14 yo dd model scouted

[gracieben6]

Was shopping in Topshop on Oxford street today with DD1 (14) , DD2 & DD3 (7). A lady came up to me and asked the age of DD1. I said she was 14 and she asked me if I'd ever considered modelling for her. I said I hadn't and she gave me a business card to call them to arrange a meeting. Have googled agency and it seems well-known and legitimate. I'm worried that DD1 will become obsessed about weight and looks. She is a healthy skinny - she eats healthy and comes on runs with me sometimes. She is desperate to have the meeting but I am a little bit unsure. Any advice from anyone on whether to have the meeting or not would be appreciated

[specialsubject]

Would you let her enter beauty contests ? Same thing, only maybe with a bit of pay.

I'd hope that if I had a daughter , she could do better than this. A few go on to make fortunes but none of them are characters to aspire to. Ideally she'd be old enough to deal with it all, but no one takes on a model old enough for that.

[SouthWestmom]

Dd was scouted by a very well known agency. We went along, they just keep in touch until they reach 16. It's come to nothing for dd - she is still talk, slim and beautiful but there are a lot of girls like that around! Does your dd have a thick skin?

[minatiae]

it could be good for her if she is going to earn money for it - teach her about budgeting etc

[MaudeandHarold]

The pressure put upon young models to stay skinny is horrendous, I'd avoid like the plague. Most models aren't paid alot, and you'd have to chaperone until she was 16. If it was me...I'd say no.

[AaronBleurgh]

Is she interested and, as a pp said, does she have a thick skin? Do you think she is able to cope with both rejection and criticism?

DD and one of my sons were scouted in NYC. I decided it wasn't a world I wanted them to spend any time in at such a vulnerable age. As it was, neither were that bothered.

[DramaAlpaca]

I don't have daughters, but if I did modelling would not be an industry I would want them involved in.

[FourFlapjacksPlease]

which agency is it? Some are better with younger models than others. It can be a great career for young girls if they are fairly secure and confident. I'd avoid like the plague if she is very sensitive though.

[Just5minswithDacre]

Oh that's a hard one. I'd be horrified. Luckily so would my very savvy, media-critical DD.

Be a 14 year old who is keen is really going to resent you if you don't even go to the meeting.

If it's correct that the agency just keep in touch until the potential model is 16, could you go to the meeting, ask some subtle but searching questions, then hope life takes over or nothing comes of it?

Two years is a lot of time to discuss media,?beauty standards and your DD's (other) career aspirations.

[Just5minswithDacre]

'Scuse typos

[SpecialAgentFreyPie]

I was scouted at 15, my mum is deeply religious and very anxious so she flatly refused. I've still not really forgiven her.

Whatever choice is made, just make sure DD1 doesn't think it's purely about what you want, but about what is best for her.

[Oblomov16]

I think you should go. She will resent you if you don't. At 14, probably not that much more will come if it at this stage.

[VioletBam]

I modelled in the 90s and had a fabulous time. I spent what I made. I put my degree off till I was 23 and it worked out fine for me.

[mollie123]

it may sound like a legit agency and probably was but why was this person (business card or not) lurking in Topshop and handing out opportunities for meetings to likely looking hopefuls.
I would go to the meeting especially as your daughter is keen and see what they say before she gets too deeply involved in aspiring to said career.
As others have said - it may well come to nothing.

[VioletBam]

Mollie that's what they do. They lurk in places where teens go.

[AngharadTheSplendid]

Agree Violet. I work in fashion industry and all the scouts i know go to TS Oxford Circus. They aren't 'lurking.'

I'd go to the meeting. Otherwise dd may always wonder what if. Maybe nothing will come of it, she could go to a few castings but not get any work. She could do cataloguey stuff like asos, not high fashion but plenty of money to be made and a learning experience. There are plenty of happy enough models out there.

[UnexpectedBaggage]

I was scouted aged 16 in the late 60s. It wasn't such a pressurised world then. I carried on part time while I was a student to supplement my grant during the holidays and odd weekends. I enjoyed what I did but turned down more than I accepted.

I would never have considered it for a career, though. It's a very superficial world.

[CatherineDeB]

I would be horrified too and wouldn't want my DD involved with modelling, I would try to dissuade her.

Mind you is nice to hear from the people who used it to their advantage when they were students on this thread.

[joliepapillon]

This happened to my sister. She did it for a year and hated it but I think she would have resented our parents if she wasn't allowed to go.
It was very hard though. She had to spend all day travelling across London for castings which hardly ever led to anything. She was given advice such as 'eat an apple for lunch and drink vodka' to stay slim. And they put her up in an expensive flat which they paid for out of her wages and as she didn't earn much; she never had any money. This was a very reputable agency btw; my sister was friends with someone who is now very well known and successful.

Luckily my dsis is thick skinned and refused to stop eating and soon decided it wasn't for her. She now has a very successful career in a completely different industry.

I think it's important to support your DD but be aware that the industry is not nice and let her know she can leave whenever she wants. My dad put quite a lot of pressure on my sister to succeed (not nice) and that could have made things go very wrong for her had she not known her own mind.

[panegyricS1]

I did it in the late 1980s, egged on by a friend. I liked seeing different places and the camaraderie was good. I only ever did catalogue and teen mag shoots though - I was too hefty for runway and too "girl next door". She'll need a thick skin because she will be critiqued and she'll be made aware of every physical flaw. The fashion industry is important to the uk economy but it is hard and competitve. She'll get lots of attention from older men too, which she must be equipped to deal with firmly.

[Tarttlet]

I think, if she does decide that she's interested and you're not set against her modelling, it would be a good idea to talk to her about beauty standards, how ruthless the industry can be, etc, and make sure she's aware of the negatives as well as the positives. Yes, there are some deeply unpleasant aspects to modelling - but there are to a lot of sports too, for example.

[TheDowagerCuntess]

Agree that scouting outside the likes of Topshop is so common, that it's somewhat of a cliché. It' been the hunting place of choice since the 90s, if not earlier. Can't remember when it opened.

I would lay it out. Let her know what's involved, and how soul destroying it's likely to be. Only a minuscule number of models actually become rich and famous, but all of them are under huge amounts of pressure, criticism and rejection.

But as others say, she will likely resent you if you completely veto it.

[AndNowItsSeven]

Mollie scouting in Tooshopbis a normal thing to do.

[AndNowItsSeven]

Topshop.

[AveADayOffWillYa]

I was scouted outside Oxford St Topshop in the early 90s, aged 15 . Well known agency (Premier).

I knew within 5 minutes of talking to the agency staff that I didn't want to do it. I found it all incredibly intimidating, and not at all glamorous. They were talking about me like I wasn't there ('she'd be perfect for Paris'...'she might need to fix her teeth' etc)

I'd say if she really wants to do it, go along with her and see how the land lies. It might be good for her to get an idea of the reality of modelling....