You don’t need to leave Brisbane to find a top-tier modelling agency to launch your brilliant career; there are plenty of great agencies looking for fresh new talent based in the Queen City of the North. Here’s all you need to know about finding yourself a great Australian modelling agency in Brissie.
The Brisbane office of top Australian Modelling agency Vivien’s Models opened in 1988—21 years after the creation of the agency. Now Vivien’s is one of Australia’s leading agencies, boasting four regional offices and a strong worldwide reputation. Still run and owned by the family that created it, the agency has nurtured big name models such as Gemma Ward and Jessica Gomes.
If you’re also thinking of a career in acting, Vivien’s might be the right agency for you; they are well known for helping their talent find work away from the catwalk. Model Courtney Eaton, a Vivien’s model, starred in Mad Max: Fury Road, for example. In addition to film, the agency has had successes finding TV and music work for their models. Vivien’s also has a busy social media department, if you fancy influencing.
Submission policy: Submit via email to your nearest Vivien’s office. Including your contact details, measurements, and a couple of recent snapshots (not exceeding 2 MB total). Women must meet the minimum height requirement of 5’8” or 173 cm and be between 14 and 20 years old; men should be 6’0” or 183 cm and at least 16 years of age.
You can also visit an office for an in-person assessment (no appointment needed) on weekdays between 10 o’clock to 12 o’clock or between 14 o’clock and 16 o’clock. Wear little or no makeup, and bring a couple of recent snapshots of yourself, printed or on a USB drive.
Brisbane contact: brisbane@viviensmodels.com.au
Founded in 1992 by Ursula Hufnagl, Chic Management has offices in both Brisbane and Sydney. Known for its broad scope—editorial, commercial, educational and other creative paths in addition to modelling—the agency is a big dog in Australia as well as globally.
Chic helped launch the careers of Abbey Lee Kershaw, Miranda Kerr, Montana Cox, Catherine McNeil and Alyssa Sutherland, and their models have worked with big names like Dior, Chanel and Gucci.
Chic also has a solid reputation away from the catwalk. Their many divisions allow models a wide scope to explore other career paths. Chic reps influencers, directors, and producers under their Digital Creative banner; a corporate offshoot, Scoop Management, concentrates on commercial modelling work.
Also attached to their Brisbane office is June Dally-Watkins (named for one of Australia’s first supermodels), a division of Chic that offers education in “personal and professional development and training” for young aspiring models.
Submission policy: Submit online via Chic’s website here. Alternatively, submit via email to modelsearch@chicmanagement.com.au with the following information: name, date of birth, and contact phone number; measurements (height, bust, waist, and hips); a clear, simple portrait photo (as a JPEG); and a statement of parental approval (if you are under 14 years of age). Chic aims to reply to submissions of interest within seven days.
Based in Brisbane and set up in 1987, Tamblyn Management is a well established agency with relationships worldwide. Founded by TV personality Pam Tamblyn, the company is now a family business run by Pam and her daughter Sallie (Pam’s husband, fashion photographer Lew Tamblyn, was long involved, but is now retired).
Tamblyn Management has nurtured faces such as Rachael Finch, Jesinta Campbell, Kendal Schuler and Nick Truelove, and as a mother agency has worked with other global players such as Elite, IMG and Ford in finding work internationally for clients.
The agency has a broad and diverse remit, with departments covering commercial, curve, influencers, kids and “real faces.” They’re open to “different shapes and sizes, nationalities and personalities.” Tamblyn’s bookers hold searches for undiscovered talent, and are open to being contacted via their Instagram and Facebook pages.
Submission policy: The first step is to email their Brisbane office (hello@tamblynmodelling.com.au) with some snapshot photos of yourself—your face and full length shot, preferably simple and natural (little-to-no makeup). They’re also interested in hearing about any experience you have in the modelling industry and a “small blurb about you.” Check out their website for further details.
Based in Brisbane, Agency 888 is primarily an agency for presenters and actors in film and TV, but they also work with models on booking commercial and fashion work. As with the bigger agencies, 888 has a wide scope of talent they’re willing to take on. It has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, and the Gold Coast in addition to their Brisbane home, so has a lot of contacts available for aspiring creatives.
888 describes itself as a “global provider of talent for over 25 years,” and boasts brands such as Target, Samsung and Foot Locker as past clients. The agency has also worked with big names such as Universal, Marvel, 20th Century Fox Studios, as well as most of the main Australian TV channels such as ABC and SBS. Agency 888 is definitely an option to consider if you’ve got ambitions that extend beyond your top flight modelling career.
Submission policy: The first step for Agency 888 is to give them a ring or drop them an email. For the Brisbane office the email is admin@agency888.com.au. You can also get in touch via the website through an online form here.
Dually based in Brisban and sunny Queensland is Que Models, which describes itself as “a boutique modelling agency with a focus on personalised model management and international placement.” The agency reps men, women, and influencers, and also has a development division focusing on younger models. It also has a specialist commercial board.
Established in 2012, the Que team has over 20 years’ experience, and their modelling boards show strong levels of photography and creativity. Unsurprisingly, since Queensland is the home to lots of surf brands, Que taps into that market. Check out the agency’s instagram page and website for more info.
Submission policy: Apply online via their website form here. Helpfully, they have reference images to guide your submission. Que prefers images without make up, and with minimal styling—in other words, keep it natural.
Alternatively, give them a bell on +610755157283 or drop them an email on info@quemodels.com