An Attempt To Set A Standard For Model Behavior

Filed Under: Legal Matters Models

Two Australian models are on the brink of establishing the modeling industry's first code of conduct in order to protect models from being exploited.

Or so they're trying!

Victoria Keon-Cohen and Dunja Knezevic, who, together, have worked for Versace, Levi's, Vogue, and Marks & Spencer, among others, aim to change the standards of treatment in an industry where models are treated as disposable. You mean they're not???

Since 2007, when the duo campaigned for London's Equity union, the girls have represented models who were scammed out of money, hurt on photoshoots, or sexually harassed by photographers.

One male model suffered when a stylist left peroxide in his hair too long, causing his scalp to bleed. Other models suffered sprained ankles after a photographer insisted they wear high heels on a trampoline.

Yikes! The peroxide incident sounds miserable. And more than just the pain of a sprained ankle or a bleeding scalp, a model's hair and ability to stand and pose are their moneymaker - they have to make sure no one will jeopardize that, or else they're at risk of not getting booked again, causing more damages than just the initial pain.

What's more, Keon-Cohen says that, "Things like harassment, which can be quite serious, can often be hushed up because models don't know what to do or where to complain. With models, you get stylists reaching up your skirt and adjusting your underpants, which is obviously not the best way to go about it."

With the help of their powerhouse agency, IMG, the girls are in negotiations with the British Fashion Council and Association of Modelling Agencies to raise the bar for treatment toward models.

Good luck, ladies!

Are you gonna try and get models discounts from the drug dealer too???

Posted: August 26, 2009 at 10:30 am