The stories of how models open their own agencies are not new. But only a few are becoming serious and responsible managers. There are very few of those who attach great importance to the reputation of the agency, effective work and individual approach. One of such models and managers is Elena Volobueva (@elenaveva), booker of the international agency VEA Models (@veamodels).
How did you get into modelling?
Thanks to a childhood friend, or rather, her mother. Many people said that I could try myself in this business and after seeing an advertisement about a modelling school on TV, I finally made up my mind. Then there were castings for foreign scouts, one of which I successfully passed and flew to my first contract in Korea at the age of 16. I also worked in Hong Kong, Paris, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.
When did you get the idea to open your own agency?
When not a single mother agency (there were three of them) was ever able to properly pursue my career. It is only now they are trying to build all the trips with maximum benefit for the model and care about their reputation. However, at that time few people heard about professionalism in modelling. Almost all mothers were sent abroad without checking the receiving agencies and without thinking about promotion. With royalties too everything was muddy so I began to present myself and received good offers. After that I found contracts for my friends and thus acquired a base of models. Then I started looking for new faces and now some of them already have their own mother agencies.
To become a top model, in your opinion, luck or work?
Labour, of course! On the one hand, you can work as much as you like and nothing will come of it. But then on the other hand, you won’t go far with just your appearance. It is important how the models present themselves and how they build relationships with clients and the agency. How they allocate their resources and their time. I saw a lot of models with potential which due to disorganisation and complex nature, was never realised. When a profession brings you constant good earnings, it provides a comfortable standard of living.
What’s going on with modelling now? What, in your opinion, are its prospects?
Everything will be fine with modelling! The past two years have been tough for many in the industry, as well as other areas of business. Trends will continue to change but the need for models will remain. Interesting, beautiful faces will always be appreciated.
In this issue, we share positive, interesting modelling stories. Do you remember one of them?
The story is rather funny. In Korea, my manager once asked, “How does it feel to live with such beauty?” The question took me by surprise because no matter how we evaluate our appearance, we always see some flaws in ourselves and focus on them and not on the picture as a whole. Korea at that time was not yet spoiled by models from the CIS. In stores I remember they gave me small gifts and asked to be photographed the same as celebrities.
Text by K. Mironova
Photo provided by E. Volobueva
