100 Most Influential People in Fashion

Fashion Influential #7: Eileen Ford

Ford Models' Super Model of the World grand prize winner from the Ukraine Natalyia Gotsky accepts her award from Ford Models founder Eileen Ford at the Ford Models' Super Model of the World contest at the New York Public Library January 20, 2004 in New York City. (Getty Images)more pics »

EILEEN FORD
Born:
March 25, 1922, Great Neck, NY
Discovered:
Christie Brinkley, Carol Alt, Cheryl Tiegs, Kim Alexis
Currently Represents:
Chanel Iman, Lydia Hearst, Bar Refaeli
Not Fan of:
John Casablancas
Beginnings.
In 1947, a pregnant Eileen Ford worked as a secretary for two of her model friends in New York City to earn her extra money for her growing family. The models were frustrated with their agencies; at the time, models were responsible for setting and collecting their own wages, and often found it difficult to get paid. Eileen Ford took the job for $65 a month, and was earning $250,000 a year by 1948.

Career Highs.
A former model, Eileen Ford recognized three traits - a straight nose, wide-set eyes, and a long neck - in all successful models. She must have been on to something, as she was responsible for discovering supermodels Cheryl Tiegs, Christie Brinkley, and Carol Alt. The company reigned as the eminent modeling agency in the United States for over 30 years.
I create a look and I create a style. American women mean a great deal to me. I help them understand how they can look better; how to do this, do that, get a job.
- Eileen Ford

Eileen with her husband Gerald W. Ford, co-founder of Ford Models.
Career Lows.
Under Eileen's shrewd eye, Ford Models didn't face any serious competition until the late 1970s, when former associate John Casablancas of Elite Model Management, moved into the American market, stealing some of their best models. This led to cutthroat competition between the companies, leading Casablancas to say of Ford, "She wants my skin. There's so much ego and conniving in this business—anyone will do anything. But I am a warrior. I will fight. I will never sleep with both eyes closed as long as that woman is around." Ouch.

Christie Brinkley is among the models Ford has represented.
Legacy.
Eileen Ford changed the fashion business forever by treating it like a serious business. She singlehandedly defined an industry by recognizing and filling a crucial need in the modeling world. Without the power of an agency like Ford Models, the concept of the supermodel would likely never have occurred.

- Alicia