Lexington Models: changing the face of the industry
December 17th, 2009 | Published in Fashion Peeps | 1 Comment
Words by Maria. Photography by Matthew Burditt. (For full photo credits see below article).
String Magazine is a big fan of Lexington Models, so we sat down with owner Tawnya Busch to get the latest on the agency. Photographer Matthew Burditt, who has photographed nearly all of Lexington’s roster, just can’t seem get enough of these lovely faces, so a group photo shoot was definitely in order. String Magazine was on-set to capture the action behind the scenes (can be viewed in the video below) and brings you the images that resulted from the shoot in this article. Read on to learn more.
Vancouver is well-known for its ethnic diversity, so it’s only natural that Canada’s most ethnically diverse modelling agency* should be based here. Founded in 2006 by sisters Tawnya and Tara Busch, Lexington Models has set its sights on changing the face of the modelling industry by promoting models of all backgrounds equally.
Sitting across from Tawnya at a Yaletown coffee shop, it’s impossible not to notice her classic beauty: blue eyes, fair skin, high cheekbones, and hair the colour of butterscotch—qualities that her sister Tara shares. But it’s pleasingly ironic and refreshing that the two people putting so much time and energy into promoting ethnic models have the very traits that have filled the pages of fashion magazines since the modelling world first took shape. “[Diversity] is not reflected in fashion very well and I want to see something different other than that blonde-haired and blue-eyed face—maybe it’s because I see it every day in the mirror!” laughs Tawnya, “I want to see that girl that I don’t see every day.”
Lexington Models’ lush roster includes backgrounds from almost every corner of the globe: Indian, Native Fijian, Eurasian, Senegalese, and Grenadian are only a few of the ethnicities that shape what Lexington Models is today. And being a boutique agency where every model knows one another, Lexington is very much like a multicultural family—one in which every member is long-limbed and gorgeous—but a family nonetheless.
Sixteen female models and a total of three in the newly added men’s roster make up this family, which is fairly small in modelling terms. “We knew from the beginning that we wanted to do a boutique agency,” recalls Tawnya, “We wanted to keep it small so we could develop our models and prepare them. Sometimes larger agencies don’t have time to develop all their models, so some are left on their own and they get thrown into a job that maybe they’re not prepared for yet.” Lexington is certainly boutique-sized, and it ensures that each model gets the attention they deserve, whether they are completely new at modelling, or already experienced. Only a few of the new models get the bare-basics in modelling, however, as a significant part of the roster is made up those experienced ones who switched into Lexington looking for the closer care of a boutique agency.
With all the ethnic diversity that Lexington is promoting, don’t think they would turn away a potential model just because he or she is blonde-haired and blue-eyed. Lexington Models is just about that: diversity–no matter what the model’s background is. But Tawnya and Tara feel that there isn’t enough of it in the modelling world, and they are determined to change that.
“I think we’re starting to get there,” assures Tawnya, “Some of the top models now are African-American, Caribbean, that kind of thing, which, 5 years ago there were very few of—you could name two or three on one hand. So I think it’s starting to open up—I hope so—and we’d really like to be a part of it.”
With Lexington Models’ already very positive reputation among fashion industry members, and, of course, its very good-looking roster, it’s not difficult to see a bright future for this young Vancouver agency.
*Based on a percentage relative to its roster size.
Photographed by Matthew Burditt.
Hair by Ken Werner (kurlupanddye@gmail.com) & Kimiko Yoshida at Verve Hair Lounge.
Makeup by Marianna Scarola at THEY Representation & Negar Hooshmand (www.negarhooshmand.com/).
Models are Cody, Farrell, Yusuf, Amrit, Pamela, Chantelle, Roza, Cecilia, Natalie, Masseni, and Teneille.
Women’s Wardrobe by Jason Matlo Bridal Collection.
Men’s Key Wardrobe by Christopher Bates for ULTRA.
Behind the Scenes Captured
Photographed by Martin Krzywinski.
January 17th, 2010
Hi! Great article.
I didn’t know that Lexington was promoting ethnic models. I think that’s so great. I used one of their models for a fashion shoot of my own collection so I’m happy to learn this.