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bite
real
life
T
o many it seems that the fashion
industry is all glamour, parties, red
carpet events and international
fashion weeks. Few are granted
the opportunity to see behind the
seductively polished outer layer of the
industry past the celebrity editorials and
catwalk photographs featured in fashion
magazines. Little witness the months of
sketches and stitching that go into each
outfit in a collection, the moments of utter
chaos that take place just minutes before
that all important dress is sent down the
runway or the hours of hair and make-
up that a model must go through before
a photo-shoot.There are endless layers to
the well-oiled machine that is the fashion
industry and, hidden far behind the lens,
certain roles can sometimes be forgotten.
However, at the centre of this carefully
controlled machine stand the model agents,
from which both models and bookers stem.
With this in mind, I decided to visit Scottish
model agency, The Model Team, to get an
insight into a largely ignored yet vital area
of the fashion industry.
Located in the heart of Glasgow, The
Model Team is Scotland’s oldest running
modelling agency with a history stretching
40 years. Famed for producing the iconic
1980s ‘Tennents Lager Girls’, The Model
Team is the only Scottish agency to merit
accreditation from the London Association
of Model Agents.
When approaching The Model Team
offices my nerves were running high, after
all it is not every day you get the privilege of
shadowing those who work in a prestigious
and highly respected modelling agency. As
soon as I opened the door, I was greeted
by Cathy Owen, the company’s operations
manager. Clothed in a red, knee-length
pussy bow dress and heels with a classic
slick bob haircut, chiselled jaw and large
captivating eyes it is easy to spot Cathy’s
modelling roots.With a reassuring smile and
a firm handshake, Cathy oozes confidence
and professionalism, which should be of no
surprise as the 36-year-old has more than
10 years industry experience including her
time modelling, styling and working as a
photographer’s PA.
The pristine white interior of the
compact office attracts natural light from
the windows, perfect for test shots, a
wall high bookcase holds hundreds of
models’ portfolios and, overshadowing
the desk in the centre of the room, is a
large imposing pin board crowded with so
many striking, distinctive and downright
beautiful faces that I did not know where
to look first. Cathy, noting my wandering
eye, points towards the board and says,
“We are waiting back on test images from
all the models on this wall.These are all the
people who have recently stood out to us
during casting calls.” The Model Team logo
has found itself on the office blinds and a
large framed poster above a couch, which
would later play host to several anxious
ADay in the Life of a
CORRINE MCCONNACHIE
GOES BEHINDTHE SCENES
AT ONE OF SCOTLAND’S
TOP MODELLING
AGENCIES AND DISCOVERS
WHATA DAYWORKINGAT
THE MODELTEAM ENTAILS.