Models Pedaru, Jagodzinska and Cywinska sue Next Management

[t-rex]

Three European catwalkers sued their former modeling agency on Tuesday, claiming it preyed on "less powerful, foreign" beauties and cheated them out of cash.

The company quickly shot back, saying the models are ingrates who should be happy they were brought to the U.S. and turned into stars.

It's the latest skirmish in a court battle between top agencies Next Management and Ford Models.

Estonian eye-catcher Karmen Pedaru and Polish pretties Anna Jagodzinska and Aleksandra Cywinska launched their U.S. careers at Next and then defected to Ford.

Next hit back by suing Ford for poaching - the same thing Ford accused Next managers of in other lawsuits.

Now the models themselves have gotten in on the legal action - claiming in court papers that Next honchos Joel Wilkenfeld and Faith Kates ripped them off.

The suit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court says Pedaru is owed at least $400,000, Jagodzinska is out $230,000, and Cywinska was cheated out of $30,000.

Next lawyer David Jaroslawicz scoffed at the allegations.

"These young ladies have a lawyer with a very active imagination," he said.

"We don't prey on anyone. We got them here legally and turned them into high-fashion models and they can't even say 'thank you,'" he said.

A lawyer for the models did not return calls.

NYDailyNews

 

[LagerfeldBoy]

 

[john2elmejor]

 

[soymilkfreak]

well damn.

 

[99 Apples]

makes me glad I'm poor but happy.

 

[tigerrouge]

If I had a dollar for every time a model was labelled "selfish" and "ungrateful" for wanting a better deal for herself, I'd probably not need a pay rise in my own job.

 

[LiranYana]

Goodluck Girls, Hope you win it
$400,000, if its true then thats a lot

 

[loladonna]

I'm guessing most models are getting ripped off. Any time someone holds onto your money and claims to pay your expenses for you the possibility for fraud is there. Why don't they give the models their paychecks and let the model pay their own expenses instead of the rationing of funds that goes on?

 

[Squizree]

$1 million compensation? Who do they think they are?

 

[MulletProof]

well it's not a compensation, it's allegedly their money, so.. that's who they are, the owners of that money.

I can't wait for the 'models should just bow and be grateful' argument.. people are so retro when it comes to their business.. cause it is a business for them too the moment they sign a contract. a simple concept, and yes, they're capitalising on their faces, other people do it on their brain and still get paid their share.. don't know how one's more deserving than the other. /rant.

 

[The_Ida]

Those are some awesome girls. Very brave. And about time...

 

[tigerrouge]

I can't wait for the 'models should just bow and be grateful' argument.. people are so retro when it comes to their business..

The supermodels were "selfish", and I seem to remember Gisele was also described as such. Sounds more like they were too "successful" in terms of taking greater control of their careers.

 

[Northern Star]

If it was only 1 girl I might be a bit suspicious, but clearly something is up when all 3 girls are suing. Fight for your rights ladies and good luck.

 

[Festat]

Get it all, girls. I wanna see blood.

 

[LabelWhore4]

I don't blame them. Get that money while you can girls. Lord knows these careers don't last long!

 

[Deleted member 1957]

I have a feeling this is true and if it all goes well could cause a revolution in the modelling world

 

[The_Ida]

I have a feeling this is true and if it all goes well could cause a revolution in the modelling world

I really REALLY hope so.

 

[mackos]

I'm crossing my fingers for the girls too, go and get what you deserve, ladies!

 

[oversharer]

Stories like this are always upsetting.

 

[Fontenrose]

It would be interesting to see an agency's accounting audited.

This is probably just a counter-suit to get Next to drop its suit though.