There are lots of dubious modelling agencies today. Some are for pseudo-models, some are scams that rip off unsuspecting girls and others are fronts for escort services. More reputable is Models International, which serves the fashion industry. It's the agency for top names like QiQi (left), Eunis Chan Ka-yung (second from right) and Lisa Selesner (right), and it celebrated its 30th anniversary on Thursday at Lotus. This was the party every guy wanted to crash.
"Our company was founded by a Western ex-model named Mandy Cooke in the late 1970s," recalled director Candy Chan Hin-chun (centre), who took over the company 22 years ago. "I started as a booker, which people now call manager. There have been many changes to the modelling scene over the past three decades, from the time big labels would only go for blond hair and blue-eyed models, to today when almost 80 per cent of the girls at Hong Kong Fashion Week are Chinese."
Besides being an astute judge of catwalk talent, Candy Chan has a knack for matchmaking. QiQi revealed it was Chan who introduced her to husband Simon Yam Tat-wah, the actor. "I still remember when I first met with QiQi," Chan said. "She was only 17 then, but her star quality was already shining and I knew immediately she would be a successful model."
Chan added that nowadays it's not enough to look good and walk fierce. Models have to be eloquent, too. "Public speaking is just as important. In the past, when models finished their shows, they could just leave, but now they have to stay behind for media interviews."
Additional reporting by Clara Mak and Vivian Chen. Send tips, tickets and invitations to andrew.sun@scmp.com
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