Modeling Industry Leaders Call on Victoria's Secret to Join the RESPECT Program to Protect Models

BREAKING NEWS:

The Model Alliance has penned an open letter to Victoria’s Secret and its CEO John Mehas urging them to join the RESPECT Program and to commit to protecting models from predatory behavior and sexual misconduct.  Connection between alleged sex trafficker Jeffery Epstein and L Brands CEO Leslie Wexner, along with allegations of sexual assault naming several renowned VS photographers prompted the letter which has been signed by over one hundred models and industry powerhouses including editors and photographers.  To be clear, models have every right to expect fair treatment by everyone in the industry, to be safe, to be protected by those responsible for their careers, and to be given respect.  These are not just model issues, but human rights issues.   

Read the letter here, and follow the links below to see news coverage:

Model Alliance & TIME'S UP Call on Victoria's Secret to join the RESPECT Program

On Tuesday, the Model Alliance issued an open letter calling on Victoria’s Secret to protect its models and aspiring models from sexual misconduct by joining the RESPECT Program. The letter came in response to multiple allegations of predatory behavior by Victoria's Secret-affiliated photographers Timur Emek, David Bellemere and Greg Kadel, and a recent article in the New York Times about the link between L Brands’ CEO Leslie Wexner and alleged sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, who reportedly lured and abused vulnerable girls by posing as a talent scout for Victoria's Secret. Together, with over 100 models — including Christy Turlington Burns, Edie Campbell, Karen Elson, Milla Jovovich, Doutzen Kroes, Iskra Lawrence, Carolyn Murphy, Lyndsey Scott, and Gemma Ward—as well as industry supporters, photographers Inez and Vinoodh and former Glamour editor-in-chief Cindi Leive, and TIME'S UP, we urged Victoria’s Secret CEO John Mehas to take meaningful steps to remedy the situation and work towards prevention by joining the RESPECT Program — the only existing anti-sexual harassment program designed by and for models.

We are hopeful that Victoria's Secret will take these issues seriously, and use its power and influence to help address these concerns that have plagued the industry for far too long. We believe that if Victoria's Secret were to take a stand against these abuses and commit to meaningful change by joining the RESPECT Program, this would go a long way in helping our industry chart a new path forward.  Since the release of the letter, many media outlets have covered our collective call to action. Please find links to some of the press coverage below. Thank you for your support and belief that industry leaders like Victoria's Secret can and must do better by the modeling talent they rely on. We are grateful for your continued support. Sincerely, The Model Alliance Team

#Time4RESPECT

John Mehas, CEO

Victoria's Secret LLC

Three Limited Parkway

Columbus, Ohio 43230

Dear Mr. Mehas,

We are writing today to express our concern for the safety and wellbeing of the models and young women who aspire to model for Victoria’s Secret. In the past few weeks, we have heard numerous allegations of sexual assault, alleged rape, and sex trafficking of models and aspiring models. While these allegations may not have been aimed at Victoria's Secret directly, it is clear that your company has a crucial role to play in remedying the situation.  From the headlines about L Brands CEO Leslie Wexner’s close friend and associate, Jeffrey Epstein, to the allegations of sexual misconduct by photographers Timur Emek, David Bellemere, and Greg Kadel, it is deeply disturbing that these men appear to have leveraged their working relationships with Victoria’s Secret to lure and abuse vulnerable girls.

These stories are gut-wrenching and hit close to home for many of us who have encountered these kinds of abuses that are too often tolerated in our industry. We stand with the courageous women who have come forward and shared their stories, despite fears of retaliation or harm to their careers. It breaks our hearts to keep hearing these stories. We can and must do better. It is time for RESPECT.

The RESPECT Program—a program of the Model Alliance—is the only existing anti-sexual harassment program designed by and for models. Signatory companies make a binding commitment to require their employees, agents, vendors, photographers and other contractors to follow a code of conduct that protects everyone’s safety on the job, and reduces models’ vulnerability to mistreatment. Models have access to an independent, confidential complaint mechanism, with swift and fair resolution of complaints and appropriate consequences for abusers. Further, RESPECT includes a robust training program aimed toward prevention, to ensure that everyone understands their rights and responsibilities.

We are calling on Victoria’s Secret to take meaningful action to protect its talent and those who aspire to work with the company. Victoria’s Secret has the opportunity to be a leader, to use its power and influence to bring about the changes that are urgently needed in our industry. Every day, fashion brands, publishing companies, and agencies set the norms of what’s acceptable and what’s not in fashion. If Victoria’s Secret were to take a stand against these abuses and commit to meaningful change by joining the RESPECT Program, this would go a long way in helping our industry chart a new path forward.

Victoria’s Secret, change can start with you.  Together, we can lead the industry to RESPECT.  Join us.

Sincerely,

Model Alliance

Good Morning America

Business of Fashion

WWD

NBC News

Miami Herald

                                                               XOXO Shelley

#businessofmodeling  #timesup  #modelalliance #modelsrights #sexualassaultinmodelingindustry #modelingindustrynews #victoriassecret #jeffreyepstein
#facethis.blogspot.com #ShelleyGoodstein

Model Alliance Event: Worker's Rights in NYC's Fashion Industry, June 8th, 2017

If you haven't already checked out this valuable resource available to all models in NYC then do yourself a huge service and check out the Model Alliance.  Started in 2012 by model Sara Ziff, the Model Alliance gives models a voice and fights for the rights of models of all ages in the industry.  They offer support in workplace harassment, agency/model relations including financial issues, legal issues pertaining to their modeling work and career, health and wellness, and advice for avoiding modeling scams.  Consider becoming a member and be informed about your rights as a model.  

The Model Alliance is hosting  "Know Your Rights in NYC's Fashion Industry" Thursday June 8th from 7-9pm.  Note that you must rsvp to attend:

With the recent passage of the Freelance Isn't Free Act, we want to help you understand your rights and the resources available to you.

The Model Alliance is proud to host our next workshop, Workers' Rights in NYC's Fashion Industry, presented by the Office of Labor Policy and Standards, a dedicated City resource for workplace questions and complaints. 

Given the multi-level structure of hiring in the fashion industry, many models, hairdressers, make-up artists, stylists and photographers share similar experiences with respect to financial transparency and accountability, fair contracts, and control over their work. This workshop is open to professional models and creatives working in NYC's fashion industry. Space is limited and RSVP is required.

Modeling is a business and you owe it to yourself and your career to treat it as such - be informed, be proactive and be smart!

                                               XOXO  Shelley

#Model Alliance  #www.modelalliance.org #model's rights #the business of modeling #Sara Ziff #facethis.blogspot.com #Shelley Goodstein