‘What lies Behind the Curtain’. The Epstein case. Conde Nast, publisher of Vogue, has similarly raised concerns and published guidelines.

Models, and particularly aspiring models, can be left wide open to grooming.

There are several areas of concern:

1. Agencies that aren’t as they seem

2. Crooked model ‘scouts’

3. Unscrupulous photographers

4. Model ‘schools’

5. Abuse of the power relationship for personal sexual gain

Our biggest words of advice? Follow your gut. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Our research into grooming is clearly showing that people being groomed into something generally have a sense that something’s not quite right. But they’re unsure, or feel bad for thinking those thoughts.

Model Agencies

The most common forms of abuse through model agencies are:

• Being a cover for an escort agency

• Sex trafficking

• Taking (and misusing) pornographic pictures

• Financial

Easy steps to take to protect yourself

• Research the agency, including a search of the name plus the word ‘scam’. Ask for examples of previous successes - clients and models who have worked with them before. Get contact details - even we at CAAGe could tell you we’re working for Georgia Palmer or Gigi Hadid, but we’d be lying! And look up the models names with the agency name.

• If someone contacts you claiming to be from a modelling agency, tell them you are on another call and call them back. Run an internet check on the phone numbers. See what other models say. (The name on the company and the word ‘scam’ as a search often flushes out anything being said.)

• A good agency will always have contracts and insurance. Make sure you study the contract to see what you’re getting into. The contract should tell you what percentage of earnings the agency will take on assignments. on assignments.

• No-one can guarantee you work on the basis of pictures or contracts. (They should work to get you ‘castings’ to earn their money.)

• Agencies should not charge joining fees, and should have an office. (However, cooperative agencies may request a ‘stakeholders fee’ which is refunded when you leave the agency. Ask for something in writing when you hand over money.)

• The agency will probably take a couple of shots of you in their office to see how well you photograph. Many ask you spend money on hiring a professional photographer to start a portfolio and to get pictures in a certain style onto their websites/onto their books. However, this is not usually a LOT of money. Agencies often have preferred or inhouse photographers. Some will pay for the images themselves, and then deduct the costs from your earnings. Make sure you understand up front what’s happening.

• They may also offer you training. Make sure you know what this is and how it’s paid for. They are not legally allowed to make paid services a condition of your contract.

• Watch out for any individuals getting you into drugs – whilst this may seem very glamorous, especially ‘champagne’ drugs, and ones they’ll tell you will keep your weight down, ultimately they may do you more harm than good. These people may present as friends. They are not.

• It’s not unreasonable to take someone with you to your first meeting, whatever your age.

• Sexual favours are never part of any contract, whatever an individual may say.

• Until you are well established and understand how things work, booking through and agency is generally safer than freelancing.

Red flags (warning signs)

• asking you to pay up front

• guarantees of work

• promises to make you rich or of high salaries

• lack of contracts or rushing you to sign

• asking for sensitive information or data

  Notes:

• These are the guidelines laid out by the BFMA (British Fashion Model Agents Association): Agency guidelines

• UK law changed in 2010, making it illegal for companies to charge clients if they don't find them work (although they may still bill them for publishing them online or in publications)

‘Model Platforms’

Model ‘platforms’ often claim to connect models to agencies, magazines, and brands.

Whilst we are certain that there may be some legitimate ‘platforms’ out there, they have a bad name and are oftem labelled scams. Model Mayhem is notorious: casting calls on the site are posted by third parties and not verified.

Scammers operate by calling models in for a test shoot and/or interview. They subsequently arrange photo shoots for those who ‘pass’, then coerce aspiring models into buying a portfolio, often at inflated prices. Or worse.

Model Schools

Modelling schools and courses teach you skills for modeling - hair and makeup, runway walks, photo angles, how to manage contracts and more. They will charge for these services.

Easy steps to take to protect yourself

• Do some research on them - Google searches and the like

• Ask to speak with former students

• Get in writing what they’ll do for you (and any promises they make later).

Red flags:

• If something’s too good to be true, it’s probably a scam.

• Sexual or other inappropriate relationships with students. These should not be happening.

Model Scouts

A model scout is employed to discover and recruit aspiring, potential models. Their clients can be modeling agencies, advertising agencies, production companies, photographers or hiring models for particular projects. They then promote the models to the client. Model scouts take a cut or a commission foron any jobs so try to sign up as one of the agencies’ models, rather than continuing to work with model scouts.

You should also be aware of modeling scams and avoid anything that doesn't feel right. Be suspicious if you are asked to pay an upfront fee, and don't sign any documents without reading them through first.

A popular model scouting scam is fake casting calls/open calls set up at hotels or other public places, claiming links to a reputable model agency, and advertised in a local paper or online. Very few agencies recruit models this way - you can always call the agency to check, using a number found online, not the one in the ad.

It is prohibited by law to charge up-front fees and these set ups usually do. They will claim to provide a portfolio and promise work. Usually, they take your money and disappear.

Easy steps to take to protect yourself

• If someone tells you they are a scout for a model agency, call the agency and check them out – on a telephone number found on the agency’s website, not the telephone number they give you.

• Many agencies post scouts’ details on their websites.

• Google them - and then Google again adding the words ‘scam’ or ‘abuse’.

• Sexual favours are never demanded by legitimate individuals, or part of any contract.

Photographers

Many agencies won’t charge large fees for a portfolio. They can see from holiday snaps whether the camera likes you. But you may want to give yourself the best chance and create a portfolio, and that means a photographer. Now let’s face it, Annie Leibovitz is unlikely to drop everything for a rookie portfolio, so you  will probably get a junior or less practised photographer at the start. For the most part, they will want to make a name as well, and so will usually work hard and experiment with angles.

But there are unscrupulous photographers out there too, happy to take thousands from you for a portfolio you don’t yet need. Worse still, these photographers’ ‘studios’ can put you at risk.

And sometimes photographers who have been booked and paid by agencies or brands for a shoot - although less so - are less than scrupulous.

Easy steps to take to protect yourself

Before booking:

• Google them. They should have at least a starter portfolio online.

• Ask questions about lighting and props. If it’s all beds and boudoirs, think carefully.

• Run reverse photo/image searches on the photographers’ pictures to see if they genuinely own/created the images they are showing you.

• Don’t send anyone you don’t know naked or semi dressed pictures.

• Make sure the photographer is explicit about what the shots involve and what you’ll be wearing. Ask up front whether the shoot requires nudity, sheer clothing, lingerie, swimwear, animals, simulated drug or alcohol use or sexually suggestive poses.

• A private dressing space must be provided to every subject on set. At all other times, subjects should not be left alone with a photographer, makeup artist or any other participant any time during a shoot.

• Speak to other models who’ve used the same photographer.

• Look up the photographer’s social media profiles – who do they interact with and does this sound like someone you will trust with your image?

At the shoot:

• It is common to have chaperones for the Under 18’s.

• Surprisingly, many photographers DO use their own homes for shoots. Make sure you have an address and someone knows where you’re going.

• Meet the photographer  in a public place to begin with. Take a friend/chaperone (the photographer shouldn’t object), and talk about what you are and aren’t prepared to do beforehand.

• No photographer should be asking you to take your clothes off to see if you are camera shy.

• We do understand that peer pressure is tough but….Don’t take in advance, or accept on the shoot, any alcohol or illegal drugs, whatever anyone else is doing. It may get you fired or a bad name with reputable operators, or leave you vulnerable with disreputable ones.

Storm’s advice: Professional pictures are NOT necessary …. Relax, do not smile nor pout for the photos. They do not want, as their introductory photo, retouched photos, body shots, baggy clothes or lots of make-up and hair styling.

Red flags:

• No contract or photo release forms (which explain how and where you agree to the images being used)

• Asking for anything outside of the contract without good reason, including being asked to do anything sexual with the photographer or anyone else o the shoot.

Unsolicited Social Media/Online Contact

Scammers contact targets via social media sites with offers of a modeling jobs/castings.

A recent scam is to use big name companies’ names to reassure targets - they claim to be scouting for adverts. They ask for a deposit against you showing up for the casting.

Red flags:

• Asking you to send suggestive photos

• Money requests

• Emails with grammar errors

• Promises of meetings or jobs with a big-name photographers, designers or fashion/retail labels.

And when you’re through stage one….

Congratulations - you’re now a model.

One for the women, in particular: put a group of pretty girls together and you have a man magnet. People will want to buy you drinks and give you free entry to clubs. Circling around you may well be some unscrupulous people, including groomers.

Stick together. Watch your drinks. Use licensed cabs. Talk to each other about anything that makes you uncomfortable. You may be competing for the right kind of attention (jobs and casting opportunities), but try to have each others’ backs for the wrong kind.