Model mom is right on target. Ford has been around forever and has a long, long history of making many of the biggest girls ever in the business. A lot of ppl here think modeling began with Women, DNA, and IMG. These guys wouldn't be around if it weren't for Ford and to a lesser degree, Elite. These two are the two most influential agencies ever in the history of modeling.
Ford is having serious troubles right now keeping bookers and their top girls, but NEVER discount any business htat has been around as long as them. And those of you who don't think they don't have an eye for talent, current girls like Alison Nix, Rachel Alexander, Cameron R, Carolyn R, Carolyn M, Suzanne Diaz all started at Ford. Theyve had problems keeping their top girls but they have a very extensive scouting network and are very, very good at finding girls with great potential.
If they ever actually decided to seriously pursue high fashion, they absolutely have the resources and connections to make their girls stars. But they are more interested in pursuing the commercial route in order to make money. I don't particularly agree with it, and I'd love to see more of their girls doing the high fashion campaigns and ads, but to dismiss Ford as minor league footnotes is to ignore fashion history.