Elite Model Management

Elite Model Management was founded in Paris in 1972 by John Casablancas (1942–2013) and Alain Kittler.[http://www.elitemodel-world.com/financial/media/pdf/EliteModeManagementResearchReportAugust2006.pdf Elite Model Management Lux. S.A. - Investment Research, page 4] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312020548/http://www.elitemodel-world.com/financial/media/pdf/EliteModeManagementResearchReportAugust2006.pdf |date=2012-03-12 }}, August 25, 2006{{cite news|title=John Casablancas, Modeling Visionary, Dies at 70 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/nyregion/john-casablancas-modeling-visionary-dies-at-70.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1& |work=The New York Times |date=2013-07-20 |access-date=2013-08-17}} Casablancas was inspired by his then-wife Jeanette Christiansen, former model and Miss Universe from Denmark, to open a model agency. Casablancas founded the model agency with his savings.

Elite Model opened with several high-profile models including Ingmari Lamy; Ann Schaufuss, Clive Arrowsmith's girlfriend; Barry Lategna's wife, Lynn Kohlman; Paula Brenken; and Paris Plannings Emanuelle Dano.{{cite book|title=Model: The Ugly Business of Beautiful Women|url=https://archive.org/details/modeluglybusines00gros|url-access=registration|last=Gross|first=Michael|year=1996|publisher=Warner|isbn=0446603465}}

At the time, boutique agencies in Paris and Milan fell out of favor with models due to payment issues. Models often found Parisian and Milanese model agencies holding their pay to coerce them into returning without work visas and work.{{cite web|url=http://www.modelscomposites.com/history.htm |title=The Model Archives of Marlowe Press |publisher=Modelscomposites.com |access-date=2012-10-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708041838/http://www.modelscomposites.com/history.htm |archive-date=2008-07-08 }} British and American based chains gave models the financial security they needed. In 1977, Casablancas opened up Elite Models in New York. During the 1980s, New York endured the model wars. Despite agencies like Wilhelmina Models taking part in these wars, the primary battle was between Elite Models and Ford Models.{{cite web|last=Rayl|first=Salley|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20077110,00.html|title=The Fashion World Is Rocked by Model Wars, Part Two: the Ford Empire Strikes Back|publisher=People.com|access-date=2012-10-25}} Models such as Esmé Marshall left Elite for Ford Models. Casablancas alleged that Eileen Ford was out to get him and Ford responded with a $32.5 million suit. Until 1977, Ford was affiliated with Elite until Elite opened up offices in New York and began stealing Ford's models. Due to the death of Wilhelmina Cooper, models were in a panic bouncing from agency to agency. Even the highest paid black model at the time Beverly Johnson left Elite for Ford, only to return to Elite a week later.

Models such as Christie Brinkley and Anna Andersen sued Elite after they exited. In 1981, Elite Models formed a partnership with Models 1, which lasted until 1989. By 1983, Elite established the Elite Model Look, which was called The Look of the Year, Competition to rival its competitors Ford's Supermodel of the World Contest. The following year, the company expanded its offices in the U.S. with the formation of Elite Models Chicago,{{cite web|url=http://www.modelscomposites.com/getlist.php?list=agy&choice=Elite+%28Chicago%29&year=all|title=The Model Archives of Marlowe Press|publisher=Modelscomposites.com|access-date=2012-10-25}} Elite Models Atlanta, Elite Models Los Angeles, Elite Models San Francisco, and Elite Models Miami. By 1986, Elite Models had twenty offices worldwide. In 1988, Elite opened offices in Milan.

Nicholas Farrae later purchased the agency in 1990.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fotoshoot.com/TalentAgency/CA/elite-models-la|title=Elite Model Management LA Beverly Hills, CA, United States - Modeling Agency - fotoshoot.com agency profile|website=www.fotoshoot.com|access-date=2017-12-10}} Elite World S.A. is the parent company of Elite Model Management (MM). The expansion of Elite Models furthered as Elite Models formed partnerships with already established agencies. In 1990, Elite Models formed a partnership with Model Management Heidi Gross in Hamburg.{{cite web|url=http://www.model-management.de/about-us.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806175052/http://www.model-management.de/about-us.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 6, 2012|title=About us|publisher=Model-management.de|access-date=2012-10-25}} In 1992, Munich Models was formed and formed a partnership with Elite MM.

In 1994, Elite MM sought to break into the Asian market and awarded its Greater China rights to Michel Lu. In partnership with him they established Elite Models Hong Kong and China. In 1996, Lu went on to expand Elite MM to Singapore that served as a regional office for South East Asia.{{Cite web |url=http://www.elite.it/ |title=Official website |access-date=2013-07-21 |archive-date=2021-04-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424224110/http://www.elite.it/ |url-status=dead }} Similar to their debut in Paris, Elite swept up top local and regional talents such as Charmaine Harn, Junita Simon, Sonia Couling, and Nadya Hatagalung.{{cite book|title=For Appearance' Sake: The Historical Encyclopedia of Good Looks, Beauty, and Grooming|url=https://archive.org/details/forappearancesak00sher|url-access=registration|last=Sherrow|first=Victoria|year=2001|publisher=Oryx Press|location=Phoenix, Arizona|page=[https://archive.org/details/forappearancesak00sher/page/198 198]|isbn=9781573562041}}

In 1999, a film was broadcast by the BBC showing the President of Elite MM, Gerald Marie, offering an undercover reporter sex for money. It was later proven that some images had been manipulated and the BBC admitted that its portrayal was unfair and had to make a substantial payout to the model agency.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/jun/12/broadcasting.bbc3| location=London |work=The Guardian |first=Matt |last=Wells |title=How the BBC's model inquiry went wrong|date=June 12, 2001}} In the wake of this controversy, Casablancas left and formed the John Casablancas Modeling and Career Center in New York.{{cite web |url=https://johncasablancasmodeling.com/about |title=John Casablancas Modeling & Career Center |access-date=2022-04-23}}

Elite World SA was incorporated on Dec. 14, 1999 as an umbrella company and for licensing.{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/E1M:GR |title=Elite World SA |publisher=Bloomberg |access-date=2022-04-23}}

In 2002, Elite MM, along with several other New York City model agencies, was sued for hundreds of millions of dollars in a class action that accused them of fixing fees for the past 30 years. The following year, Elite opened offices in Asia. At the same time, an employee was awarded $5.2 million in a suit concerning passive smoking in the US office of Elite.{{cite web |title=Not A Pretty Picture At Elite |website=Bloomberg News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118190130/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2004-06-13/not-a-pretty-picture-at-elite |archive-date=2023-01-18 |url-status=live |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2004-06-13/not-a-pretty-picture-at-elite}}

As a result of the bad publicity, the over expansion of Elite, and the loss of talents, Elite World SA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2004. Elite Models New York City was put up for auction and bought by Florida businessman Eddie Trump for $4.4 million, who asked Casablancas to come back and advise him. Elite Models NY together with Los Angeles, Miami, and Toronto became Elite MM North America separate from Elite World SA. In August 2005, Elite World SA reestablished Elite MM in Singapore using it as the satellite office for their new South East Asia operation.{{Cite news |url=http://www.vogue.co.uk/article/trump-buys-elite |title=Trump Buys Elite |work=Vogue |date=26 August 2004 |access-date=2017-12-10}}{{cite web |url=http://www.elite-singapore.com/about_us.php |title=About Us |publisher=Elite Model Management South East Asia |date=2007-06-08 |access-date=2012-10-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070608111500/http://www.elite-singapore.com/about_us.php |archive-date=June 8, 2007}} Elite Models branches in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Philippines were also added in August 2005.{{cite web |url=http://www.elite-thailand.com/?page=about |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208140033/http://www.elite-thailand.com/?page=about |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 8, 2008 |title=Elite Model Management |publisher=Elite-thailand.com |access-date=2012-10-25 }} In October 2005, the Elite Model Look contest was added in Singapore.{{cite web|url=http://www.elite-singapore.com/news.php |title=News |publisher=Elite Singapore |date=2007-06-24 |access-date=2012-10-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070624103008/http://www.elite-singapore.com/news.php |archive-date=June 24, 2007 }}

By 2006, Casablancas' appointment was short-lived and Elite World SA went public on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. In 2009, the president of Elite World SA (the parent company of Elite MM), Bertrand Hennet, was arrested on drug charges.{{cite web |url=http://fashioncopious.typepad.com/fashioncopious/2009/03/elite-model-managment-under-drug-arrest.html |url-status=dead |title=Elite Model Management Under Drug Arrest |website=fashioncopious.typepad.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310001258/http://fashioncopious.typepad.com/fashioncopious/2009/03/elite-model-managment-under-drug-arrest.html |archive-date=2009-03-10}} At the same time, acquired Elite Models Copenhagen, which was founded in 1966 under the name Copenhagen Models by legendary scout Trice Tomsen and formally a licensee of Elite Models (now Elite Models Management Copenhagen ApS controlled together with its licenses by Elite Licensing Company SA owned by Elite World SA). After Tomsen decided to distance herself from the day to day work, she was replaced by Munir Bouylud, as the new director there.{{cite web |url=http://models.com/agency/Elite-Copenhagen |title=Elite Copenhagen profile |publisher=Models.com |access-date=2012-10-25}} Also in 2009, Elite Models London opened nearly 20 years after its first attempt to have offices in London. It was also in 2009 that Elite Models Chicago and Atlanta severed ties with Elite World SA and were renamed Factor Women.{{cite web |url=http://factorwomen.com/chicago_about_us.aspx |title=Model & Talent Agency |publisher=Factor Women |access-date=2012-10-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016112558/http://factorwomen.com/chicago_about_us.aspx |archive-date=2012-10-16 }}

In February 2011, Elite World SA shareholders elected a new Board of Directors. The new board election follows the acquisition of a controlling stake in Elite World SA by Pacific Global Management, SARL ("PGM"){{cite web |last=Martens |first=Cynthia |url=https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/pacific-global-management-acquires-women-management-branches-7316488/ |title=PGM Acquires Women Management Agency Branches |date=2013-12-16 |website=WWD.com |language=en-US |access-date=2022-05-17}} (now Freedom Holding, Inc.).

In 2012, Elite Models Amsterdam acquired Model Masters in Amsterdam.{{cite web |url=http://www.amsterdamherald.com/index.php/allnews-list/164-20120307-topmodel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825074235/http://www.amsterdamherald.com/index.php/allnews-list/164-20120307-topmodel |url-status=usurped |archive-date=August 25, 2012 |title=Former Holland's Next Top Model sacked for being 'too big' wins court case |publisher=The Amsterdam Herald |date=2012-03-07 |access-date=2012-10-25}} Model Masters is best known for representing models who win Holland's Next Top Model. With that acquisition, Elite fired Ananda Marchildon for being "too fat". The company lost a breach of contract lawsuit by Ananda Marchildon and had to pay her around €65,000 damages.{{cite web |last=Connolly |first=Kate |url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2012/mar/07/too-fat-model-wins-case |title='Too fat' model wins case against agency who dropped her |date=2012-03-07 |website=theguardian.com |language=en |access-date=2022-05-17}}

In 2013, Elite World SA opened a New York division under the name The Society Management{{cite web |url=https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/news-analysis/a-new-model-modelling-agency/ |title=A New Model Modelling Agency |publisher=Business of Fashion |date=2012-04-11 |access-date=2012-04-12}} (The Society, The Society Model Management, Inc.).{{cite web |url=https://www.thesocietymanagement.com/privacy-policy.web |title=The Society |publisher=The Society Model Management Inc. |access-date=2022-04-23}}{{cite web |last=Zargani |first=Luisa |url=https://wwd.com/business-news/human-resources/john-hooks-named-ceo-of-pacific-global-management-10174133/ |title=John Hooks Named CEO of Pacific Global Management |date=2015-07-01 |website=WWD.com |language=en-US |access-date=2022-05-17}}

Elite World Group, LLC ("EWG") was created{{cite web |url=https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_de/7252074 |title=ELITE WORLD GROUP, LLC |language=en-US |access-date=2022-05-17}} in order to hold PGM's stake in Elite World SA and EWG's branch was incorporated in New York on Jan. 28, 2019.{{cite web |url=https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_ny/5483509 |title=ELITE WORLD GROUP, LLC Branch |date=2019-01-28 |language=en-US |access-date=2022-05-17}} In 2019, Julia Haart was announced chief executive officer and chief creative officer of EWG which oversees Elite MM.{{cite web |url=https://wwd.com/business-news/media/julia-haart-appointed-ceo-of-elite-world-1203089986/ |title=Julia Haart Appointed CEO of Elite World |work=WWD |last=Zargani |first=Luisa |date=22 March 2019 |access-date=26 July 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322161948/https://wwd.com/business-news/media/julia-haart-appointed-ceo-of-elite-world-1203089986/ |archive-date=2019-03-22 }}

In 2022, Paolo Barbieri was announced group chief executive officer of Elite World Group which oversees Elite MM, The Society Management and Women Management.{{Cite web |last1=Zargani |first1=Luisa |date=2022-02-09 |title='My Unorthodox Life's' Julia Haart Exits Elite World Group |url=https://wwd.com/business-news/human-resources/julia-haart-exits-elite-world-group-1235065854/ |access-date=2022-02-10 |website=WWD.com |language=en-US}}

Allegations of an "ingrained culture" of sexual assault and rape by Elite's male employees, especially its boss Gérald Marie, have dogged the agency for decades.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}} In 1999, a BBC investigation filmed Marie saying he hoped to seduce the contestants at the annual Elite Model Look show, as well as assaulting an undercover journalist and offering her money for sex. He was temporarily suspended from Elite and in an interview at the time, said: "I'm destroyed ... I'm finished". But Elite countered with a libel action which was quietly settled with an apology from the BBC, who also agreed not to rebroadcast their documentary.{{cite news |date=29 September 2020 |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/1993463/elite-models-ex-boss-probed-for-alleged-child-rape-in-france |title=Elite Models ex-boss probed for alleged child rape in France |website=Bangkok Post |access-date=19 October 2020}}

Marie was married to Linda Evangelista between 1987 and 1993, at the time of many of the alleged offences; Marie is alleged to have raped several aspiring models in their flat while Evangelista was away on assignment, including a 15-year-old girl. Supermodel and actress Carré Otis claimed in her 2011 memoir, Beauty, Disrupted, that she was raped "countless" times in the flat by Marie starting around 1986, when she was 17. Otis and others have also claimed that rape by ancillary employees, such as hairdressers and photographers, was commonplace.{{cite news |date=28 September 2020 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/sep/28/former-elite-model-agency-boss-gerald-marie-investigated-france-over-allegations|title=Former Elite model agency boss investigated over rape allegations |website=The Guardian |access-date=19 October 2020}} In October 2020, Evangelista said: "During my relationship with Gérald Marie, I knew nothing of these sexual allegations against him, so I was unable to help these women. Hearing them now, and based on my own experiences, I believe that they are telling the truth. It breaks my heart because these are wounds that may never heal, and I admire their courage and strength for speaking up today."{{cite news |date=16 October 2020 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/16/linda-evangelista-praises-women-accusing-her-ex-husband-gerald-marie |title=Linda Evangelista praises women accusing her ex-husband of rape |website=The Guardian |access-date=19 October 2020}}

Elite's activities are also alleged to have been regularly used as a "front" for "pimping out" young models to wealthy men unconnected to the modelling industry. Adnan Khashoggi, the Saudi billionaire arms dealer is said to have admitted to at least one such introduction, to a model who became one of his "harem wives". She said that in the early 1980s he routinely browsed photographic portfolios of young women, with his assistant "asking whom he would like to meet, and discussing meet-up fees of between $35,000 and $50,000."{{cite news |date=17 October 2020 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/oct/17/he-wanted-to-control-me-completely-the-models-who-accuse-gerald-marie-of-sexual-assault|title='He wanted to control me completely': the models who accuse Gérald Marie of sexual assault|website=The Guardian |access-date=19 October 2020}}

In the wake of the MeToo movement, the allegations have increased; as of November 2020, at least 15 women have now spoken out against Marie and are cooperating in an investigation launched by French prosecutors.{{cite news|date=28 September 2020|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/28/world/europe/gerald-marie-france-models-accusations.html|title=Former Fashion Models Accuse Top Agent of Rape and Sexual Assault|website=New York Times|access-date=19 October 2020}}{{cite news |date=20 November 2020 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/nov/20/plain-sight-more-models-accuse-gerald-marie-sexual-assault-elite |title='What he was doing was in plain sight': more ex-models accuse Gérald Marie of sexual assault |website=The Guardian |access-date=21 November 2020}} Marie has denied all the allegations via his lawyers and said he intends to fight any charges laid against him. Despite this, more publications are claiming his alleged sexual misconduct was an open secret for years in the fashion industry.{{Cite web |date=2020-12-01 |title=Explained: Who is Gerald Marie, the modelling mogul accused |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/who-is-gerald-marie-the-modelling-mogul-accused-of-being-the-harvey-weinstein-of-fashion-7074177/|access-date=2020-12-02 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}

Gérald Marie’s contract with Elite MM ended in December 2010 and the company was sold in 2011 to its current owners Elite World Group, for whom Marie has never worked.

• List of modeling agencies

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Category:Companies based in Paris

Category:Entertainment companies established in 1972

Category:French companies established in 1972

Category:Modeling agencies

Category:Privately held companies of France