By: Sahra Mohamed
Imagine working on a $1000 painting for a client and finding out your boss was compensated instead. What if you were inappropriately touched by the client while working on this painting? In the fashion world, models, photographers, makeup artists and more, face many challenges in an unregulated industry. Unlike actors, they’re not part of a union and even with an agency representing them, many problems arise, such as wage theft and sexual misconduct. Who do they report to if the agency is complicit? As a international model myself, I had to rely on my instincts and do an immene amount of research when I’m working with a new photographer.
In an article posted in The New York Times, top models were interviewed, openly discussing their experiences with racial discrimination, eating disorders, sexual harassment and exploitation. These events don’t always happen on smaller sets, casting directors for large brands including Prada, contribute to a toxic work environment. When models as young as sixteen enter multiple markets in the fashion industry, deciphering the legalities of a contract is also tough to navigate. An exposé article published in Variety Magazine reveals explicit details of an international contract from one of the biggest modelling agencies in New York, Wilhelmina. In this contract, models who sign to the agency appoint Wilhelmina as their power of attorney and authorize them to collect and receive funds on their behalf.
Wilhelmina’s International Modeling Contract
A New York based non-profit organization called Model Alliance is working vigorously to pass The Fashion Workers Act. This is a New York State bill that would establish basic labor protection for models and content creators working in the New York Market. This piece of legislation would bring predatory management companies into regulation and discontinue unsafe practices. The Model Alliance group also supports and provides information regarding The Adult Survivors Act. This is a New York State law that enables survivors of abuse to file a civil case against their abuser or institution no matter the date of the assault, before November 23, 2023. The Fashion Workers Act passed in the New York Senate but not the assembly. Next year, this can be possible with our contributions by rallying, signing the petition posted on the Model Alliance website and donating to their grassroots fundraising goal. Every worker deserves to be protected and compensated fairly for services rendered, including models.
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