Top 11 modeling agencies in Hong Kong: Local, international legit ones!

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. 

Top Ten Models in Hong Kong - earlier feature. 

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.  

Cara G portfolio

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

1. Cal Carries 
2. Elegance 
3. Elite 
4. Genesis 
5. Liberté 
6. Model Factory
7. Model One 
8. Primo 
9. Quest 
10. Sun Esee 
11. Synergy 

Others....  

1. Model International  * Hong Kong office has closed I think. The GZ office continues. 
2. 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. 

1. Primo Model Agency HK here. 15k
2. Quest Artists models HK here. 12.7k
3. Starz People HK here. 11.7k
4. CalCarries International HK here. 8981
5. Model One HK here. 8208
6. Sun Esee Model Management HK here 4922 
7. Synergy Model Management here. 4537
8. Liberte Model HK here. 3627
9. Elegance Model agency in HK here 3551
10. Divine Model agency in HK here. 3493
11. Model International Gz here. 1955
12. East West Modeling agency here. 1696
13. Elite Model Asia here. 458

* Stats as per the day we published this list! 

David Oshry in Mazu Resortwear: Photographer Ruby Law

click to enlarge

Waterfalls.

Shot in Hong Kong... somewhere far from the madding crowd.

With my fav Ruby Law behind the camera - she's amazzzzzzzzing. 

 Model: David Oshry at MI 
 Shot by Ruby Law

 Shorts: Mazu Resortwear

Follow them all at 

https://www.instagram.com/rubylaw/

https://www.instagram.com/mazuresortwear/

https://www.instagram.com/davidoshry/

10 x 10 is back with a bang: Hong Kong's fundraising event is on tonight - by Zoom! How 2021 is!

https://10x10philanthropy.com/hk/?fbclid=IwAR1pNvlYGoQKMVq7nH5yyFDqrLWyHy5A8VCci-CSOeT40oNz5qT5S7kjmPI 

10 x 10 was introduced to me via Antonia da Cruz and for three years in a row, I covered, attended and sponsored (well, the magazine I worked for) the event. 

With a year off from the event (protests, covid!), the event is back on  - and happening in a few minutes live at https://10x10philanthropy.com/hk/

Log on to watch and/or donate. 100% of the money goes to worthy charities and its a tax write-off. 

David Oshry for Vitruvian man: Alex Aalto Photography

 

All photos and video by Alex Alto 

https://www.alexaalto.com/

Ad shot in Hong Kong. for Vitruvian official. An organic skincare brand for men. I received a bunch of their products - thanks Alex - and gave some away to local crew - they absolutely loved it and bought more from @vitruvianofficial  ie https://vitruvian-man.com/

For those with sensitive skin esp prone to razor burn, its soothing emulsions that are not heavily scented. A necessity more than a luxury. It's products you use on your face; indulge and splurge a little! 

For my shameless plug I have an absolute favourite, the Supreme Eye Cream. Have jumped into the dark side of age (where I can no longer bold-face lie about the last shreds of youth I cling to) where the ravages of time and jaded exhaustion lay heavily under my eye. Need Supreme Eye Cream.

#VitruvianMan #Organic #Skindcare #Skin #Skincare  

#Photographer: @aaltoalex

Video has gone viral on social media too. Alex Aalto and team did such an incredible job. They are my dream crew - been working with them since 2018. 

Mama Mia! My feature (and shoot!) is up at The New Moon

Felt back in form working on this shoot and feature - out now in its entirety at The New Moon - read up here.

I wanna give a shout out to Kaye Dong for creating The New Moon; which has been embraced by so many. When I started the pitch to these ladies, I sent them a link to the page and everyone said yes immediately after seeing it. Most people are suspicious of yet another online magazine but there definitely is an aura and... vibe and flavour to this enterprise that is so vastly appealing. 
 

Planned and plotted with my most frequent collaborator this year - photographer Ruby Law - as my previous editor Christina Ko  (an eternal fav - no one tell her) commissioned me (yay) to write this feature and pull together this shoot. 

Originally we were going to shoot near Blend & Grind in Wan Chai but of course HK weather being what it is, it poured. 

The fine folks at The Upper House provided gorgeous venue and it was smooth sailin' then on. 

It was great to see some familiar faces and meet new ones. Check out the feature at The New Moon - subscribe. Tots worth it. 

Hong Kong designer William Tang's Facebook account hacked: Cyber crime in 2021: The Pisstake

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A post shared by William Tang (@williamtang420)

 

William Tang, a fine, talented fashion designer from Hong Kong, has been making online ripples - unbeknownst to him. His Facebook account was hacked a few weeks ago and the hackers have been sending out cryptic messages to his friend's circle - a veritable list of who's who (and a good dose of who-the-fk-is-that?!), promising them all cash rewards, opportunities to pick up great gifts and the like. Inevitably numbers, bank account details are inquired and unsuspecting people disclose far too much information - much to their own  inevitable detriment. 

This scam has been going along swimmingly for a while until a few alarm bells were raised earlier this week. This entire biz came into my peripheral vision as, of all people to hit up for cash (wait for it), it came to littl' ol' me! Ha.  

I cannot highlight this enough, - the gentleman Tang has NOTHING to do with this smoke and mirror show - and as I write this, is going on in full steam. 

Having interviewed the media-friendly designer in the past (for South China Morning Post, Style and other magazines), our conversations have not gone beyond the usual Hellos and How-do-you-dos at the dos we often find each other. 

Imagine my surprise that after years of near-silence and polite nods, I get a message that he's got an invite for me. Fair game, as I've been in the media for the past 16 years, this is far from an unusual activity. A slight aberration from norm, he wanted my phone number to send a code. 

This being 2021, season two of hellish COVID 19 - invitations are no longer tactile cards and  personal handouts/invites but zoom codes, links and a verifiable password via WhatsApp. No biggie - I sent him my WhatsApp number. 

Within seconds, I got a message and code number on my screen - with the words Kodu paylasmayin - which is Turkish (thanks Google translate!) for  'Do not share the code.'

In my infinite wisdom, what do I do? Share the code back to the account obviously. Almost seconds after that, I got the 'You've won HK$1,150 from Fortress! Then: this happened. 

I mean, when you think investigative journalism and reportage, I know you think of me... 😉

However, having been blocked by... whoever that is, so ends my yellow brick road to... 60 minutes. 

PS: I messaged the official Instagram account of Tang to let him know his Facebook has been hacked and all this razzle-dazzle is going on.