Model Management has been a New York modeling agency since 1989. They’ve paved the way for models like Arizona Muse, Abbey Lee Kershaw, Suki Waterhouse, Myla Dalbesio, and Anja Rubik. They regularly post casting calls on their website, so aspiring models should be on the lookout for them.

New York Model Management is one of the newer modeling agencies in the industry, but it definitely has a lot of experienced people working for it. The vice president of the agency, Marion Smith, used to work at Ford Models before working on his own agency. Some of the newest models he discovered include Tatiana and Catrina Stella. The agency hires male models up to 30 years old and female models up to 24 years old.

Ford Models was started by former model Eileen Ford and her husband, Jerry Ford, in 1946. After 70 years, Ford Models has become one of the top modeling agencies for discovering advertising models, runway models, and editorial models. Some of their biggest discoveries were Brooke Shields, Naomi Campbell, Elle Macpherson, Jane Fonda, and Candice Bergen. Anyone interested in applying should submit a video of themselves online.

Silent Models may not be an internationally recognized modeling agency, but they’re good enough for boosting the careers of several runway models like Line Brems. She’s been featured at Dolce & Gabbana and Louis Vuitton runways. They are a diverse modeling agency that likes to recruit models of various ethnicities and nationalities.

Women Management has been around for over 30 years. They’re known for recruiting a diverse range of models, such as Fei Fei Sun, Kasia Struss, Jourdan Dunn, and Cara Delevingne. They’re located in New York City. Not much is known about their specific requirements. Interested models should contact them for more information.

Dutch supermodel Wilhelmina Cooper founded this modeling agency back in 1967. They focus on recruiting fitness models, and more recently, plus-size models too. Their most famous model of all time was Coco Rocha. You can send your headshots to them through their website.