Krysten Ritter; Image: Getty
tFS: Who’s one of the most famous women you’ve scouted?
ES: When I first started at Elite Model Look, we’d go across to the malls. There was this girl in overalls and a Guns N’ Roses T-shirt that looked like she just came off the farm. I went up to her and she was like, “No way! I’m not dressed as a model.” I finally convinced her to come over and she ended up being selected for the competition. It was Krysten Ritter, who’s now doing so well as an actress.
tFS: Where’s the most random place you’ve scouted?
ES: I scouted a girl at CVS while she was buying medicine because she was sick. I’ve also scouted at the Yankees game.
tFS: Is it difficult to scout in the winter when girls are more covered up?
ES: When you know, you know. It’s all in the face. The rest you can fix.
tFS: What’s your take on modeling competition shows? It seems like many of the winners never go on to have a long-lasting career.
ES: Nowadays, I think people don’t take those shows seriously. If you were to win America’s Next Top Model, I don’t think it will give you an extra boost. If you’re looking for exposure, then sure, it’s great. But if you want to walk the Prada runway, it’s not going to necessarily help you. I mean, when we did Elite Model Look, Stephanie Seymour, Gisele Bündchen and Cindy Crawford were in the competition and they didn’t win. But it wasn’t the end-all for them.
tFS: There’s a lot of fake scouts out there. How do you tell the difference?
ES: Do not email or trust their website. They could have a fake email or link to the agency. The best thing is to call the agency directly and ask them if that person works for them.
tFS: What’s the best way for girls to email you if they want to be a model?
ES: We like to see natural pictures — not selfies, nude photos or too much makeup. Maybe just a little mascara or lip gloss, if needed. Hair off the face. A T-shirt and skinny jeans are fine. We also want to know your age, measurements and contact information as well as your parents’ information if you’re under 18. Keep it simple and take photos in natural lighting, either outside or by a window.
