What is your ideal office?
I’m a member of a co-working space, and I take lunch meetings at a local cafe. But I mostly work out of my home office. There are drawbacks to working from home, but generally I like it. I can hunker down and focus without distractions. My team is also very spread out (D.C., Brooklyn, Staten Island, LA, and I’m often conferencing in with people all over the world), so a lot of the work is done remotely. What is an object that has made a remarkable impression on you? I have a copy of the Child Model Act—legislation that I championed that was signed into law by Governor Cuomo in 2013—hanging on the wall near my desk. The law extended labor protections to underage models in New York State. It’s framed along with the pen the Governor used to sign the bill. I see it as a testament to the Model Alliance’s efforts and all the hard work of those involved.
What is a formative experience you remember from your childhood?
My dad is a professor and research scientist at NYU. As a kid, I’d visit him in his lab and we’d design experiments together. We’d make cultures and look under giant microscopes at his lab bench. I idolized my dad and thought his being a scientist was really cool (I still do!). Obviously, I didn’t follow in his footsteps professionally, but conducting strategic research to inform policy has become an important part of my work at the Alliance. When I did my masters at Harvard, I partnered with researchers at Harvard School of Public Health to conduct studies on the prevalence of eating disorders in the industry. So, I guess I’ve kind of come full circle..
Who have been some of the most outspoken advocates for the Alliance and its causes?
Last year, Karen Elson joined the Model Alliance’s board of directors. James Scully has also been involved as an advisory board member for many years. In May, he, Edie Campbell and I spoke at the Copenhagen Fashion Summit, where we introduced the RESPECT Program (programforrespect.org). RESPECT is a program that aims to create enforceable, industry-wide standards and address (among other issues) sexual harassment and economic abuse of models and other freelance creatives working in the industry. Inez and Vinoodh have also been supportive and shared our open letter announcing the program. Over 200 models, including many leading names (Gisele, Edie, Doutzen, Teddy Quinlivan, Robyn Lawley), have signed on in support.
Who has been one of your greatest role models?
I’ve gained a newfound appreciation for my mom. She went back to work in her sixties after many years of being a stay at home mom to my brother, who has had some challenges, and she beat cancer twice. My mom is tenacious in work and in life.
What is the last thing you built?
I founded the Model Alliance about seven years ago. The organization started as an experiment and we’re still building. Every day is a learning experience.
What is the one thing the Alliance needs most to succeed?
We’re calling on companies to join the RESPECT Program. (It’s #Time4RESPECT!) We know that executives at the top bear responsibility for ensuring that our rights are respected when we’re at work, but they too often treat discovery of abuses as public relations crises to be managed, not human rights violations to be remedied. We also know that standards without genuine enforcement won’t work.
Lyrics to live by?
“R.E.S.P.E.C.T… All I’m askin’ is for a little respect (program).”
