12 girls, 6 weeks, one contract
In the brand new six part series The Model Agent, the search for Ireland’s next supermodel begins.
Ellis, one of the world’s most successful model scouts, is the MODEL AGENT and she is joined by international supermodel, writer and broadcaster Erin O’Connor in the quest to find the next Irish supermodel.
(Fiona) ELLIS, one of the world’s leading model scouts travels around Ireland seeking new model talent for London based company Independent Models. 12 girls will be chosen as finalists and their potential assessed, but only one girl can win. The prize? A contract with Independent Models, one of the world’s leading agencies and a cover of Image magazine, one of the country’s most high profile and respected fashion titles. The winner will be the first Irish girl to grace the cover of Image in 15 years. Supermodel Erin O’Connor will be on hand to mentor the 12 lucky finalists, giving them first-hand advice based on her highly successful career.
The pair are looking for that special something, a face that can fill the side of a building, stop the traffic, sell a beauty product or define the newest line in fashion.
Ellis arrived in Ireland in September 2008 to scout nationwide for talent that has the potential to storm the international fashion scene. The cameras followed the journey as Ellis scouted, auditioned and selected at music events in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Dun Laoghaire and Clare plus shopping centres in Galway, Cork, Dundrum and Belfast as well as sifting through over 1,000 postal applications.
The first programme of the series looks at the scouting mission in action as Ellis whittles thousands of girls down to just 12 finalists. One of these girls win the career start of a lifetime – gracing the front cover of IMAGE magazine and bagging an exclusive contract with Independent Models, joining a client list including Erin O’ Connor, Lizzie Jagger, Naomi Campbell, Iman, Elizabeth Hurley and Helena Christiensen.
ERIN O’CONNOR
Erin O’Connor is proof that Ellis knows what to look for. Of Irish descent, Erin has secured her place amongst the fashionable elite and is one of the most famous faces in the world. Erin is a constant coach, mentor and friend to the girls during THE MODEL AGENT, and lets face it, who wouldn’t want a friend like Erin? Most importantly she knows first hand the physical and mental demands of one of the toughest industries on the planet.
Erin is famed for her catwalk appearances for John Galliano, Christian Dior, Donna Karan, Prada, Versace, Mau Mau, Giorgio Armani, Julien MacDonald, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Badgley Mischka, Dolce & Gabbana among others.
A one woman business and multi millionaire, Erin has recently been the world wide face of M&S, writes a blog for Vogue magazine, presents a radio series for BBC radio, acts as Vice Chair of London Fashion Week, funds a well being sanctuary for models in London and has further plans to film more TV projects.
INDEPENDENT
Independent (formerly ICM) is one of the highest profile agencies worldwide, representing internationally renowned names such as Erin O’Connor, Elizabeth Hurley, Lizzy Jagger, Iman and Helena Christiansen.
Independent was founded on years of experience within the industry and they fully comprehend the pressures that modeling places on those that have chosen it as a career. They provide workshops for models which give advice on health and nutrition, confidence building, communication skills, casting techniques, runway sessions and screen presence. With Independent there is also the potential to crossover between the worlds of fashion and film. As such they are in a unique position to offer models a myriad of opportunities in the media.
For more information please see www.independenttalent.com/models.
ELLIS
Model legend Ellis is one of the best known, instantly recognisable model scouts in the world and is responsible for discovering many of the faces you see gracing magazine covers today.
Throughout her career Ellis has fulfilled the role of runner, agent, scout and company director. The London Times have stated, “Ellis has an eye for talent and huge energy”, and it’s been these characteristics that have provided her with a remarkable career over the past two decades.
An industry stalwart, Ellis has been a scout for 22 years and has only recently gone freelance. In 1995 she famously discovered Erin O’Connor wandering around ‘The Clothes Show Live’ (the industry’s primary hunting ground). Ellis’s job entails regularly attending huge music festivals and busy shopping malls to spot new faces, offering young people the chance to totally transform their lives with the opportunity to work in the glamorous world of fashion, model in runway shows and feature in lucrative ad campaigns.
Fiona Ellis is now operating as a freelance fashion consultant across modeling, publishing and broadcasting.
THE FINALISTS
DUBLIN – Amber Jean Rowan
Amber Jean is 16 and has lived in Clontarf all her life. She is in Transition Year and loves French, English and History. She doesn’t like Maths and Science. Her hobbies are acting, singing, dancing and tennis. She has been collecting Vogue magazine for years. When she is older her dream job is to be a working model. Her second choice is to work in the Performing Arts. Her back up plan is to work in PR, Communications or Event Management.
BELFAST – Carrie-Anne Burton
Carrie Anne is 19 and is the eldest of four. She splits her time between Belfast and Downpatrick. She would love a career in modelling. She would also love to travel the world someday. She describes herself as enthusiastic, capable, hard-working, friendly and always up for a laugh. She thinks she could handle rejection as she believes everything happens for a reason.
BELFAST – Julia McGovern
17 year old Julia is from Belfast. She is now in year 13. She loves science – especially Biology and has just discovered Psychology which she loves. She has always wanted to be a doctor. She wants to have a prestigious career and says she is ambitious. She used to have a hamster but can’t have any pets anymore as she is allergic to most animals.
CORK – Laura Keohane
Laura is 16 and from Ballincollig, Co.Cork. She is in Transition Year in school and Irish and Home Economics are her favourite subjects. She hates Maths. When she is older she wants to work in the fashion industry. She describes herself as loyal, friendly and happy.
CORK – Lisa Madden
Lisa is 16 and from Cork – which she calls “the real capital.” She is in Transition Year in school and loves Irish. In her primary school she did all lessons through Irish and it has given her a real love of traditional Irish music, dance and customs. She also loves French, German and Maths but hates History. She would love to be a model more than anything. Being a doctor like her aunt would be her second choice. She describes herself as being level-headed, hard-working and motivated.
CORK – Jennifer Foley
Jennifer is 18 and is the youngest in her family. She describes herself as talkative, determined and passionate. Her favourite subjects are History, French and Business – she doesn’t like Irish or Economics. She is now in her 1st year in university. When she graduates she would like to have a successful career in the fashion industry. She was once the winner of Cork’s Next Top Model in association with Assets Model Agency. Vivienne Westwood is her favourite designer. She says Donald Trump is her role model in life.
CORK – Miriam El-Mahdi
18 year old Miriam El-Mahdi is currently in first year in UCC studying Social Science and is setting her sights on a career in psychology. She has a twin brother called Neily who is in his Leaving Cert year. She lives with Neily and her mother – her father is from and lives in Libya. Her hobbies include cooking, singing (in the shower) and modelling. She recently took part in UCC’s Next Top Model. In primary school she broke national swimming records and has “hundreds of medals” adorning her family home.
CORK – Chloe Loughnan
Chloe Loughnan is 16 and is from Blackrock, Cork City. She is currently in 5th Year. Her favourite subjects are Business and English. When she finishes school she wants to study business in UCC or Trinity. Ultimately she wants to be her own boss. Her plan is to get into modelling and once when she’s an “aul wan” use her business acumen and start up her own modelling agency. Modelling has been her dream since before she can remember. She believes she has the confidence and drive to be a successful model.
LIMERICK – Jaime O’Connell
Jaime is 18 and is from Castletroy in Limerick. She has three younger brothers, a younger sister and an older sister. She is currently in her first year studying Law in Galway (NUIG). She loves Tort and Family Law but is not a big fan of Constitutional Law. When she graduates she would love to be a model or to specialise in Criminal Law.
GALWAY – Rochelle McIntyre
17 year old Rochelle is from Tuam, County Galway. She is doing her Leaving Certificate this year. She loves Japanese as well as Biology and French. She’s embarrassed to admit she is not very good at Irish. She’d like to study Law and French in University. She would also like to do a course in Fashion at the same time or when she’s got her degree. She says knowing her she could change her mind and want to be an astronaut tomorrow!
OFFALY – Sharon Touhey
Sharon is 18 years old and lives in Clara, County Offaly. She is in 6th year with the Leaving Certificate exam looming in June. Her favourite subject is maths; languages are not her strong point.Sharon is one of 8 siblings. One of her favourite hobbies is Karate. She also likes reading and hanging out with her friends and with her boyfriend.
KERRY- Sadhbh Moore
18 year old Sadhbh Moore is from Killarney, Co. Kerry. She feels she’s got the right look and the right attitude for success. The first thing people say when they meet her is “You’re so tall!” or “You should be a model!” But once they get to know her they find out that she’s not just a pretty face. They know her as a happy, energetic, intelligent, hard working and ambitious individual. In the past, she has modelled for school fashion shows and for a friend’s photography portfolio for university.