Investigation prompts name change for agency
Video by: Sheena Avcu
A modelling agency which was alleged to have misled many students into believing they could be models, charging them up to £1000 in the process, has changed its name to Guava Talent Management.
Previously working under the name Zebra Management, the company gained a reputation for plucking young women off the street and telling them that it would make them rich and famous.
Arts London News investigated their activities late last year, and within a week of putting posters up around the six colleges of the University of the Arts London (UAL), an influx of emails, phone calls and texts came in from girls who had all been involved with Zebra.
At least 50 students had been scouted by the agency.
Big names
Zebra, which has also gone by the names of Zebra Management or Collection and Connection, scouted girls on the streets of London and promised work with big companies including MTV, Toni and Guy, Breast Cancer UK and More magazine.
Beforehand, the girls were told they had to get a portfolio of work, shot at a studio owned by the same people, for which they were charged up to £995.
All of the companies named have denied having ever worked with Zebra, and are shocked that they are listed on the Zebra website as affiliates.
"We have not worked with an agency called Zebra," Karen Harper, Head of Brand PR at Toni and Guy Media who book all models for Toni & Guy campaigns told Arts London News.
"All of the model agencies that Toni and Guy Media use are Association of Model Agency members," she added, noting that Zebra are not part of the association, which enforces the ethical behaviour of its members.
"We have contacted Zebra and asked them to remove any reference to the Toni and Guy brand on their website and will continue to monitor that that actually happens," Harper said.
"It is very disappointing - obviously we would like the charity name to be used for very positive publicity and this is not positive in any way," added Clare Dimmer, Chair of Breast Cancer UK.
"It is impacting on younger women lives."
Portfolio
Students who contacted Arts London News said that after being scouted, there is an extremely convincing follow-up phone call to arrange a time for them to attend The Light Rooms – a photographic studio in London.
The girls are told that they will only have to pay £100 for the copyright of their photographs, and that the Zebra agency will pay the rest.
When they attend The Light Rooms, it is a completely different story.
They are taken through prices of photo packages that range from £295 to £995.
The girls are then pressured into opting for a package, with the average one chosen by girls who spoke to us costing £495, and the they are asked to sign credit agreements.
The girls are convinced not to worry, as they will make the money back through the work they will get through Zebra.
Stephanie Conboye, a student at the London College of Communication said: “They emphasised how they are different from other agencies, in that they do not take a cut of your money when you are modeling in future.”
Investigations
Pat McFadden MP for Business, Innovation and Skills, told Arts London News: “Complaints have been received by the Employment Agency Standards [about Zebra] and we are currently investigating these allegations.”
After many attempts to contact the agency, Miri Anderson, Zebra’s PR and casting co-ordinator responded to our queries, denying the accusations.
"There is nothing fraudulent about any of our activities; we are a thoroughly legal, reputable, ethical company," the statement read.
"All members on our books are freelance artists. Therefore any resulting employment or monetary transactions are between the talent and the client. This is clearly outlined to all members from the beginning of their contract with us.
"We do not give any guarantees of work to anybody, certainly not prior to registration. We are a talent agency, we do not provide work - we provide talent."
However, shortly after being featured on the BBC's Inside Out programme, the company changed its name to Guava Talent Management as the investigations into Zebra's working practices continue.
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