Ford Models Fashion

Meet Ford Smith, 6’0″ (183 cm), 18-years-old, finalist of the VMAN FORD MODEL SEARCH who can be seen in the pages of VMAN 18 photographed by Terry Richardson. Many young men make an unintended entry into the world of modeling, but this was never the case for Ford Smith who had already set his sights on a modeling career in his third year of high school. So sure was the Owensboro, Kentucky native that he would get his shot at modeling that he programmed the telephone number of the Ford Models New York office into his mobile phone. It wasn’t just on hope, a prayer, and our 6500 number on speed dial that landed Ford with Ford Men, it was his incredible looks.

Ford Men receive tens of thousands of applications every year, which is to say the probability of being offered a contract by one of the industry’s top men’s divisions is extremely low. Undaunted Ford Smith submitted his pictures in early January 2010 using our online application. Five weeks later Ford’s Blackberry caller ID flashed “Ford Models” — it was indeed Ford Men and they wanted him to submit his pictures to the VMAN search for which he was later chosen as a finalist. Ford next visited the agency in the middle of March and along with the other finalists Michael Wozniak, Luke Briggs, and Nicholas Madrid was photographed by Terry Richardson for VMAN 18 before returning to Owensboro to graduate high school. Having beaten the odds at signing a contract with Ford Men the next step was moving to New York to begin his modeling career.

Ford has since moved into a one bedroom apartment in the West Village, which places him closely to many clients and photo studios in Lower Manhattan. In late May Ford attended the launch of VMAN 18 where he was introduced to Crystal Renn. There the world’s top plus model gave Ford candid advice as a young model. Avoid excessive partying, said Crystal, and limit such appearances to thirty minutes. This recommendation certainly resonates with Ford whose quiet confidence and nascent professionalism belies his young age. Ford’s handsome looks alone caught the attention of Ford Men, but its his charm and courteousness that will make him a favorite with clients.

Please visit Ford Smith’s personal blog Ford’s New Life.