The Model Agency Channel 4

[cybilliberty]

What a pile of absolute crap

Have just switched it off, bored

'Would you really send your 16 year old by herself to New York, staying alone in a hotel and traipsing around the city visiting random casting agents?'

I wouldn't have any choice. She'd legally be an adult in this country and I could not stop her.

but they act like they are doing the girls a favour - that bit when the whinegy one told Daria she cd have a car, but 'you've worked really hard to work off your debt and you won't make any money etc' - it just all seems a bit icky - fake caring about the girls, but the naked truth appears to be all about the money earned for the agency. Obvious, it's a business, but don't then pretend there's a personal relationship or responsibility at work.

i thought they came across as caring even a little bit

Plenty of 16-year-olds go to work every day. No one expects their bosses to be personally responsible for their entire being outside of work.

It's a tough world out there.

Like kittya, I left home early as well. You grow up or you don't and pay the price no matter if it's modelling or backpacking.

I thought legally you had to be 18?
Some 16 year olds go to work, but how many fly to a different continent and spend days running around a city being dressed and undressed in front of strangers for a living? It's not exactly an average job. I seem to remember reading that some modelling agencies arranged chaperones for their younger models.

Agree with grumpypants- the whole thing about 'you paid your debts' was very dodgy. This is a Ukrainian model who was sent to Moscow at 14- I can imagine lots of people probably took advantage of her along the way.

What's odd was that they were perfectly happy for their darling Leomie to go around NY in cabs and get a car in London and yet they insisted on their foreign models using the Tube and mapvreading- something that's not exactly easy when you don't speak much English. There seemed to be an odd double standard- it came across like the 'foreign' models were easier to exploit because they didn't know any better.

i agree anon - i would have thought at least a chaperone or a taxi was v surprised at them being round and about london on their own.the agency couldn't give a toss imo so long as they get their cut.but i think that's what this programme is all about - seen similar before where they have been booked into flats in ny etc and left to get on with it.

they did say that in NY all the fashion houses were close in london they're all over the capital

That was the point Darya was making though- she was saying that it was easy to use public transport in NY because everything was close together and accessible but London was a pain because it was all spread out and difficult to find.
You'd think with the money they get they could do a deal with cars- they'd probably get special rates.

I definitely got a sense that the foreign models weren't treated the same as the British ones.

Anway got to stop obsessing about a stupid fly on the wall documentary!

Good god, what a load of self important, indulgent, whining bores. And the saddest thing is that I think they actually believe they are doing a real job! All the little asides about "working til 2am' etc - jeez, these jokers wouldn't know a proper day's work if it came up and bit them on the bum!

On a serious note, the fake 'caring' is pretty hideous..... the vacuous teenagers on the books are just vulnerable kids who are flattered by being given a bit of fake love and attention.

And Carol the wrinkled papery old hag is revolting... she should model for anti smoking ads - can't imagine a better advert for giving up smoking

'I thought legally you had to be 18?'

Not in the UK. They get a 10-year, adult passport at 16 and are able to use it without parental consent.

Again, no one forces a person to become a model or sign a contract with a particular agency.

If Darya started modelling at 14, then her parents consented to it.

'And the saddest thing is that I think they actually believe they are doing a real job! '

I'll bet the money they make it pretty real.

It seems a lot of Eastern European models start very young as a way out- they don't seem to have many prospects and modelling is their only ticket to a better life.
Look at Natalia Vodianova- she started off in Siberia living in poverty (in her own words) and is now married to a billionaire British viscount.

His older half-brother is a viscount.

Right. So he's just an aristocratic billionaire. My mistake.

Why did they keep calling Coco Chinese? they said it about three times, surely she's Japanese?

I cant beleive someone couldnt have paid for a cab for them.

They must show some concern because didnt Darya go mad that they had rang her mother up?

hmmmm interesting - just read article in trashy magazine passed on by my mum
carol testified in court (was it un? can't remember) against naomi campbell re the blood diamonds case.blimey.

Yes, I heard that. It was a huge thing on the news. I wonder how much Carol and her brother are worth? I like that shes not glam. I bet she could tell some right stories.

i love this programme, shame it finishes last week. was in my head that aiden is taking a risk having a relationship with the bosses daughter. what if it ends?
they all seem so scared of carol. if she loses her temper on the phone have you noticed how they all look so fearfully at each other. i couldn't work in that environment, no sir!

i meant it finishes next week......

I see Leomie is now doing a pretty big campaign for NEXT (online and in their new catalogue). One of other models who does NEXT regualarly is a Victoria's Secret model and so beautiful.