emodel.com, Options Talent Group

Dear Modeling Scams,

After reading the tragic (I can't think of any other word) stories posted on your website, I decided to share my own story.

I grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and was scouted by a real scout from Ford Modeling Agency at the age of 13.

By the time I decided I didn't want to model anymore, I had made about $50,000 after investing about $500.

I modeled for places like MTV, Elle, Mademoiselle, several campaigns, and a commercial.

I was never a top star, but I did make a good living for a teenager, and was able to help my parents make ends meet.

Over my time in modeling, most people I would tell "I am a model" would ask me, "Do you think I could be one?"

The sad truth is no, most people -- however beautiful they are -- can’t and won’t be professional models.

It has to do with a lot of things, like height, weight, and God-given features no one can change. IT DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE NOT A BEAUTIFUL PERSON.

However, most people don’t understand this. And as such, people who are frauds and don’t know the first thing about the industry (for example, “Options Talent”) will take advantage of these people.

When I visited their website, it is clear that most people on there could NEVER be models, because they do not have the look.

If you are convinced that you do (and there are fairly strict parameters), the best thing you can do is visit open calls for top agencies, such as Ford, Elite, Next, etc., or bring your best snapshots. That should be enough to get you started.

If you are rejected, but believe you should not have been (be honest with yourself), visit smaller agencies, or hire a photographer to test you.

Remember, a reputable place of business will never charge you money, because they can make A LOT MORE by simply finding you work.

An agency may, however, ask you to share expenses for testing. That is only fair.

My own contact with “Options” came in a form of a “help-wanted” advertisement. They were looking for scouts, and I got very excited, because they looked great.

However, as soon as I visited the website, I knew they had to be a fraud. As it turned out, they were.

So do your research.

As for myself, I think I will try to become a scout after all, but an independent one, one who gets money by finding agencies that will in turn find jobs, not robbing aspiring models.

V.A.