Irene Marie Models

Irene Marie Models Miami Beach's first and largest model and talent agency. Featured on MTV's 8th & Ocean, launched the In 1980, Irene opened City Models Florida in Ft.

In 1979, the world renowned European modeling agency City Models Paris was seeking to place a group of their models in Miami. The owner of City Models tapped Irene Marie, a former model and fashion columnist in Europe, for assistance. City Models was dissatisfied with the regional scope of the agencies they visited in Miami, and proposed to Irene to open a branch of their agency in South Florida.

Lauderdale as the first full-service exclusive model and talent agency in South Florida. Irene's contacts in Europe allowed her to persuade foreign photographers and designers to produce their campaigns in Florida, from Palm Beach to the art deco oasis of Miami Beach. This included mega-fashion photographer Steve Hiett who shot Kim Harbour for ELLE - Irene's first cover booking. For the first time a Florida-based agency was taking an international approach to the fashion industry. In 1983 the name of the agency was changed to Irene Marie Models and by 1988 had outgrown its location. It was during this time that Irene made the biggest discovery of her career, when a 13 year old Niki Taylor walked in to her agency's open call. Having realized Miami Beach's potential as a fashion production superpower (unpopulated beaches, vibrant colors, unique lighting), Irene decided to move her agency South to the relatively undiscovered South Beach. Irene was one of the first real estate investors in South Beach to purchase and renovate an original ocean-front building. She moved her agency to 728 Ocean Drive in 1989 and was quickly joined by industry friends and icons Bruce Weber and Gianni Versace. Over the next decade the influx of photographers, models and productions transformed Miami Beach into the third fashion capitol of the world. The agency continued to grow during the early 1990's with the discovery and development of talent such as David Fumero, Amber Smith, Shana Zadrick, Garcelle Beauvais, Brandi Quinones, Tom Pricone, Gilles Marini and Britt Bradford. In 1992 Forbes magazine listed Irene Marie Models as one of the top 8 most successful modeling agencies in the world. The following year Irene opened agency branches in Atlanta, Tampa and was the first Florida-based modeling agency to ever open in New York. During this period top models and agents flocked to I'M New York including Marcus Schenkenberg, Cynthia Bailey, Shemar Moore, Kimora Lee, Beverly Peele, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and rockstar Brett Michaels. In 1997 after giving birth to her fifth child, Irene decided to consolidate her agency branches into one entity, again based out of her Miami Beach office. Over the next decade, Irene continued to discover and represent talent including Cindy Taylor, Bar Rafaeli, Melania Trump, Heide Lindgren, Vinci Alonso and Brett Novek. The agency expanded with the development of new divisions including Irene Marie Creative Management (an artists' division), IM Publishing, and IM Sports and represented athletes and celebrities such as Harry Wayne "K.C." Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band, Shannon Briggs, Ricky Williams and Jay Howard. In 2006, Irene along with MTV launched the reality television series 8th & Ocean which chronicled the lives of 10 models and their relationship with Irene and her staff. The show was a world-wide hit and helped to put the fashion spotlight back on Miami Beach. Soon after, Irene launched an extensive online initiative to utilize new media to further her brand name and to scout for new talent. The agency which was first to launch an online booking system was now the first to effectively harness the power of online social networks such as MySpace, FaceBook and YouTube. In recognition of its 25th anniversary and outstanding achievements, December 13, 2008 was declared ‘Irene Marie Models Day’ in the City of Miami Beach.

Wonderful days. wonderful memories, wonderful boys!! Thank you David Vance.
09/13/2019

Wonderful days. wonderful memories, wonderful boys!! Thank you David Vance.

Belated TBT from 1981
IRENE MARIE MODELS
NELSON, GIB, DAVID AND BRIAN

07/24/2019

Amanda at was very nice 👍 Gave Sebastien a lot of time and a contract too! And great advice. Sorry Bridget, former IM Model team was in Chicago. Would have loved ❤️❤️to see you too. Thank you Amanda you were awesome 👏 www.irenemariemodels.com .com

07/24/2019

It was lovely to see Lyndzee again - such a kind lady - and to meet the lovely gals The biggest surprise was to see Marie Luce again. She was with me in the first decade of IM. Hasn’t changed at all. Thank you Wilhelmina for your warm welcome. ❤️ That’s all for the day. And it was a wonderful day.

07/24/2019

Sebastien if I still had an agency I would be signing you right now! You are a very handsome young man. Be authentic. Follow your passion and believe! The world and future is yours.

07/24/2019

Like father - like son. Two generations of good looking men. I love ❤️ my consulting work but when it takes me back 35 years it’s so much fun! Antonio and Sebastien. Look for more of the story.

07/24/2019

Before I dropped the CITY from IM Antonio Lima was one of my models. Handsome - Brazilian and part of the original Irene Marie guys scouted by Richard Pollman. 35 years later what a surprise to receive a FB message with a request to meet and give guidance and advice to his son. This is what makes your work worthwhile. Sometimes you don’t know how you have touched people and wonder if you even have made a difference. I think I did. irenemarie.com/irenemarie models

07/24/2019

Friday afternoon panel discussion on Mental Health and Fashion sponsored by FIU. Invited to be on panel by my old friend and co- worker at Irene Marie Models NY - Tyrone Barrington and moderator. Model Carlye Nabers and Dr. Vicki Burns. The pressures of social media, competition, loneliness in today’s world. Balance is the key word. Trust. Communicate. Hold someone’s hand - look into someone’s eyes and share your sweetness and kindness. Care. If you’ve watched the TV series Billions? Maybe it’s time for model agents -creative Agents - photographer agents to have on staff a psychiatrist, not just for talent but for agents and owners- everyone has pressures that could be helped and guided by a caring professional.

07/24/2019

Do you remember John Aguirre? CFO at Irene Marie Models. All of us - staff - models and me would go and chat and spend time with John in his office for many different reasons - usually money or advice! He had a dry sarcastic humor but loved us all and was kind of the Daddy of our family. It’s been years since we’ve seen each other and meet up today for a coffee, story telling and catching up on our lives since IM Models. I miss John. I miss all of you. But so grateful and blessed for all the memories and that special time in our lives and that special time in South Beach. .com .com

07/24/2019

Ron and Irene. Rivals once - friends forever. Seeing old friends looking for a new home for Sebastien Lima

07/24/2019

Antonio and Sebastien. A great family. Having fun showing them around. Always always entertaining and fun to see Ron www.irenemariemodels.com

02/08/2019
07/11/2018

Irene Marie Day June 11, 2007
Great day of celebration with staff, friends and family. The Barbie Doll Dish was not my idea!!! A wonderful memory of a footstep left behind for ever. Thank you Miami Beach!

09/28/2017
07/20/2017

Flashback to 2014. Evening with and and me at Vizcaya. Pharrell Williams is such a sweet man and very spiritually conscious. Probably what I like the most about him. It was a great night and a great memory

07/14/2017

Thank you Miami Beach. What a grand story we created together. Forever grateful to be a part of your history. Today is the 10th year anniversary of receiving the Key to the City of Miami Beach and proclimation of Irene Marie Day, July 11

05/16/2017

love for News Cafe
is well known, but did you know he also loved the at The Booking Table? In the early 90s I opened The Booking Table on the first floor of Irene Marie Models agency to be a destination for models, producers and fashionistas to grab a bite by the ocean in between photoshoots and castings. The Booking Table is pictured here along with all of Gianni's campaign men.

FX Networks Ricky Martin Frontrunner Casting Versace

05/15/2017

FX Networks is wrapping up filming their series on . South Beach and the Fashion Community still feel the impact of his loss. He was such a big part of my agency and models story in the early 90s. Remembering Gianni this week and posting some of the many Irene Marie Models that graced his campaigns. Here is one of Gianni's and my favorites, Britt Bradford in 1993 photo taken right near my agency at 728 Ocean Drive.

Ricky Martin Versace Frontrunner Casting

02/20/2017

FB early #2000. Irene Marie Models winter party with Rod Hagwood. I remember that night it was so much fun. The golden years!

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728 Ocean Drive
Miami Beach, FL
33139

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+13056722929

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Videos

All About Height
All About Height

Irene discusses why height is important for modeling. She outlines the basic requirements for men and women.

What is a Supermodel?
What is a Supermodel?

Irene discusses the history and future of Supermodels.

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