On account of the 107 shoots done over the past 21 years, I get this inquiry a lot. My son/daughter/nephew/niece/friend next door/kid/cat wants to get into the modeling industry. What do I do?
Find an agent, find an agency. Get a trainer. Eat healthy. The second half is more of a note to self...
For all the ink spilled with good intentions and 'woke' affirmations on body positivity, the way the city works is; you fit into sample size, you get the job. Or you'll get a lot of polite 'Thank you for your time' nods (if even that). Casting in the city is pretty curt, if not ruthless.
The modeling revolution is imminent but it's not here in the 852. How models of colour, plus size, minority groups are treated, if ever booked and/or paid is shocking. More on that later...
There are a lot of quasi modeling agencies - some of wildly questionable repute. Especially on social media as they tap into the vast resources of Instagram-fueled narcissism. If they've ever asked YOU for money to "build your portfolio" or "book a photographer" red flags should be raised immediately.
Two friends - Lena and Emma - got messages on Instagram from Insert Generic Name who posed himself/herself as a stylist/photographer/and/or agent who wanted images of them in lingerie no less (again 🚩) so they could get them jobs with international photographers and "shoots at Vogue". BTW if anyone random says We can get you into Vogue is another major red 🚩!). Vogue, Vogue Hong Kong uses professional agencies and rarely does ad hoc shoots and castings.
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Cara G portfolio
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Earlier I had written a feature on Hong Kong supermodel Cara G - and her experiences in the industry - mostly good, two bad. Read up here. Thankfully the ladies had the good sense to look at 'mutual friends' and ask around. Do your homework. As the cliché goes; if it sounds too good to be true...
At the magazine/the paper we only worked with the following legit agencies. Legit = they have been in the industry for long, have contacts with magazines, brands and events and, perhaps most importantly, have registered business licenses so if they screw you over, they would be liable. Small Claims Court is littered with affidavits of questionable legitimacy.
So herewith; Top Eleven agencies (two maybes, as I'm not sure they survived the pandemic) in Hong Kong, in alphabetical order:
Top 11 Hong Kong Modeling Agencies
Others....
- Model International * Hong Kong office has closed I think. The GZ office continues.
- Starz * not sure if its still around... but it in its heyday, was 'the' agency in Hong Kong.
There are of course other modeling agencies in Hong Kong; I just haven't worked with all of them;
Top 13 Official Instagram accounts of verified modeling agencies in Hong Kong.
- Primo Model Agency HK here. 15k
- Quest Artists models HK here. 12.7k
- Starz People HK here. 11.7k
- CalCarries International HK here. 8981
- Model One HK here. 8208
- Sun Esee Model Management HK here 4922
- Synergy Model Management here. 4537
- Liberte Model HK here. 3627
- Elegance Model agency in HK here 3551
- Divine Model agency in HK here. 3493
- Model International Gz here. 1955
- East West Modeling agency here. 1696
- Elite Model Asia here. 458
* Stats as per the day we published this list!
