By: Jay Feldman

A supportive community is not something that modeling scout and former model Lisa Phillips has always been able to count on. From abuse and exploitation to the proliferation of disordered eating and drug use, the modeling industry can be tough at best. For some models, however, it can spell a one-way ticket to burnout or more intense conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Phillips is a veteran of the magazines of Europe and countless TV campaigns. From a young age, she navigated the often rocky world of modeling alone and ran across significant challenges for her tender age.  Now, she is working to create a more supportive and healthy community for up-and-coming models as a modeling scout. 

“We are in an industry that needs to be more sheltered, and I want to be a part of making it that way,” says Phillips. 

Phillips is creating this community from the ground up through the launch of her new podcast, “From Now On,” which will air in late August of 2024. On the podcast, she shares tales of empowerment and rising above abuse and other challenging situations as part of her mission to create a kinder, gentler entertainment industry.

Trauma and triumph 

The name Jeffrey Epstein is now synonymous with sex trafficking and abuse, but nearly 20 years ago, he was a jet-setting financier with his own private island — well-known to the modeling world elite. It was this Jeffrey Epstein that Phillips encountered on a visit to his island, Little St. James. 

Young, inexperienced, and admittedly naive, Phillips accompanied a fellow model to the island and was ordered to give Epstein one of his now-infamous private massages. The massage led to abuse, as it had for many other young women and girls. 

It took years before Phillips could come to terms with what had happened to her. At this point, others had come forward, revealing a serial abuser had been operating for years unchecked. 

By the time Jeffrey Epstein had died, and Ghislaine Maxwell was put away, Phillips had found her voice and connected with a community of supportive women who were also victims of Epstein and Maxwell. She participated in the documentary “Ghislaine, Prince Andrew And The Paedophile” and spoke out in the media about what she and others had endured. She has used her own traumatic experience to build bridges to healing for other survivors. 

Transforming the industry

Years ago, a confident Phillips, new to the modeling world, told famed model agency owner Eileen Ford that she would be the “best modeling scout in the world” someday — a goal she still holds tightly. Today, part of her striving to be the best includes transforming the industry from the inside out. 

“Modeling is tough, but it can also be incredibly rewarding,” says Phillips. “Today, we are changing the standard of what makes a model, and it’s very exciting.” 

The days of super-skinny, statuesque teenagers being the only people who get a second look from a scout or agent may be coming to an end. Today’s modeling industry is more supportive of diversity, equity, and different body types than ever before. 

“Today’s models are creating their own reality,” says Phillips. Part of her approach is helping them get themselves noticed through building personal brands and leveraging social media – a must in today’s super-connected world. Her comprehensive course called #GetSigned Model Mastery gives up-and-coming modeling information on brand building, building self-confidence, and getting noticed by the big agencies. 

“I want to help new models live their dreams successfully yet safely,” says Phillips. 

Phillips stresses that today’s models need to go beyond just being a “pretty face” — they need to have the whole package: personality, intelligence, and personal branding. In Phillips’ world, that whole package also includes being aware of the risks associated with an industry still largely built around looks, youth, and nepotism. 

Full circle

As she steps forward to build community in the industry she has called home for nearly twenty years, Phillips feels it is a full-circle moment — one that is triumphant in the face of a traumatic past. “I’m helping people understand the risks and the rewards in this industry,” she explains. 

For Phillips, building a supportive community is a large part of the ample rewards the modeling industry still has to offer. As she prepares to launch her podcast and continues to promote her scouting services and course, Phillips is hopeful for the future of the entertainment industry — especially for women.

“We need to focus on building community and prioritize raising awareness of issues such as abuse and exploitation,” says Phillips. In an industry often criticized for cruelty and harshness, Phillips is ushering in an era of kindness, inclusion, and community. Her work is not only about discovering new faces but also helping the industry see the people behind the beautiful faces and helping those new models tap into what makes them special and worthy of success.

Published by: Martin De Juan