Yeah i had kinda guessed you had some sort of relationship with Pose
You seem to be giving them a bit of advertising lol .... not that thats a bad thing!!!
I think the fact that you have said that 'its true the girls on Alison Campbell's books get 2nd and 3rd place' and that Miss N I is notoriously fixed would confirm that fact that maybe ACA isnt a good agency?? If they are so involved in a competition that is 'fixed' and tend to give out 2nd and 3rd place to girls on their own books they couldnt be a very fair agency in my opinion.....

Wow, thanks for all of your comments!  Just to make things clear, while the glamour/art nude work has never personally appealed to me, I am not in any way condoning those who do it, I'm just stating that the agencies don't like it.  I suppose it's because N.I. is still very backwards and commercially want more clean cut and wholesome looks.

I am still with ACA and have always been able to make a living out of it, supplemented with promotions and hostessing work, although I'm getting a bit old now   I know that Alison has got a bad reputation for being a tyrant etc but I've never had any problems with her so I can only go on what I know.  Most girls on her books would be about a size 10.

In terms of Miss N.I., I'm afraid that is notoriously fixed.  But while it's true that the girls already on her books often make the heats and get second and third place, she usually picks a new face for the title of Miss N.I.  Lisa, you seem to be exactly the type of girl that Alison would go for, why not try another heat?  I know many Miss N.I. contestants who have to go to a few heats before making the shortlist.  Miss N.I. is a great experience and will give you loads of media exposure and publicity (but be prepared for some bitchyness at the final weekend ) 

Chelby you asked me about Pose, I just know Carina and Shantala on a personal level as they were with ACA for many years.

Stephanie, it's only Style Academy that make you wait 3 months etc for payment, nightmare, I know! 

I think I've remembered to answer all questions/replies! x

Think this was a useful and good post, thanks (although I'm not from NI!) x

and i wonder does the poster have any pics so we can see who you are!! lol!!

I have heard bad reports about Alison Campbell as well as style academy, the same sort of thing, they only want to no if your tall very skinny blonde hair etc? and tha the same girls are always put forward for work, And I have heard mixed reports about pose! I agree with Leanne about not wanting to restrict what type of work you can do by signing up with a NI modeling agencey. Its sad that the agencys over here still have that idea that they won't take on someone who has done nude/glamour work, That would be the main reason I havn't bothered attempting to get on the books of any agencys over here, Well I did arrange an interview with Pose, and couldnt make it because of work, Im kinda glad I didnt go now, as I would have got turned down anyway because I have some Art nude pics in my portfolio! I wouldnt want to have to restrict what work I take on, and there is no guarente of getting regular work so I could be sitting around for months not making any money! I admit working Independantly Im not making a complete fortune, but enough to get me extra clothes and things  I think its nice of you to sign up to Folio to give advice, are you involved with Pose at all?

I think I would be one of the main girls on here who prob would be most suited to 'agency work'. I am your typical tall skinny blonde 5ft 8.

I have been thinking recently about going to one of the agencies as after 2years independantly working I have worked with most of the people i would like to work with but still havn't achieved what I set out to do- catwalk & commercial. Well I have done some commercial but not enough that I would like. I have heard that Alison is all for her favourites & from being at Miss N.I heat on Thurs night I can see this clearly as the 2 girls who won the Belfast heat were 'coincidently' just signed to ACA a few weeks previous. Which does make me very angry as In my opinion they were not the best girls there but I do understand as If I was in their position I wouldn't be complaining it's unfair. It's just the way it goes!

I'm currently getting a few images gathered together & printed from shoots & after that I think I will go for a few interviews to see were they lead.

I have thought about going to UK & as Leanne says it's better to be on UK books but some of us have day time jobs which also backs up her point that you may have to turn down work which then does not go down well. I would very much like to do modelling full time but doubt even with an agency like Style Academy or ACA it would pay well enough or the work would be concurrent to earn a comfortable living.

Lisa

I agree with both chelby and leanne!

With work being in such short supply as it is in N.I if you really wanted to stick at this then you would have to be out there promoting yourself also to make sure you got enough exposure and ofcourse work.

I personally don't understand how nude/glamour poses would tarnish the agencies reputation if a girl was found to have previously done work of this nature although i could understand how it would be different if she had done Porn/Continental work.

Unfortunately as i am only 5ft2 I'm never going to be a fashion model unless it is for a kids range, lol, but I do feel that I would be well suited within a commercial field but why go ang sign a contract with an agency for the hope that you may get one or 2 shoots a year that you have to wait 3 months to get paid for alongside the promo work?

suppose different things suit different people and it's all about how tolerant/committed you are but I personally am quite happy with the wonderful togs here on Folio 32!!!

Actually most girls on here dont seem to want a career they just like the fun of it and the ability to do their day job, which if you join an agency means turning down work which always results in dropping down the favourites list! I like the creativity and especially the nude work and wouldn't compensate myself to be on the books of any agency, when we have the freedom to join UK wide books and earn the same money. Just still seems a lot of girls here dont want to make the leap to England, its about confidence and takes a degree of financial investment but it pays off. The agencies here simply get jobs and girls that I wouldnt suit, I wish I was cotton-candy sweet but I'm not lol but at least if anyone wants to give it a go, there's only 3 agencies so its not hard to find out if you can give it a go! Lx