Modeling Agencies: Directory, Trends, and Industry News
The global modeling agency industry plays a crucial role in connecting talent with the ever-evolving demands of the fashion, advertising, and entertainment sectors. With the rise of digital platforms and an increasing emphasis on diversity and inclusivity, the industry is undergoing significant transformation. Here’s an overview of current data, trends, and developments shaping this dynamic field.

Modeling Agency Industry Overview and Market Data
- Market Size and Scope: The global modeling agency industry was valued at over $2 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow steadily as demand for diverse models expands across markets like fashion, beauty, and media.
- Regional Hubs: Major markets include North America (New York and Los Angeles), Europe (Paris, Milan, and London), and Asia-Pacific (Tokyo, Seoul, and Shanghai). Emerging markets in Africa and South America are gaining prominence due to increased fashion events and localized campaigns.
- Digital Transformation: The integration of technology—such as AI for scouting talent and digital platforms for casting—has reduced geographic barriers, enabling agencies to operate globally.
Modeling Agencies Europe
Modeling Agencies North America
Modeling Agencies | City | Country |
---|---|---|
LA Models | LA | USA |
Freedom | LA / MIA | USA |
Select Model Management | LA / CHI / MIA / ATL | USA |
Front Management | MIA | USA |
Bella Agency | NYC | USA |
CLICK Model Management | NYC | USA |
Crawford Models | NYC | USA |
dna Model Management | NYC | USA |
Elite Model Management | NYC / LA / MIA | USA |
Ford Models | NYC / LA / CHI / MIA | USA |
Heroes New York | NYC | USA |
IMG Models | NYC / LA | USA |
Marilyn Agency | NYC | USA |
New York Model Management | NYC | USA |
Next Models | NYC / LA / MIA | USA |
Society Management | NYC | USA |
Soul Artist Management | NYC | USA |
State Management | NYC / LA | USA |
VNY Models | NYC | USA |
Wilhelmina Models | NYC / LA / MIA | USA |
Look Model Agency | SF | USA |
Modeling Agencies Asia
Modeling Agencies | City | Country |
---|---|---|
Lacoco Model Management | Beijing | China |
MM Model Management | Beijing | China |
Elegance Model | Hong Kong | China |
Elite Hong Kong | Hong Kong | China |
Model One | Hong Kong | China |
Synergy Model Management | Hong Kong | China |
Focus Models | Shanghai | China |
Liquid Model | Shanghai | China |
Bravo Models | Tokyo | Japan |
CDU Models | Tokyo | Japan |
Satoru Japan | Tokyo | Japan |
Stage Models | Tokyo | Japan |
Tokyo Rebels | Tokyo | Japan |
West Management | Tokyo | Japan |
Curmas | Seoul | South Korea |
KPlus | Seoul | South Korea |
Morph Management | Seoul | South Korea |
OneStep Management | Seoul | South Korea |
New Face Model Management | Taipei | Taiwan |
Key Trends in the Modeling Industry
- Diversity and Representation: Agencies are prioritizing inclusivity by representing models of different ethnicities, body types, ages, and gender identities. This shift aligns with societal demands for more authentic representation in media and advertising.
- Sustainability in Fashion: Brands are seeking models who align with their values, especially in promoting eco-conscious fashion campaigns. Modeling agencies now scout talent with a voice in sustainability and activism.
- Influencer Integration: Social media influencers with modeling potential are increasingly signed by agencies. This trend bridges traditional modeling and influencer marketing, offering brands a dual appeal of beauty and reach.
- Virtual Modeling: Digital avatars and AI-generated models are on the rise, creating a niche market where technology and creativity converge. Leading agencies are exploring partnerships with tech companies to represent virtual talent.
- Decentralized Casting: Brands now directly access models through online platforms, challenging the traditional agency model. However, agencies remain critical for contract negotiation, career management, and professional development.
News and Developments
- Global Consolidation: Major agencies like IMG, Elite, and Ford Models are expanding their global reach through acquisitions and partnerships.
- Regional Growth: Africa’s modeling scene is booming, driven by events like Lagos Fashion Week and the rise of African designers on the global stage.
- Technology Disruption: Platforms like Casting Networks and The Claw Models are reshaping talent discovery and management.
- Legislation and Advocacy: New labor laws in markets like California and the EU ensure fair contracts and safe working conditions for models, setting global precedents.
Industry News
NAOMI In Fashion – Exhibition at V&A South Kensington
NAOMI: In Fashion explores the unequalled 40-year career of fashion model and cultural icon Naomi Campbell. After being scouted in Covent Garden aged just 15, Campbell quickly rose to prominence in the industry, and made history a few years later when, at 18, she became the first Black model to feature on the cover of Paris Vogue, in August 1988.
Produced in collaboration with Campbell and foregrounding her voice and perspective, NAOMI: In Fashion is the first exhibition to celebrate the skill and contribution of an individual model to the fashion industry. The exhibition draws upon Campbell’s own extensive wardrobe of haute couture and ready-to-wear ensembles from key moments in her career, along with loans from designer archives and objects from the V&A’s collections. Woven throughout is Campbell’s activism, having advocated for equity from an early age, joining the Black Girls Coalition in 1989 and fronting the 2007 ‘A Black Issue’ of Vogue Italia, calling for diversity on the catwalk.

Roulé Comme Une Buick’ (‘Drive Like A Buick’), bustier, worn by Naomi Campbell, designed by Thierry Mugler, Autumn/Winter 1989. © Courtesy Mugler Archives. Photo: Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Anok Yai has said she “doesn’t want” the Model of the Year award anymore after losing out to trans model Alex Consani
Dec 4, 2024 – Alex Consani, 21, became the first transgender woman to win the title at the 2024 Fashion Awards on Monday (2 December). The in-demand trans model, known for her striking bleach blonde hair, said her victory marked a “big step in the right direction” during her acceptance speech. Anok Yai, 26, congratulated Consani in a post on X/Twitter the following day before saying that she didn’t want an award from the British Fashion Council anymore.
Fashion experts raise concern about return to ‘extremely thin models’
Data shows reverse in trend towards inclusivity, with 95% of looks in 208 recent shows modelled by size-zero women
Oct 11, 2024 – Fashion insiders have expressed concerns that previous progress made towards size inclusivity in the industry is being curtailed. Vogue Business released its spring/summer ‘25 size inclusivity report on Tuesday and said: “We are facing a worrying return to using extremely thin models” with “a plateau in size inclusivity efforts across New York, London, Milan and Paris”.
New York is set to grant Workplace Protections to Models
In the years since the MeToo movement revealed how fashion models are particularly vulnerable to abuse, many major brands and publishers that regularly hire models have announced safety provisions or codes of conduct. But the Fashion Workers Act represents the first set of industrywide, legally enforceable provisions that could reframe how models, agents, and brands interact. The bill would require modeling agencies to provide models with copies of contracts and deal memos ahead of any job and allow models to opt out of signing over power of attorney to agencies, among other provisions around pay transparency, commission-rate limits, and workplace safety.
Fashion Models as Global Advocates: Collaborations with the United Nations for Change
Several prominent fashion models have partnered with United Nations agencies as ambassadors or representatives, leveraging their global influence to advocate for vital causes:
Gisele Bündchen – The Brazilian supermodel is a UN Environment Program (UNEP) Goodwill Ambassador. She promotes awareness about environmental issues, particularly deforestation and climate change, drawing from her Brazilian heritage and its connection to the Amazon rainforest.
Liya Kebede – Known for her advocacy for maternal health, the Ethiopian model collaborated with the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve access to safe maternity care globally. She founded the Liya Kebede Foundation, which further aligns with these efforts.
Farah Zulaikha – This model and philanthropist has been an active UN Ambassador, focusing on global awareness and social justice issues. Her work reflects a blend of her career in fashion and dedication to humanitarian causes.
Naomi Campbell – While not formally a UN ambassador, Campbell has worked closely with several UN-related campaigns, particularly those aimed at addressing poverty and supporting disaster relief efforts.
These partnerships showcase how figures in the fashion industry can contribute to global initiatives, blending their platform with advocacy to raise awareness and inspire action.