Model: The Ugly Business of Beautiful Women

Investigative journalist Michael Gross delves into the history of models and takes us into the private studios and hidden villas where models play and are preyed upon, going beyond modeling’s carefully constructed facade of glamour to expose the scandal and untold truths that permeate the seemingly glamorous business.

Here for the first time is the complete story of the international model business—and its evil twin: legalized flesh peddling. It’s a tale of vast sums of money, rape both symbolic and of the flesh, sex and drugs, obsession and tragic death. At its heart is the most unholy combination in commerce: beautiful, young women and rich, lascivious men.

Fashion insider Michael Gross has interviewed modeling’s pioneers, survivors, and hangers–on, and he tells the story of the greats: Lisa Fonssagrives; Anita Colby, Candy Jones; Dorian Leigh and her sister Suzy Parker; Jean Shrimpton and Twiggy; Veruschka and Lauren Hutton; and today’s supermodel trinity, Christy, Naomi and Linda.

The definitive story of the international modeling business—and its evil twin, legalized flesh peddling—Model is a tale of beautiful women empowered and subjugated; of vast sums of money; of sex and drugs, obsession and tragic death; and of the most unholy combination in commerce: stunning young women and rich, lascivious men.

Investigative journalist Michael Gross takes us into the private studios and hidden villas where models play and are preyed upon, and tears down modeling’s carefully constructed façade of glamour to reveal the untold truths of an ugly trade.

“One long, scurrilously detailed dish. The first comprehensive history of modeling and a chewy read.” - Harper's Bazaar

“Modeling is a dirty business—and we can’t get enough of it…The book…names names and dishes dirt, on–the–record kiss–and–tell.” - Newsweek

“Page–turning exposé.” - Vogue

“Sprawling…energetic…Gross has obviously thought deeply about the machinations and meaning of the modeling business.” - People

“Rewarding…highly enjoyable, perhaps unprecedented. The definitive work of the Barbizon school.” - New York Times Book Review

“Absorbing reading. Essential.” - Library Journal

“Already in our Amazon shopping basket, we highly recommend you pick-up this wildly interesting bestseller as well.” - modelina.com

“Scandalous…the exposé of record of the modeling industry.” - Entertainment Weekly

“A book stripping models bare has electrified fashion…Lurid stories of sex, drugs, rock and frocks.” - International Herald Tribune

“Sensational…Reveals the steamy secrets of the superbabes…Delivers everything…” - The Daily News

“Staggeringly well–researched…Hideously fascinating.” - Cosmopolitan

“Model…is to high fashion roughly what Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle was to the meatpacking industry…[a] relentless evisceration of an industry normally swathed in more shadows and light than Cindy Crawford…Michael Gross…did a stunning amount of research. His real talent, though, is getting powerful people to go on the record with astonishing candor. Scandalous…the exposé of record of the modeling industry.” - Entertainment Weekly