Expert: Kitty Kavey - 4/11/2008

Question
What agencies do you recommend that best represent petite models?

Answer
For commercial print modeling, agencies don't generally have a height requirement, so being petite would not be a factor.

However, if you're looking into fashion modeling, you can look at Isobella Jade's website (she also has a book): www.isobelladreams.com
and possibly get some insights there, or ask her what agencies she was or is with.  I believe she's in New York City.

Promotions, swimwear and glamour modeling agencies also are less strict about height, size and age requirements than fashion agencies.

Another thing is that exceptions are made in the industry for exceptional talent/looks.  Kate Moss is supposedly below the minimum required height of most fashion agencies, but has agency representation with IMG in New York, Storm Model Management in London, the Marilyn Agency in Paris and the D'Management Group in Milan.

If you, however, are planning to stick with commercial print, my experience has been that the agencies connected with either the Screen Actors Guild, and/or the Association of Talent Agents, are some of the best agencies for commercial print around.  They not only have to comply with the state laws for talent/model agencies, but the guild and ATA also provide agency members with rules/regulations they must follow too.  

Both the SAG website (www.sag.org, under Member Services, Find An Agent) and the ATA website (www.agentassociation.com) have lists of (US) agencies, and both put a notation if the agency has a print division.

Good luck to you,
~Kitty