Elite Model Management
A global modeling agency with offices on multiple continents
Overview
Elite Model Management is a global modeling agency with a presence in major fashion capitals including New York, Paris, Milan, and London. Founded in 1972, it has been instrumental in shaping the modern modeling industry.
The agency represents models across fashion, commercial, and editorial categories, offering comprehensive career management and global placement. Their commercial division books campaigns for major international brands.
How It Works
Elite's global network allows models to work across multiple markets seamlessly. The agency's connections span advertising, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands at the highest levels.
Prospective models are scouted through competitions, social media, and open submissions. The agency's selection process is highly competitive, focusing on unique looks and strong commercial viability.
Who Uses It
One of the premier agencies in the world for models with international ambitions. Submit through their website or attend scouting events, and be prepared for a thorough evaluation process.
Pricing & Plans
Elite Model Management operates on the standard agency commission model, earning a percentage of each booking with no upfront fees charged to talent for representation consideration. Commission rates align with industry standards, typically 10-20% depending on the market, division, and type of work, with specific terms outlined in the representation contract. The agency's global network means that models signed to Elite may have different commission structures and contract terms depending on which office handles their representation and in which markets they work. Travel, accommodation, and portfolio development costs are typically borne by the model, though the agency may advance certain expenses for developing talent and recoup them from future earnings. Elite's World Model Search competition, which has been running for decades, provides a structured pathway to representation that includes prizes and development support for winners. The agency does not charge any fees for competition participation, submissions, or evaluation — legitimate Elite representation is earned through the quality of your look and potential, never through payment.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
Elite's truly global network with offices in the world's major fashion capitals — New York, Paris, Milan, London, and beyond — provides represented models with seamless access to international markets that would be extraordinarily difficult to navigate independently. The agency's multi-continental presence allows models to build careers across different markets, working Paris fashion week, London editorial shoots, and New York commercial campaigns through a single agency relationship rather than juggling multiple international agent agreements. Elite's Elite Model Look competition (now World Model Search) has discovered some of the biggest names in modeling history, demonstrating the agency's genuine ability to identify raw talent and develop it into successful careers at the highest level. The agency's connections with luxury fashion houses, international beauty brands, and global advertising campaigns provide access to the most prestigious and highest-paying work in the modeling industry. Being represented by Elite carries enormous prestige within the industry, and the agency's name on your portfolio signals to clients worldwide that you have been evaluated and approved by one of the most selective talent development organizations in existence. The depth of experience in career management across different markets allows Elite's agents to make strategic decisions about which markets, campaigns, and brand relationships will best serve your long-term career trajectory.
What Could Be Better
The extreme competitiveness of Elite's selection process means that the overwhelming majority of aspiring models will not be accepted, and the agency's global reputation attracts so many submissions that response times can be lengthy and non-responses are common. The international nature of Elite's operations can create complexity around contracts, commission structures, and business relationships when you are being managed across multiple offices in different countries with different legal frameworks. The fashion industry's well-documented pressure around body image, weight, and appearance is amplified at elite agencies where the standards are the most exacting, and models must be prepared to navigate these demands while protecting their physical and mental health. Models signed to smaller markets within Elite's network may find that the resources and attention available to them are significantly less than what talent in the agency's flagship New York or Paris offices receive. The agency's focus on editorial fashion and high-end commercial work means that models whose strengths lie in fitness, lifestyle, or commercial print may find fewer opportunities through Elite than through agencies that specialize in those categories. Contract terms at global agencies can be complex and restrictive, with exclusivity provisions, territorial assignments, and commission structures that require careful review by a qualified entertainment attorney before signing.
Our Recommendation
Elite Model Management is recommended for models with genuine international-caliber potential who aspire to build careers across multiple global markets in fashion, editorial, and high-end commercial work. The agency is best suited for models who are willing to travel extensively, adapt to different market requirements, and invest the time and energy needed to build an international career that may take years to fully develop. If your primary interest is commercial and print work in a single US market, agencies with stronger local market focus may provide more relevant and frequent booking opportunities than a global fashion-oriented agency. Models who are new to the industry should build foundational experience through local agencies and portfolio development before approaching Elite, as the agency expects a baseline level of professionalism and market readiness in the talent it considers for representation. Consider Elite alongside other global agencies like IMG and Next Management as part of a strategic submission process, as different agencies respond to different aesthetics and having multiple options increases your chances of finding the right fit.
Pro Tips
Research Elite's current campaigns and represented talent across multiple markets to understand the agency's aesthetic direction and identify which division and market might be the best fit for your look and goals. If Elite's World Model Search competition is active in your region, enter it as a structured pathway to being evaluated by agency scouts, as the competition format provides direct access to decision-makers that cold submissions cannot guarantee. Prepare for potential international travel and extended stays in cities like Paris, Milan, or London if you are signed, as building an international modeling career requires physical presence in multiple markets during key booking seasons. Develop basic proficiency in a second language if possible, as multilingual models have a significant competitive advantage in international markets and are more versatile for clients producing content across regions. Be mentally prepared for the pace and pressure of international modeling, including long periods away from home, adjustment to different cultural norms, and the need for strong self-discipline in managing finances, health, and personal relationships while building a global career.