Model: The Ugly Business of Beautiful Women

This is a wonderful read with a perfect pace. It has a variety of viewpoints from a balanced business analysis, to a thoughtful integration of modeling into the cultural fabric to a taste for gossip which sizzles. Where else could one find out that Grace Kelly was turned down for a beauty contest because she was too thin or that Lauren Hutton chose her first name after Lauren Bacall because her first choice Laurence was too long for her Playboy bunny name tag? I was also impressed by Gross' skill at giving the reader a sense of the individual life story in just a page or two in an almost complete sense without any sense of skimping, no small feat. He covers America and Europe with a true feel for both areas, he zooms in close and also moves quickly. This is a remarkable book.

Heard and enjoyed the taped version of MODEL by Michael Gross . . . its subtitle says it all: The ugly business of beautifulwomen . . . methinks that this is an excellent book for anybodythinking of entering the profession--or if you know somebody whois . . . although the field may seem glamorous, in reality, it is anything but that.Though the book was non-fiction, it sounded like I was listeningto a novel . . . also, I liked hearing about the backgrounds of suchfamous models as Twiggy and Cindy Crawford.The edition I heard was from the mid-1990s . . . I understandthat a paperback edition in 2002 has since updated MODELand might be worth getting if you find the subject of interest.

I have been developing the most ideal modeling agency for the past 2 years. I am at my last round of revision on the business plan before meeting with investors. On this book alone, I found information that 2 years worth of research didn't provide. I haven't finished reading it yet, but find it hard to put it down, until I realize it's 2 hours before I have to get up! This book has provided strong insight into what I must watch out for and what I must do to succeed with my agency. His description alone of Eileen Ford, her personality , and the results of her attitude, helped me realize I have nothing to fear. That my concept can succeed. If Mr. Gross ever reads this, I would like to say thank you. my success will be built on this book.

I didn't expect to learn anything from Michael Gross' book, but Ihave to admit, it is the most comprehensive book on the modeling industry ever published. It's so good at separating the myths from fact that it was hard to read.