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Elite Model Management
Elite Model Management (MM) is a French modeling agency that originated in Paris in 1972. Elite MM is a subsidiary of Elite World S.A., whose main shareholder Silvio Scaglia controls his stake through Elite World Group (EWG), a management company where Elite MM is one of brands along with The Society Management, Women Management, Supreme Management, Elite Model Look, and Women 360. In 2004, the agencies in New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, and Toronto separated and formed Elite Model Management North America. Although Elite Model Management North America and Elite World Group share the same logo, they have separate ownership and are not part of a business network.
Elite Model Management was founded in Paris in 1972 by John Casablancas (1942–2013) and Alain Kittler. 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 Lategan's wife, Lynn Kohlman; Paula Brenken; and Paris Plannings Emanuelle Dano.
At the time, boutique agencies in Paris and Milan fell out of favor with models due to payment issues. Models often found that Parisian and Milanese agencies were withholding their pay to coerce them into returning without work visas and work. 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. Until 1977, Ford was affiliated with Elite until Elite opened up offices in New York and began stealing Ford's models. 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. 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, known as The Look of the Year, a competition to rival its competitor 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, 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. Elite World S.A. is the parent company of Elite Model Management (MM). The expansion of Elite Models continued as it formed partnerships with already established agencies. In 1990, Elite Models formed a partnership with Model Management Heidi Gross in Hamburg. 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 collaboration with him, they established Elite Models Hong Kong and China. In 1996, Lu expanded Elite MM to Singapore, which served as a regional office for South East Asia. 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.
In 1999, a film was broadcast by the BBC showing the President of Elite MM, Gérald 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. In the wake of this controversy, Casablancas left and formed the John Casablancas Modeling and Career Center in New York. Elite World SA was incorporated on 14 December 1999 as an umbrella company and for licensing.
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. 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.
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Elite Model Management
Elite Model Management (MM) is a French modeling agency that originated in Paris in 1972. Elite MM is a subsidiary of Elite World S.A., whose main shareholder Silvio Scaglia controls his stake through Elite World Group (EWG), a management company where Elite MM is one of brands along with The Society Management, Women Management, Supreme Management, Elite Model Look, and Women 360. In 2004, the agencies in New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, and Toronto separated and formed Elite Model Management North America. Although Elite Model Management North America and Elite World Group share the same logo, they have separate ownership and are not part of a business network.
Elite Model Management was founded in Paris in 1972 by John Casablancas (1942–2013) and Alain Kittler. 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 Lategan's wife, Lynn Kohlman; Paula Brenken; and Paris Plannings Emanuelle Dano.
At the time, boutique agencies in Paris and Milan fell out of favor with models due to payment issues. Models often found that Parisian and Milanese agencies were withholding their pay to coerce them into returning without work visas and work. 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. Until 1977, Ford was affiliated with Elite until Elite opened up offices in New York and began stealing Ford's models. 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. 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, known as The Look of the Year, a competition to rival its competitor 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, 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. Elite World S.A. is the parent company of Elite Model Management (MM). The expansion of Elite Models continued as it formed partnerships with already established agencies. In 1990, Elite Models formed a partnership with Model Management Heidi Gross in Hamburg. 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 collaboration with him, they established Elite Models Hong Kong and China. In 1996, Lu expanded Elite MM to Singapore, which served as a regional office for South East Asia. 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.
In 1999, a film was broadcast by the BBC showing the President of Elite MM, Gérald 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. In the wake of this controversy, Casablancas left and formed the John Casablancas Modeling and Career Center in New York. Elite World SA was incorporated on 14 December 1999 as an umbrella company and for licensing.
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. 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.
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