In a sign that the fashion industry has changed, a major modeling company is suing its competitor over a plus size model.
Manhattan-based MSA Models, which reps both rail thin catwalkers for Fashion Week and their fuller-figured counterparts for national ad campaigns, slapped the international agency MC2 Models Management with a $700,000 lawsuit for stealing their talent.
MSA says it was responsible for skyrocketing Jennifer Caryn Hyman to plus size success– getting her gigs with David’s Bridal and Donna Karan.
Before Hyman, of Monmouth County, NJ, signed on with the agency in 2001 she was working as a part-time clown in Central Park. At her peak in 2007 Hyman pulled in a $245,000 salary and made over $100,000 last year.
But then the buxom brunette abruptly ended her relationship with the firm in July 2012 and signed on with MC2.
MSA claims one of its former employees joined forces its competitor’s president in “a targeted, aggressive campaign to ‘poach’ models under exclusive contracts,” according to the Manhattan Supreme Court suit.
MC2 also allegedly stole another plus size beauty named Tricia Campbell who has appeared in the pages of Glamour, Essence and O Magazine as well as in ads for Macy’s and Bloomingdales.
MSA is suing both MC2 and Hyman over unpaid commissions.
Neither the agency nor the model immediately returned messages seeking comment.