America’s Next Top Modeling Lawsuit: Next Management and Ford Models Tug-of-War

The bitter relationship between Next Model Management and Ford Models continues to get worse. This hostility between both model agencies is not a new one. In fact, since 2009, Ford Models has sued Next Management at least 3 times for wrongful model-poaching, one of which involved the high profile poaching of Kendra Spears by Next Management, who according to Ford Models, still had a contract with them.

Last week, it was Next Management’s turn to do the finger-pointing. From being the accused in previous law suits, the agency now took on the role of the plaintiff as it filed legal papers in the Manhattan Supreme Court, alleging that “Ford, which is no longer owned by the Ford family, has been taken over by Russian nationals who totally ignore the American legal system” through an unlawful “campaign to raid Next’s businesses.” {NY Post}

According to the suit, Ford has poached three of its most profitable models- the Polish born Anna Aleksandra Cywinska and Anna Maria Jagodzinska (a k a Anna J.), as well as Estonian head-turner, Karmen Pedaru. Next Management stated in the suit that the poaching of the aforementioned three models has caused the agency “great financial harm”. The agency is seeking unspecified money damages, including the models’ commissions, and for Ford to “cease and desist acting illegally and improperly by enticing and luring models under written contract and being represented by Next to switch to Ford.”{NY Post}

On the other hand, according to the New York Post, Ford Models’ most recent suit against Next Management was directed against both the agency as well as Kendra Spears. Then, Ford stated in the suit that Spears is “one of the shining stars” in the modeling industry and was “signed as a prospect while still a teenager in braces.” Furthermore, “for more than a year, Ford has painstakingly cultivated Spears… [and] taught her how to be an international fashion model.” The suit continues that “incredibly, this is the sixth time in less than a year that Next has wrongfully acquired . . . models and employees under exclusive contract with Ford,” including beauties Agnete Hegelund, Natalia Andrade and Pamela Semmach.

So why the back and forth battle between the two prestigious modeling firms over these models? Personally, we think this is incredible. Is there really such a shortage of models that agencies have to look to competitors’ books even if it means breaching existing contracts? According to the number of reality television programs out there like America’s Next Top Model (which is already casting for its 15th season) and its international editions, this does not seem to be the case.

But seemingly, Next Management and Ford Models do not take this view. Based on their actions, it seems as if both agencies only want a selected group of models who have proven to be financially beneficial, without actually having to go through the effort of grooming and developing these models themselves.

Unfair? Probably. Yet, we understand that the world of fashion is as cut-throat as that.

Fashion houses want the best models who can best represent their brand and often, it is the top few :it” models of the moment who are looked to as the most ideal choices, leaving many other models to catalog modeling and the dreaded “commercial” bookings that don’t get the same level of notoriety as runway and editorial modeling. It’s not shocking that agencies would go to such lengths to secure models of the moment.

Still, we wonder if the law will soon catch up to these agencies for their dubious actions. While we don’t doubt that having a competitor step in on your find is annoying, most people employed in New York are employed at will, meaning they may quit a job or stop working if they choose to without consequence.  Trying to prevent an employee for working for a competitor can be equally challenging, even with contracts.