Model Alliance

Model Alliance
FormationFebruary 2012; 14 years ago (2012-02)
FounderSara Ziff, President
Typenonprofit organization
Location(s)110 East 25th Street
New York, NY 10010
United States
Key people
Coco Rocha
Milla Jovovich
Karen Elson
Doutzen Kroes
Edie Campbell
Websitemodelalliance.org

The Model Alliance is a New York–based advocacy group focused on research and policy for models and others employed in the fashion industry. Founded in February 2012 by model Sara Ziff along with support from others models, the Model Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The organization advocates for workplace protections, stronger regulation of model management companies, protections for child models, and measures addressing harassment and abuse in the fashion industry.

Advocacy

In addition to providing a discreet grievance reporting service, the Model Alliance advocates for the enforcement of existing child labor and contract laws, promotes equal opportunity and fosters a culture of accountability in the fashion industry.

Models who have served on the Model Alliance's Advisory Board include Coco Rocha, Milla Jovovich, Shalom Harlow, and Karen Elson.

In June 2013, the Model Alliance announced that New York State Senators Jeffrey Klein and Diane Savino had proposed legislation that would afford child models the same protections as all other child performers working in New York.

In October 2013, the Model Alliance announced that Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed the child model bill (A.7787/S.5486) into law in New York State. In November 2013, the child model law was enacted and affords child models the same protections as other child performers working in New York State.

In February 2017, the Model Alliance released a study in which 81.5% of models reported having an underweight body mass index.

In May 2018, the Model Alliance published an open letter launching the RESPECT Program, an initiative intended to address sexual abuse and harassment in the fashion industry. The letter was signed by models including Amy Lemons, Doutzen Kroes, Edie Campbell, Frederique van der Wal, Gisele Bündchen, Karen Elson and Milla Jovovich.

In March 2022, the Model Alliance introduced the Fashion Workers Act in New York with state legislators and fashion-industry supporters. The organization described the bill as an effort to create labor rights for models and regulate model management companies. The bill was signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul on December 21, 2024, and took effect on June 19, 2025. The New York State Department of Labor states that the law establishes new responsibilities and requirements for model management companies, model management groups and clients, as well as workplace protections for models. Registration requirements for model management companies and groups began on December 21, 2025.

Founder

Sara Ziff is a model-turned-activist who was inspired to begin the Alliance based on her experiences in the modeling industry as a youth. At age 14, she was invited to the house of a photographer and told to take all her clothes off; later, at age 15, she went to another fashion shoot where drugs were available freely.

Recognition

In 2021, the Council of Fashion Designers of America announced that the Model Alliance would receive the inaugural Positive Social Influence Award at the CFDA Fashion Awards. The CFDA described the organization as having been at the forefront of creating labor-rights protections for models since its founding in 2012.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Drew Grant (September 4, 2012). "The Sorrow and the Pretty: Model Alliance Looks to Empower the Ridiculously Good-Looking". The New York Observer. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Model Alliance Seeks to Better Working Conditions in Fashion World". ABA Journal. Eriq Gardner. Retrieved September 8, 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. ↑ Greenhouse, Steven (December 23, 2013). "A New Alliance Steps Up to Protect a New Generation of Models". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  4. ↑ Greenhouse, Steven (December 24, 2013). "A New Alliance Steps Up to Protect a New Generation of Models". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  5. ↑ Daniel Lehman (April 4, 2012). "Supermodel Sara Ziff Forms Model Alliance to Save Models and Fashion". Backstage. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  6. ↑ "The Model Alliance – Board of Directors". Model Alliance. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  7. ↑ Rebecca Hiscott (June 6, 2013). "Pretty Interesting: Legislators Rally for Catwalk Kiddies". The New York Observer. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  8. ↑ Eric Wilson (October 22, 2013). "New York Sets Work Rules for Young Models". The New York Times. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  9. ↑ Rodgers, Rachel F.; Ziff, Sara; Lowy, Alice S.; Yu, Kimberly; Austin, S. Bryn (March 1, 2017). "Results of a strategic science study to inform policies targeting extreme thinness standards in the fashion industry". International Journal of Eating Disorders. 50 (3): 284–292. doi:10.1002/eat.22682. ISSN 1098-108X. PMID 28138974. S2CID 5143838.
  10. ↑ "A New Study Takes on Eating Disorders in Modeling". Vogue. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Program for Respect – A Fashion Industry Built on Respect and Accountability". programforrespect.org. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Fashion Workers Act". Model Alliance. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Fashion Workers Act". Department of Labor. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  14. ↑ Steven Greenhouse (December 23, 2013). "A New Alliance Steps Up to Protect a New Generation of Models". The New York Times. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  15. ↑ "The Model Alliance Receives First Positive Social Influence Award". CFDA. October 19, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2026.