Watch: Model-Actors Back
The Fashion Workers Act During Oscars Weekend
Ahead of the Academy Awards, fashion models and actors Alyssa Sutherland, Lyndsey Scott, Michelle De Swarte, and Carré Otis joined the Model Alliance for a virtual press conference to shed light on the absence of labor protections in the modeling industry and urge lawmakers to pass the Fashion Workers Act.
“Models deserve to be protected as workers just like anyone else who works in the entertainment industry,” said our founder and executive director Sara Ziff. “And so I’m urging lawmakers who supported actors and writers during their strike to show the same support for models by passing the Fashion Workers Act this session.”
“My life was dictated by an agency that made $9,000 a month cramming me and eight other girls into a tiny two bedroom apartment, considered anything I borrowed an advance with an additional five percent interest added, and essentially cut me off from the possibility of earning money because they told me I needed to lose weight,” said Sutherland, who modeled for 15 years before transitioning to acting. “When I became an actor I was shocked to have a safety net, where my talent management, agent, and lawyer were all working in my best interest. While I consider myself one of the lucky ones, I continue to advocate for the Fashion Workers Act because models deserve to work under a regulated system that makes it a standard practice to value physical and emotional safety.”
“As a model, actor, and software engineer, modeling was the only industry where my agents wouldn't allow me to see my contracts,” said Scott, who modeled for major brands including Prada, Victoria’s Secret, and Calvin Klein. “When my model career took off, I became exposed to the constant abuse of management companies, and when my agency terminated my contract, they spread rumors about me in retaliation. I am in support of the Fashion Workers Act because it addresses models’ most current concerns, including the rising threat of AI, which we can’t let replace or manipulate models in the industry without our permission.”
“Most of us are children when we start modeling and when I was in the industry, I never had agency over my finances,”said De Swarte, who spoke during her recent comedy show about her experience meeting Jeffrey Epstein as a young model. “Now as an actor, comedian, and executive producer, I feel comfortable to speak about the trauma I faced while modeling. I am supporting the Fashion Workers Act because I stand with models currently in the industry who lack agency over their finances and bodies, and have no safe way to speak up about it.”
“After spending decades as a model, with a brief foray into acting, it is clear to me that fashion is far behind when it comes to the basic rights and protections in other industries, said Otis, who now serves on the Board of the Model Alliance. “Models - often very young girls - are forced to normalize financial exploitation and related sexual abuse. This shouldn’t be normal. That’s why I’m advocating for the Fashion Workers Act: because there is no reason why models should be carved out of protections that already exist for actors.”
We have just three months to get the Fashion Workers Act over the finish line, and with the support of our community and solidarity across the entertainment industry, we know we can get it done. Learn more about the Fashion Workers Act and amplify our call to action today.
In solidarity,
Model Alliance
In solidarity, Portland Fashion Week PFF LLC
PORTLAND FASHION WEEK’S ADDENDUM TO THE ABOVE:
It is so sad and frankly disgusting to us to to be discussing vile content such as this in the year 2024. And thankfully The Model Alliance is speaking up nationally to address issues which we within Portland Fashion Week have specifically addressed since our inception in 2002.
Whether those issues are monetary or sexual in nature, Portland Fashion Week has been vetting all and denying the inclusion of pronographic “fashion photographers” , and denying those ‘‘fashion designers’’ and all others who have less that exemplary behaviour where their conduct regarding models of the opposite sex are concerned (yes we are following the British Columbia trial of a local Lake Oswego ‘‘fashion designer’’ accused of rape and trafficking a local Portland model, a model who is a dear friend of ours) as well as the ongoing rumors of sexual assault, drugging, and yes rapes within another fashion show ‘‘production’’ are concerned.
Some models are beginning to self police the Portland fashion and modeling scene with more than a few ladies only social media groups naming names, and explaining in detail the nefarious characters and acts perpetrated by them as the models become aware of them.
However we within Portland Fashion Week do not feel that is enough and implore any local model to immediately contact law enforcement when confronted with these types of behaviours. YOU MUST TO STOP FUTURE VICTIMIZATIONS! WE BELIEVE YOU! WE ARE A SAFE SPACE FOR ANYONE EXPERIENCING OR WHO HAS EXPERIENCED ANYTHING ILLEGAL OR OFF PUTTING WITH IN OUR LOCAL FASHION AND MODELING SCENE! Our longtime support of numerous laws and actions protecting women and models is proof positive of our commitment! AND WE ARE NOT FINISHED YET! WE WON’T BE FINISHED UNTIL THE MODELING COMMUNITY IS 100% SAFE FOR ALL!