Model Agency Sapphires Model Management is calling on models and industry professionals to help propose a significant change in the UK law to tackle bullying, poaching and corruption in the industry.
The UK modelling industry employs young people from across the world, but other than minimal regulations covering employment agencies there are no legal obligations for agencies to protect them. Sapphires strongly believe if any other industry were employing young, impressionable people living away from home there would be safeguards in place to stop their exploitation, but without specific legislation, model agencies can avoid responsibility to do so.
Neely Reyes, the founder of Sapphires Model Management, is spearheading the proposals.
“The entire industry needs an overhaul from the way models are treated right through to how agencies operate,” she explains. “The Modelling Industry contributes hugely to the economy but is run in a shockingly...