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Wilhelmina Atlanta

The Atlanta division of the internationally renowned Wilhelmina talent and modeling agency

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Overview

Wilhelmina is one of the most storied and internationally recognized names in the talent and modeling industry, founded in 1967 by Dutch-American supermodel Wilhelmina Cooper and her husband Victor Bruce Cooper in New York City. The agency grew to become one of the oldest and largest full-service model management companies in the world, and it now operates as a publicly traded company on NASDAQ under the ticker WHLM. While Wilhelmina's primary offices are located in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, and London, with a Chicago office added in 2016, the agency's national and international reach means that talent represented by Wilhelmina can access opportunities across all major production markets regardless of their geographic base. The agency represents actors, models, influencers, and creative talent for film, television, commercial, print, runway, and digital media work, providing comprehensive coverage across the full spectrum of entertainment and fashion industry opportunities. For Atlanta-based talent interested in Wilhelmina representation, the agency's national infrastructure and established relationships with clients and casting directors working in the Georgia market provide meaningful access to opportunities even without a dedicated Southeast office.

Wilhelmina's history is intertwined with the evolution of the modern modeling and talent industry, having pioneered practices including the promotion of diversity by supporting early African-American models and expanding representation beyond the narrow aesthetic standards that dominated the industry in its early decades. The agency has represented some of the most recognizable names in modeling and entertainment over its nearly six decades of operation, and its brand carries instant recognition and credibility with casting directors, clients, and production companies worldwide. The publicly traded company structure provides financial stability and operational resources that boutique agencies cannot match, while the agency maintains the creative eye and talent development philosophy that have defined it since Wilhelmina Cooper's founding vision. For actors and models in the Southeast, Wilhelmina's national representation model means that being on the agency's roster connects you to a global network of client relationships, casting director contacts, and industry opportunities that local agencies, regardless of their quality, simply cannot replicate. The agency's strong digital and influencer division reflects its adaptation to the modern entertainment landscape where social media presence and content creation capabilities are increasingly valued alongside traditional modeling and acting skills.

How It Works

Talent interested in Wilhelmina representation can submit through the agency's website at wilhelmina.com, specifying their geographic location and the divisions they are pursuing. Wilhelmina is highly selective and seeks talent with exceptional potential across multiple categories, so submissions should represent the absolute highest professional standard. Professional headshots, a polished resume or portfolio, and a compelling demo reel or modeling portfolio are essential components of any submission. The agency evaluates talent based on star quality, marketability, professionalism, and the potential to sustain a career across the multiple platforms and markets that Wilhelmina serves globally. For Atlanta-based talent, clearly communicating your Southeast location and your access to the Georgia production market can help the agency evaluate how you might contribute to projects casting in the region. The selectivity of Wilhelmina's submission process means that acceptance carries significant prestige and immediate credibility with industry professionals worldwide.

Working with Wilhelmina provides talent access to a global network of client relationships, casting connections, and booking opportunities that span the agency's offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, and Chicago, as well as the many markets where the agency's clients and relationships extend. For actors, this means potential submissions for major film and television productions, national and international commercial campaigns, digital content for leading brands, and voiceover opportunities across multiple markets. For models, the agency's fashion and commercial divisions provide access to runway shows, editorial spreads in major publications, print campaigns for prestige brands, and the e-commerce and digital content that is reshaping the modeling industry. The agency's influencer division offers representation for talent with significant social media followings who can deliver brand partnerships and content campaigns. All business aspects of representation are handled by experienced agents who operate at the highest professional standards, managing submissions, negotiations, contracts, and career strategy with the sophistication that a globally recognized publicly traded talent company can deliver.

Who Uses It

Wilhelmina's roster represents an exceptional selection of actors, models, influencers, and creative talent who meet the agency's exacting standards for star quality, marketability, and professional capability. The agency represents talent across all ages, ethnicities, and types, continuing the inclusive tradition established by its founders. The global roster spans the agency's offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, and Chicago, with talent in each market benefiting from the agency's cross-market client relationships and international reach. Both established industry professionals and exceptional newcomers find representation at Wilhelmina, though the agency's selectivity means that the roster is intentionally curated to maintain the quality and prestige that define the brand. For Southeast-based talent, joining Wilhelmina provides access to national and international opportunities that would be impossible to secure through local agency representation alone, regardless of that local agency's quality within its market.

Pricing & Plans

Wilhelmina operates on the standard commission-only model, with no upfront fees charged to represented talent. Commission rates follow industry standards and are consistent with the agency's status as a publicly traded company operating under regulatory requirements for transparent business practices. The public company structure provides an additional layer of financial accountability and business practice oversight that private agencies are not subject to. The commission-only model ensures that the agency's financial success is directly tied to the success of its represented talent. Given the caliber of clients, the scope of opportunities, and the global brand recognition that Wilhelmina representation provides, the standard commission rates represent strong value for talent who can successfully leverage the agency's platform to build nationally and internationally significant careers.

Pros & Cons

What's Great

Wilhelmina's nearly six-decade history and globally recognized brand provide instant credibility with casting directors, clients, and production companies worldwide that no local or regional agency can replicate. The publicly traded company structure provides financial stability, operational resources, and regulatory oversight that ensure professional business practices. The multi-office presence in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, and Chicago provides genuine global reach for career opportunities. The agency's pioneering history in promoting diversity aligns with modern industry values around inclusive representation. The digital and influencer division provides forward-looking representation for talent whose careers span traditional and social media platforms.

What Could Be Better

Wilhelmina does not currently operate a dedicated office in Atlanta, which means that Southeast-based talent may receive less direct local attention and fewer market-specific submissions compared to actors represented by agencies headquartered in the city with daily Atlanta casting relationships. The agency's extreme selectivity means that the vast majority of submitters will not gain representation, and the global prestige of the brand creates a competitive submission environment. The focus on modeling, fashion, and influencer representation alongside acting means that the agency's primary strength may lie in commercial and fashion categories rather than the theatrical film and television work that drives much of the Atlanta market. Being represented by a large, multi-office publicly traded company means that the personal, boutique-level attention available at smaller agencies may not be replicated. For actors specifically focused on building careers through the Georgia production market, agencies with dedicated Atlanta offices and daily local casting relationships may provide more direct and frequent access to Georgia-specific opportunities.

Our Recommendation

Wilhelmina is the aspirational choice for Atlanta-based actors and models with exceptional star quality who want the global prestige, international brand recognition, and cross-market opportunities that only a few agencies in the world can provide. The agency is particularly well-suited for models and influencers with high commercial appeal and the potential to work at the highest levels of the fashion and advertising industries. Actors with strong commercial viability and the ability to compete nationally should consider Wilhelmina as either primary or supplementary representation alongside a local Atlanta agency that provides daily market-specific access. If you are focused primarily on the theatrical film and television work available in the Georgia market, a dedicated Atlanta agency with strong local casting relationships may serve your immediate needs more effectively than a global brand operating from out-of-market offices. For talent with genuine star quality and the ambition to build careers that span multiple markets and platforms, Wilhelmina provides a platform that can launch the kind of globally significant career that local representation alone cannot facilitate.

Pro Tips

If you aspire to Wilhelmina representation, prepare submission materials that meet the highest international standards — this means premium headshots from a top photographer, a polished portfolio or reel that showcases your best work, and a professional presentation that demonstrates you understand the agency's caliber and are prepared to meet its expectations. Develop your personal brand across social media platforms, as Wilhelmina's influencer division values talent with engaged followings who can deliver content that resonates with brand clients. Consider maintaining dual representation — Wilhelmina for national and international opportunities alongside a local Atlanta agency for the daily Georgia market submissions that require dedicated local presence. Study the careers of Wilhelmina-represented talent to understand the agency's aesthetic preferences, the types of careers it launches, and how your own brand and capabilities align with the agency's vision. Present yourself with the confidence and professionalism that a globally recognized agency expects while remaining genuinely humble and collaborative in your interactions, as the talent who succeed at this level combine exceptional ability with the interpersonal skills that make them a pleasure to work with on sets worldwide.

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Quick Facts

PricingCommission-based (10-20%)
Best ForExceptional Atlanta actors and models seeking globally recognized representation with international career potential