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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

15 yo DD 'spotted' by model agency, please help!

26 replies

lolarose123 · 03/11/2010 17:50

I really need some advice. During half term my 15 yo dd1 was shopping with some friends when a women approached her in Topshop and asked if she would be interested in modelling, she said she was just what they wanted and would she be interested in going to the studio for a chat. She gave her a card. Obviously DD was very excited and said she really wanted to. I was very hesitant, but after a quick search on the web I found that the agency Storm models is a very reputable one, not one of these dodgy agencies you hear about. Now she wants to go and talk with the agency, but I am really unsure about her doing this.
What are peoples thoughts on teen models???

OP posts:
sarah293 · 03/11/2010 17:55

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JFly · 03/11/2010 17:55

Well, I'm not into modelling and don't have experience with children in the business, but Storm is a huge agency, meaning Big Time. The founder discovered Kate Moss, etc.

I think it's kind of exciting!

jonicomelately · 03/11/2010 18:02

JFly's right. Storm are one of the best if not the best. Don't fret too much. She could go down the Lily Cole route and be a supermodel before reading English at Cambridge Smile

oranges · 03/11/2010 18:05

is she confident? if she isn't modelling may destroy her. if she is she could make it work with a lot of family support.

DwpAnxt · 03/11/2010 18:06

Given that it is a reputable agency I would go with one of my favourite quotes
["Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did." H. Jackson Brown, Jr.]

NonnoMum · 03/11/2010 18:10

Sarah Doukas is the head of Storm and is a woman with her head very firmly screwed on (think I heard her either on Womans' Hour or Desert Islands Discs v recently.) She sees every one of the girls who is a prospective model and won't take them on if not right.

This happened to a friend of ours when we were teenagers in TopShop (I was with her, they didn't ask short-y me!) and my friend totally dismissed the idea thinking it must be someone dodgy (don't know if it was Storm). I often wonder what might have been for her.

I would go for it. It doesn't mean she's going to become a cocaine head if you've raised her right, does it?

Good luck and let us know how things go...

sarah293 · 03/11/2010 18:13

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Original poster
lolarose123 · 03/11/2010 18:35

thanks for the replies. I am now thinking I will let her go and see what they say.

Riven:- Yes anorexia is a concern for me, dd1 has always been very thin and I don't want her to become obsessed with body image.

I am also quite surprised as she is not really that tall about 5"5 I thought for modelling you had to be a lot taller. She is quite gorgeous though, and obviously I'm not biased thinking that as her mother.

Will keep you updated

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MrsFogi · 03/11/2010 18:47

Why not go along with her? I have a number of friends who got modeling contracts in sixth form. It really does depend on personality - if she has her head screwed on and is ambitious she should be fine if she is not robust/self-confident it may not. One friend ended up anorexic and quite a mess. Another (with Storm) has done very well for herself and has had a pretty long career out of modeling - when she joined storm they insisted that she watch her weight and never went in the sun (as she has amazing white skin). One thing to be aware of is that whilst you can remain involved and keep an eye on her for a while later on you may not be keen on the contracts she takes - one friend (again with Storm) whose parents are fairly conservative has really fallen out with her parents as they did not approve of some very very risque adverts she did that were everywhere (billboards, magazines, written about in the press etc).

NonnoMum · 03/11/2010 22:11

Sarah Doukas's sister played "Alice" in Vicar of Dibley! Just thought I'd share that with you whilst the Dawn French webchat is tonight...

expatinscotland · 03/11/2010 22:15

Most big agencies like that do have a height requirement of usually 5ft. 8in. (or 5ft. 9in.) but they might want to talk to her about face modelling, or hair modelling.

sarah293 · 04/11/2010 06:52

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ilovecorey · 04/11/2010 20:29

im a teen model though my carrer has come to an abrupt end. its such a worthwhile pursuit i worked for some huge companies and had the time of my life. i used to be with storm and IMA and scott anderson so was very busy! let her do it but not get big headed! x

summer111 · 05/11/2010 16:13

How exciting! I'd certainly go along with her to hear what they say and then make a decision after that.

Chatelaine · 05/11/2010 16:36

As she is only 15 you will be expected to go with her and so will be fully informed. Go from there, how exciting, let us know how you get on!

Faaamily · 05/11/2010 16:41

Does she want to do it? Is she confident in front of the camera? How is she with rejection/criticism? Does she know wat modelling involves?

I modelled as a teen. It is a very adult world and can be quite brutal.

Storm are a reputable agency, though.Perhaps you could go along with her for an initial appointment and see what they say. You'll have chance to ask lots of questions, and your DD might get a better idea of what modelling entails.

nottirednow · 05/11/2010 20:47

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ilovecorey · 05/11/2010 21:23

you do eaarn one heck of a lot of money! make sure she gets a savings acount and doesnt blow it all like me

spacetastic · 08/11/2010 15:26

My daughter was a child model up until she was 16. She had fantastic times, great opportunities and made quite alot of money. The most important thing for your daughter is to get her GCSE's so if they are really interested they should let her do it partime until she has completes her education. Good luck.

expatinscotland · 08/11/2010 15:41

my child daughter has been approached by Wilhemena. but i said no. i want her to have a childhood.

i'd not want her to become a model as an adult, tbh.

i don't care for that type of world.

QuickLookBusy · 09/11/2010 14:40

My DD has been approached also.

I was very against it but she was very excited and decided to let her have a go.

They initially take some poloroids then measurements. My DD was 15, 5 ft 8" and weighted 7 and 1/2 stone. [I had just taken her to Dr because of worry over weight. Dr reasurred me that it was due to growth spurt and she was eating enough]

She was told by Premier Models that her hips were too wideAngry, She was also told to do lots of exercies and watch her diet!! I didnt hear any of this as she was taken behind a screen for measurements. They told me they loved her face but to get back in contact in 6 months, and hopefuly she would have grown another inch.

My DD told me everything when we got on the train to come home. She knew how I would react if she told me anywhere near their office. I was furious and phoned and let them know how disgusted I was.

I have also spoken to a make up artist who does shoots for the big mags. She told me some horror stories about weight/food with young models, and said she would never let her DD do modelling.

However it is obviously your and DDs choice. Your DD might be naturally slim and never have to worry about weight, but I would still keep a very close eye on her if she did decide to go for it, she is so young.

Sarsaparilllla · 09/11/2010 14:43

I would go along with her, Storm are a reputable company.

winnybella · 09/11/2010 14:45

I used to model with Storm for years, they are one of the best agencies in London, so no worries there.

Now whether you want dd to model is another thing. I had a great career, but the things I got up to...Grin

Original poster
lolarose123 · 11/11/2010 12:10

thanks everyone for all the replies. It helped me reach a decision !
Yesterday DD and I went to have a chat with storm. They seem very sensible, and I was happy that they treated my daughter like a 15 year old and not an adult. I told them that my priority was her education at the moment, but they said they would fit in around that.
They seemed very very keen to have her, and said if she says yes then they have a job they think she is perfect for in three weeks time.
They said that her height wasn't a big problem, as there are lots of shorter models coming into the industry now and still doing runway stuff. They measured her at just over 5'6 so my estimation was a bit off!

They are interested in her doing both runway and editorial.

My worry is still about weight issues, however DD has always been naturally thin and had a health appetite. I had a talk with her about eating disorders etc, and she seems very sensible!
I will just be keeping a very close eye on her.

So is going to let storm know tonight that she wants to do the photoshoot they have lined up in three weeks.

OP posts:
Romanarama · 12/11/2010 08:47

Lola I modelled as a teen. Don't worry, but do stay involved. As some have said it's a very adult world, and she'll need you to keep her feet on the ground. Eating disorders are one thing, but I'd be more worried about drugs and esp prowling men myself. I'm amazed looking back at what we got up to. Teenagers on the London/intl "scene" are very vulnerable. Get her to treat it as just for fun, and to keep eg Lily Cole, Emma Watson, Natalie Portman in mind as role models (not Kate Moss!). You will get some fantastic pictures out of it.