Miss Fashion Week

Victim Location 33139

Type of a scam Investment

Miss Fashion Week claims to be an international modeling competition where models compete for the Miss Fashion Week title, win $5,000 and walk in New York Fashion Week. In order to "win" in your city – there is no competition, just a phone interview. You’re then told you’re the winner and that you have to pay for your own crown and sash (about $300-500). You’re then asked to become a partner of the company, by investing several thousands (which is a highly unusual thing to ask of a competitor), or to bring in sponsors or else pay your whole way there (hotel, airport, everything). When we got to the competition in Miami we had to do our own makeup, and it was nowhere near the luxurious event they made it out to seem. Models that brought in sponsors were promised a publication in their official magazine, which turns out to just be badly formatted bits on regular glossy paper and we some of us weren’t even allowed to get a magazine as proof to our sponsors at all. They made a big deal about "Vera Wang" being a part of the company, but turns out that it’s just someone unrelated to the fashion designer who happens to have the same name (if that’s even her real name). The show was only for the guests that the models brought. There were random men coming in and out of our dressing room (all of us were half-naked at any given time). A lot of the girls claimed their sponsors weren’t paid. Some of the people helping out with the event weren’t paid. The whole thing was just a mess and an obvious scam. They go after up-and-coming models of any age. Anyone willing to pay. There is a rule that the models have to be naturally born female, which might break a sexuality discrimination law. Also, Miss Fashion Week claims they donate money to an "African youth" charity, but no charity name has ever been mentioned.