Maybe it’s the changeable marine climate or the city’s rich heritage in linen production, but Belfast punches well above its weight in terms of top modelling agencies.
If you’re based in Northern Ireland and dreaming of becoming a model, then signing with an agent in the capital should be top of your agenda.
Depending on whether you want to focus on working with local businesses, travelling internationally, benefitting from industry experience, or learning from former beauty queens, there are a range of Belfast modelling agencies to choose from.
Here are some of the best and their specialties to help you find one that suits your ambitions.
ACA Models is the longest-running model agency in Northern Ireland. It was established in 1990 by former model Alison Clarke, who was crowned Miss Northern Ireland 1982.
The Belfast modeling agency still has close ties to the high-profile pageant, and it’s currently organising the contest for Miss World Northern Ireland. Many of the previous winners are now key faces on ACA’s main board, including Hannah Johns, Kaitlyn Clarke, and Anna Leitch.
ACA represents women, men, and, since 2020, creatives and influencers. Opportunities include fashion shows, advertising, and photo shoots for editorial and commercial clients in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The agency also provides promotional staff for various public relations events, trade shows, exhibitions, product launches, and tastings.
Clients have included Irish fashion brands Cobbler’s Lane and Kindred of Ireland, Ulster Tatler magazine, and Michele International Salon in Belfast.
Nova Eire is one of Belfast’s newest modelling agencies. It was founded in 2024 by Miss Northern Ireland 2022 winner Daria Gapska. A nursing student when she was crowned, her aim with Nova Eire is to help “homegrown talent” achieve “global exposure and opportunities.”
It’s clear from the dual placements of its talent with international modelling agencies in places such as London, Brazil, and Hong Kong. Its clients are also international and include Grainne Maher, Anishta, Orloui, and inPhorm, which means its models get to travel to exotic locations, including Egypt, for the shoots.
Nova Eire represents youthful men and women with an editorial fashion look. Because it’s still a small agency, there is only a select number of models on its books.
If you want to grow your career alongside an ambitious new agency, then Nova Eire could be the one for you.
The Style Academy Model Agency was established in 1990 by former model Tracey Hall (now Rodgers). The Belfast model agency specialises in staging and producing fashion shows, such as those for Belfast School of Art. Not only does it represent models, but it also provides choreographers, set designers, dressers, voiceover artists, makeup artists, and hairstylists, as well as organises sets, staging, lighting, and sound for shoots. It’s something of a one-stop shop for content needs.
Style Academy represents models from the ages of 3 to 75 for projects including fashion shows, TV commercials, film and TV roles, photo shoots, press calls, and showroom work. Clients have included Belfast School of Art, Hillsborough Castle, O’Neills Sports, and local fashion brand EĢadach.
If fashion shows are what you desire from a career in modelling, then Style Academy could be right up your street.
Agency founder Maureen Martin has more than 40 years of experience in the industry. After modelling as a teen, she set up what became Northern Ireland’s biggest model agency, Stages, in the 1970s.
The fashion pioneer prides herself on nurturing new talent and welcomes enquiries from anyone interested in a career in modelling. That’s clear from the sheer range of faces on her books.
The Belfast modelling agency represents men, women, and children for fashion, commercial, and acting roles. Clients have included Wedding Journal International, The Bridal Company, Phoenix Energy, and Ards and North Down Council.
Although not a bespoke model agency, Shelley Lowry provides talent for high-profile advertising campaigns. If you’re interested in commercial modelling for TV and acting, then this could be the talent agency for you.
The agency, which has branches in Dublin and London, represents talent from as young as 4 years old. It’s potentially a great place to network, too, because it also represents creatives, including directors and broadcasters.
Lowry believes in drama as a force for good and delivers drama workshops in primary schools, as well as for adults with mental health issues and learning difficulties.
Commercial clients include Phoenix Energy, Barnardo’s, Netflix, and the Northern Ireland Screen.