Thank you twoin18! That is so nice to hear. I had always assumed, along with my daughter, that graduate school would be on the horizon for her, so it’s wonderful to hear a story where modeling does not interrupt that path.
Yeah, but she’s semi retired and mostly a stay-at-home mom now 
I had a friend who modeled through high school. She did bridal shows and local work. She really liked it and her mother said she learn that the girl looked great in a $10k wedding dress and just as good in an $800 one (many years ago!) Saved a bundle when she got married.
OP- you need a better understanding of that 3 year contract. No- it doesn’t commit her for three years if she discovers that she hates it. But it locks her in to THIS agency/representative, which might not be a problem now, but will be a huge problem if a year from now she gets a significantly better deal somewhere else. THAT’s what the contract is for- not to force a kid who doesn’t want to have her picture taken to model- but to force a kid who might be underpaid, underutilized, over committed, being sent to inappropriate shoots, etc. to either stay with the original contract or leave the field entirely (or get sued). Or she has to buy her way out or come up with cash to keep the agency from suing her.
Time to lawyer up and find out what the downside is. If it’s too good to be true, there is usually a rather big liability out there that has not been spelled out. It might seem very glamorous to be doing fashion work- but your D could make a Verizon commercial which sets her up for ten years financially- and this agency could legitimately claim a portion of those earnings even if the work comes from elsewhere…
My D was approached when we were in NYC by a legit agent (verified with friend in biz). She was 14 years old and 6’1” and 130 pounds at the time. There was no way I could put aside my feelings about her being involved in an industry that is creating impossible beauty standards, my fears about her and other girls being exploited, and potentially developing an unhealthy preoccupation with looks and weight. Seemed like an eating disorder waiting to happen and just a stressful, negative lifestyle. So, my answer is a definitive no.
I worry about young women a lot. My previous personal trainer lives in Texas now. She is a BEAUTIFUL young woman, in amazing shape - she enters body sculpting competitions. Recently she posted a photo of herself with her mid-drift showing. She wrote that she hesitated to post the photo because it showed her “problem areas” - her stomach and waist. WTH??? Pancake flat stomach and tiny waist. I feel like I should post a reply - “Please don’t post like this - you will be discouraging every female who looks at your photo!” 
@Blossom. Thank you for that. You are completely right, of course about what the contract is supposed to accomplish, and thanks for pointing that out. I suppose I am not really worried about her being committed to one agent because this is in no way a potential career move for her, and just a way to have some fun/see another side of life. My hope is that she will do it for a year, realize that it’s all a crock, and then move onto college, not another agent. That said, if we go ahead, I will definitely have an entertainment lawyer look over the contract to make sure we are not missing something.
@murray93 I hear you on the industry and its feeding off/into awful beauty standards. My daughter knows that very well, and could give you a long lecture on the industry’s deleterious effects. And yet she STILL wants to do it. She is almost 17, which is a world away from 14. At 14, I would have had no problem saying no too. At almost 17, I think I need to work with her on what she wants and guide her rather than put my foot down. And just because she is not now in the industry does not mean she and her friends are exempt from the beauty standards it promulgates. They are all subject to them every day, regardless.
I would see if they would let you do a short contract to feel it out. Like 6 months - 1 year. They might say no since they do have to invest in you also.
Many years ago, my (much younger) cousin was “discovered” while at the mall. It was a full blown legit top agency scout and they even flew her out to their HQ for a test photo shoot. She got a contract and was thrilled. Long story short, after the excitement of everything wore off (and she did end up in a national print ad), it wasn’t fun anymore. The constant critiquing of her body and being told she needed to lose another pound or two, etc. took its toll and in the end my aunt made her quit because she worried about her mental health. She got out before any damage was done, but I think it was only because my aunt was accompanying her all the time and looked out for her best interests.
Based on her experience, my advice would be that it could be okay to try it, but make sure you have an understanding that if you think it becomes unhealthy, then you deserve the right to pull the plug. You may find that she loves it, or you may find the interest passes when the excitement wears off. Best wishes for you all!
It’s becoming more and more of an issue with guys as well. Living in a appearance focused society and way too much curating on social media doesn’t help.
In the fwiw department, Cindy Crawford went to Northwestern on scholarship for chemical engineering. She dropped out to model.
It is tricky territory for feminists- the need to separate brains from beauty, like you can’t be a true feminist if you care about your looks. Your daughter isn’t less of a feminist just because she is intrigued in or flattered by a body-conscious industry. I get it - the industry is evil and destructive in its objectification of women. But that isn’t the point.
The point of feminism is that gender shouldn’t be a barrier for a person finding/being what is their “truth”. Your daughter is young. She is smart. She has an opportunity to explore and challenge herself. Yes, there are risks. Big ones. So you, your partner and she have diagnosed those issues and are developing a plan to deal with them, in a thoughtful, tailored and healthy manner. What a great thing! Seems very feminist of you, if you ask me.
A friend’s daughter (in the mid Atlantic) was discovered and worked with an agency in NYC. I think it started junior year of high school. She modeled and submitted her college apps. Very bright, accepted by a notable school, deferred enrollment for one year, and then a second year.
After living in NYC and also having shoots overseas, she decided it was time to enroll in college.
I’m not sure how it worked out financially, but I assume her parents are paying for college. It seems the only downside is she was a freshman when her HS friends were juniors in college. I think they look on it as a positive life experience.
I would say, do it! I personally am a freshman in high school, and I just signed with the best modeling agency in the world. Now, in the fashion industry, they don’t just want a pretty face, but instead they want the girls to be educated. I am taking 5 AP classes (as a 9th grader), and I think that if time management is not a problem that she should do it. My modeling agency thinks it is fantastic that I am so ahead and supports it. However, if she does have anxiety and, if she is criticized, will be affected, I would say don’t do it. It could potentially be very detrimental to her health. Personally, all of the best modeling agencies in the world loved me, and since I was a former competitive junior tennis player, criticism doesn’t affect me at all. But I think she should try it out!
Thanks all for your responses. @CateCAParent – thanks so much for those comments and they strike a chord. It’s tricky alright – as an old school feminist I think the feminism of our daughters is sometimes a different animal, which I don’t always understand. So if you look askance at them wearing “crop tops” to school, it’s body-shaming and you’re part of the patriarchical problem. I get it, I really do, and yet, I struggle with it.
So I’m partly going on faith, rather than conviction, when she tells me that wanting to model has nothing to do with her lack of feminism 
It’s nice to hear someone else echo that point 
Yes, I have wondered about the three year contract thing, in that it would allow her to defer college for a year if she was successful. She has always talked about a gap year, but I never envisaged her using it for something like this 
Thanks for the data point, it’s much appreciated.
@socowonder, At the risk of sounding like my parents, I really don’t understand why girls these days think they get their power from body-revealing clothing. I see teen girls as particularly vulnerable and targeted by very sophisticated messaging. It can get them to do things that aren’t in their best interest and they can’t undo once done. I have no idea how to navigate that treacherous territory. Opting out is not really an option these days. WWGSD (What Would Gloria Steinem Do)?
The only thing I can think of is to be honest about it, educate yourself, keep your standards, and if you can, make it work for you rather than against you. (I was going to say “make it your b!#&@”, but that word is probably against message 
).
I am super curious what a smart, enlightened budding feminist does with this opportunity. I have faith that you and she have your heads screwed on tightly and will make good decisions for all of you.
I get the intellectual argument girls/young women are making – the Victorian advice we got when were were young was to cover up and not be ‘provocative.’ If we ignored that advice and were subject to physical/verbal attack, then it was our own fault. The point my daughter makes that this is all blaming the victim and that covering up never protected any girl/woman has weight to me. Therefore, she argues, she can wear what the heck she wants, because not doing so is caving in advance to “rape culture.” But the Victorian in me still disapproves, though I keep my thoughts to myself these days 
Having done lots of research over the last two days on the issue of provocative modeling and teens and talked to people on both sides of the camera, I am happy to have found out that, in the last 5 years there has been a “sea change” in what is legally permissible in the depiction of models under 18. Rules have been tightened and one large modeling agency that ignored the more restrictive rules has been sued and gone bankrupt, so agencies are now extremely careful in how they depict their underage models.
Second, I have found out that school really does come first and that the agency will only expect her time when she can give it. If that impacts how much work she gets, then that is on her, and will be her choice. Also, if she doesn’t have work for a period of 4 consecutive months, either side can void the contract. So if she hates it, all she has to do is refuse work for 4 months, and she is out of the contract.
So the only main issue we are left with is body image/anxiety. It’s a big one. But we will proceed with caution, with constant check ins and see how things go.
Thanks all for a great discussion/input. It was really really helpful
It’s very obvious to me why even an academically minded teenage girl would want to do this. Nearly all teen girls (and a lot of women!) suffer from body image insecurity, and to have someone (a stranger who knows what they’re talking about!) approach her and tell her that she stands out in a good way answers a lot of that insecurity. It’s flattering, and it marks her as special in some way. Who doesn’t want that?
And on some level, there is the fame component. Many of us, whether we acknowledge it openly, do desire a measure of fame. As a teen, she is especially vulnerable to this.
Make sure she understands the risk of becoming known. If this were my child, I’d worry more about her becoming successful than failing at it or quitting.
Thank you for that. So many great points. Yes, you’ve nailed it with the general body insecurity that many people have. It’s been VERY HARD as a skinny tall girl for her to find, for example, jeans that fit. She’s always felt “too tall” and actually slumps a bit while walking to hide this. So to be singled out for her physique in an affirming way has been flattering for sure.
And you are completely right about the issue of what happens if she becomes successful. I have been discounting it, and shouldn’t.
If she decides to go for it, remember she’s a minor and that means you are legally allowed to be in eye shot of her at all times… and I heavily recommend that a parent be a ready presence.
I’m not a fan of teenage girls doing modeling. Anorexia, bulimia, and severe depression is rampant and toxic. There are plenty of jobs she could work where she can preserve her self-respect.