Xenia Kontou joins us to discuss her journey through the modelling industry, from beginning as a model at 17 to moving behind the scenes and building her career as a scout, booker, manager and mother agent.
She explains why modelling was not the right path for her personally, but how the experience helped lead her towards the agency side of the industry. Xenia reflects on the different skills required to recognise potential, develop new faces and represent models professionally to clients.
The conversation explores the founding of Agencia Model Management in Athens and the realities of launching a model agency during Greece’s economic crisis. Xenia talks about the importance of understanding the market in which you work, rather than relying only on international trends, and why successful scouting requires knowledge of local clients, photographers and casting preferences.
Xenia also shares her approach to developing Greek models for international careers. She explains the role of a mother agency, the importance of choosing the right markets for each individual and why models benefit from building interests, education and experience outside the modelling industry.
She offers an honest view of the agent–model relationship, describing the many supportive roles an agent can play while emphasising the need for clear professional boundaries. Xenia also discusses fair rates, protecting where a model’s image is used and why accepting unpaid or underpaid work can affect the value of the wider modelling industry.
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