Meet Lisa Phillips | Model Scout & Agent, Select Models Los Angeles

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lisa Phillips and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Being a Model Scout for a Global model Agency really makes me feel like Im serving my purpose in life. I change Lives, I mean whats better than being the reason someone is discovered at a Taylor Swift concert and two months later is walking for Calvin Klein at NYFW? Imagine what this experience does to the psyche of someone’s confidene, it opens up their minds to get the concept of “anything is possible.”

How lucky am I to travel the USA and scout for talent that I know I am going to change this young persons life and give them the opportunity to be represented and promoted to clients that they can in return figure out quickly ‘who they are’ and what they want out of life, A LOT quicker then the majority of College students the same age. Most of them have no clue who they are or even what they want to do in life, hence why most change their Majors every two years. .

A Fashion Models career, is Special. They get to travel the world for free paid by agencies and clients. They also have the basis of creative people around them that also will help and support them to go as BIG as they desire. And they can have it all! It’s so satisfying for me. I LOVE it.

I started my career as a Ford Model, and still remember the day in the early 2000’s I sat in Eileen Fords office, at Ford Models exciting, bustling and beautiful office on Greene Street in Soho, NYC. I told Eileen I was going to become the best model Scout in the business one day, she laughed and said, “Just don’t ever compromise your integrity.” I said, ,”Noted.”

After a successful international career and having appeared in over 75 National TV Commercials I hung up my stilettos to raise my sons and became the Head Scout for a Japanese Agency. For 5 years I traveled all around Brazil, Europe and Scandinavia meeting with Model Agencies and sending their high potential New faces to Tokyo on contract and after that I was inspired to start my own Management Agency called Mugshot Management. Which at the time was against all advice of my friends and family, because I was recently divorced and living in NYC with two toddlers and pregnant.
I focused seven straight years raising my young boys as I built my agency.
Looking back I was probably crazy but I just had the knowing inside of me that I can do anything and that all my years of business relationships panned out as many agent directors took chances on me and gave me full support.
I still consider those seven years the hardest of my life, but they were the best years of my life. I grew and evolved as a person, and found my true worth in myself.
That risk paid off because In 2017, the late Brunella Casella found me and told me she believed in my talent and she hired my Scouting Company to launch and build The Industry Models NY.
Next, I found myself in the Penthouse office at Pier 59 studios! What a View and what an experience, surrounded all day by the industrys top photographers, models directors, actors and TV personalities. I learned so much from working with such a creative & innovative talented team in the most iconic photo studio in the world.

However the NY cold I couldn’t handle anymore so my boys and I moved back to Los Angeles. I was looking to work with a LA Model Agency that had a Global presence, so I became the Model Scout for Select Models.
Which is the 2nd largest Model agency in the world, with 4 Ny offices, 3 in Europe and 1 in Scandinavia.

So to say my career has become full circle is an understatement. I send my models all around the world to, Greece, Capetown, London etc with the same agents I worked with as a model. I just love this business. What it has taught me is 2 things. 1. Always treat everyone with respect and kindness, because you never know where they will be in a meeting… call you asap few years – so don’t burn any bridges. 2. Relationships are the foundation of success. People hire friends, they support your endeavors and basically friends want to work with people they trust – so build those bridges strong.

Modeling isn’t just about being a pretty face, You have to be smart. period. You have to be an innovator. period to be very successful anyway. It’s just too compettive. Theres just too many types of models now represented with every body type, all inclusivity of every gender, ethnicity, handicap and self expression that now you really need to stand out. And you can’t stand out without knowing who you are, because thats where your Authenticity lies.

So the wonderful thing is now basically with social media ANYONE can model with your own branded presence on social media but now it takes agency overwhelm to a whole new daunting level.
Agencies & Clients don’t dictate the market anymore, Social media Does. So now is your time to shine!

All in all though, being a model scout is awesome. Having the platform I have on my socials to educate and inspire, means so much to me to give back. So, I recently created a digital eCourse called #getsigned that teaches you how to get signed to a Model agency by following my 5 Step System, same System that I used for over ten years to place models worldwide.
This is my most proud moment to be able to give anyone the opportunity to get seen by the biggest agencies in the world.
As full circle is my goal for models to create ultimate success so they can also give back.
You can go to my IG @ModelScout_LisaPhillips to learn more.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My brand is model Scouting. My story was told in the prior piece but I do want to say I have been creating very successful eCourses to help models #getSigned and become Successful Models, and this is my Mission.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
LA spots I love: Best Beach – El Matador in Malibu or Crescent Bay in Laguna Beach.
Best Hotels to stay in LA: The ONE and EDITION
Best Lunch is Cecconi’s and Best Dinner Spot is Casa Vega
Best Celeb/Model hangouts – Chateau Marmont
Best Thrifting – Walk Melrose Ave, West of La Brea

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wanted to thank Karen Lee for scouting me at 16 years old and Katie Ford for signing me on the spot to Ford Models in 2000. And for the support and mentorship of Patty Sicular and the entire Ford Models team and Scott Lipps (Owner of Rebellion Mgmt NY) and so many others that have supported, loved and encouraged me over my twenty year Model/Scouting Career.

Instagram: @modelscout_LisaPhillips

Youtube: LisaPhillipsNY

Other: I will send you updated website before going forward.

Image Credits
Taken at LAFW Agent Panel Discussion, with host Erika Dickerson, and Ford Model Agent, Kate