EVERYTHING else may be slowing down for summer, but the modeling world is buzzing about a bunch of Machiavellian machinations.
Insiders say mogul Teddy Forstmann, who paid $750 million for the IMG group of companies last year, is considering buying Elite Europe from Alain Kittler, Gerald Marie and their partners. IMG's modeling division reps the likes of Gisele Bundchen, Kate Moss and Heidi Klum.
Meanwhile Marie, head of Elite Paris, who has clashed with Elite New York owner Eddie Trump, is said to be opening his own New York agency in November. The move was the talk of this week's IMTA model convention at the Hilton.
"We don't comment on rumor or speculation," Forstmann's rep said, "but we already own the world's leading modeling agency." Marie did not return calls. An IMG insider tells us Forstmann is underwhelmed by Elite Europe's financials.
Trump, meanwhile, is said to be less than thrilled with Elite New York, which he bought after a bankruptcy auction for $7.8 million last year. We're told Trump, a rich schlump who fancies himself a playboy and likes to have lots of girls around, thought that owning a modeling agency would improve his love life. But it hasn't gone quite as well as he'd hoped, we hear.
"The models aren't at his beck and call," our insider says. "It's not turning out to be as easy as he thought. Just because you own the agency doesn't mean the girls are yours. You need some charisma, too ... Eddie is not exactly a young John Casablancas."
Trump's rep insists we're barking up the wrong tree, claiming he's always had an active social life and "never would acquire a company for that reason."
Trump's disenchantment has led to speculation that he might want to sell out to Forstmann or whoever else buys Elite Europe. But he has "no intention" of selling, his rep says.
Forstmann has already indicated he means business by preparing to open a branch of IMG in Milan in September. Local agencies there are up in arms because they used to handle Italian bookings for IMG's stars. Now they will be shut out.
The Fashion Investment Group (FIG) is making moves as well, expanding its ID Models brand in South America and Mexico, with a Mexico City agency slated to open next month.