Eileen Ford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eileen Ford
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Ms. Ford (right) with a Finnish model in 1967
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| Born |
Eileen Cecile Otte
March 25, 1922 New York City, U.S.
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| Died | July 9, 2014 (aged 92) Morristown, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Occupation | Model agency executive and co-founder of Ford Models |
| Years active | 1946–1995 |
| Spouse(s) |
Gerard W. Ford
(m. 1944; died 2008) |
| Children | 4, including Katie Ford |
Eileen Ford (born March 25, 1922 – died July 9, 2014) was an American business leader. She helped start Ford Models with her husband, Gerard "Jerry" Ford, in 1946. Ford Models became one of the first well-known modeling agencies around the world.
Early Life and Beginnings
Eileen Cecile Otte was born in Manhattan, New York City. She grew up in Great Neck, Long Island. She was the only girl among four children. While studying at Barnard College, Eileen worked as a model during her summer breaks. She modeled for the Harry Conover Modeling Agency, which was one of the first in the United States. She finished college in 1943.
The next year, she met Gerard "Jerry" Ford. They quickly got married in November 1944 in San Francisco. Soon after, Jerry, who was in the Navy, went to serve in World War II. While he was away, Eileen worked as a secretary for a photographer. She also became a fashion stylist and writer for a fashion report.
Building Ford Modeling Agency
While Eileen was expecting her first child, she started helping models from her father's law office in New York City. She charged each model a small fee to take their calls. After her daughter Jamie was born in March 1947, Eileen kept working hard. When Jerry came back from the war in March 1946, he joined Eileen. Even though he didn't know much about fashion, they decided to create a modeling agency together. After just one year, they sold their car to move their agency to a new office.
Their new office wasn't in a great spot. But within a year, their modeling agency became one of the most successful in the United States. They earned a lot of money. The Fords' first very famous model was Jean Patchett. The Fords were able to offer a special payment system to their models. This helped them stand out from other agencies.
After two years, the Fords started to compete with the biggest modeling agencies of that time. A model named Dorian Leigh, who had her own agency, decided to close it. She called Eileen and said her younger sister, Suzy Parker, was only earning $25 an hour. Dorian thought Suzy should earn more. She told Ford that Suzy would join their agency only if they accepted her without seeing her first. The Fords agreed, hoping to represent Dorian. They were surprised when Suzy arrived. She was much taller than Dorian and had green eyes and freckles.
However, they soon realized Suzy Parker could become a very successful model. Suzy quickly became the most famous model of the 1950s. She helped make the Ford agency number one. In the 1940s and 1950s, the Fords worked with top models like Mary Jane Russell, Carmen Dell'Orefice, and Dovima. By 1954, the Fords were very successful. They lived in a large apartment in Park Avenue. To help their models succeed, the Fords provided hairdressers and skin doctors. Eileen also gave diet advice. She even let models live with her. This helped her keep an eye on them and make sure they showed up for their early morning jobs. Eleven of Ford's busiest models were featured in McCall's magazine in April 1955. Eileen pushed for fair work hours and pay for models. She also set rules, like making sure models dressed appropriately for photos.
Eileen and Jerry's marriage faced some challenges. But Eileen worked to make things better. By the late 1950s, Eileen had four children: Jamie, Billy, Katie, and Lacey.
In 1957, Dorian Leigh, who was no longer modeling, moved to France. She tried to start a modeling agency there. But the police said it was against the law. After World War II, employment agencies were not allowed in France. Dorian contacted the Fords about starting a proper modeling agency. This would be the first of its kind in France. She ran a successful agency. The Fords agreed to expand their business into Europe. Dorian would represent them in France and find new models across Europe. She was so successful that she opened offices in London and Hamburg, Germany. She would exchange European models with Ford's American models.
In the early 1960s, Ford represented Martha Stewart, who also went to Barnard College. Martha modeled briefly in her late teens and early 20s, even for Chanel. In 1966, for the Ford Agency's twentieth anniversary, Jerry Ford told The New York Times they were earning $100,000 each week. He said they were the first modeling agency to use a computer system. They had 175 female and 75 male models. These models booked 70% of modeling jobs in New York City and 30% worldwide.
Their top models in the 1960s included Wilhelmina Cooper, Jean Shrimpton, Ann Turkel, Ali MacGraw, and Candice Bergen. In 1968, Eileen Ford wrote Eileen Ford's Book of Model Beauty. This book shared beauty tips and advice on nutrition and exercise. It also included stories and photos of Ford's most successful models.
In the early 1970s, Ford was still the top modeling agency in the world. It represented models like Jerry Hall, Christie Brinkley, Rene Russo, Kim Basinger, and Lauren Hutton. Hutton and Karen Graham were among the first models to get special makeup contracts with big companies like Revlon and Estée Lauder. By 1977, however, John Casablancas, who started Elite, began to attract Ford's top models and agents. The Fords tried to take legal action against Casablancas. They also faced competition from smaller agencies like Wilhelmina.
During this time, Ford Models grew even more. Their Men's Division became very popular in GQ magazine. In 1975, the Fords started a children's division. Eileen Ford said they started this division with Brooke Shields in mind. Brooke was 9 years old at the time and already a well-known model. She had done her first national ad campaign in 1966 for Ivory soap.
By the late 1970s and early 1980s, Eileen noticed that some of Ford's models from earlier years had passed away due to health issues. In 1981, the Fords started an international modeling competition. It was first called "Face of the 80s" and later became known as Ford Models Supermodel of the World. This competition helped new models become famous. As a result, modeling fees grew very quickly. Some models started earning millions of dollars each year. Christy Turlington, at age 16, moved into Ford's townhouse in 1985. She quickly became one of Ford's biggest successes ever.
In 1993, Eileen said her agency received 10,000 letters each year. Also, 7,000 people visited her office in person. She said that only about four or five of these people were "really good models."
Also in 1993, Ford's home in Tewksbury Township, New Jersey, was almost completely destroyed by a fire. Later that year, they rebuilt an exact copy of the house.
Retirement
In 1995, Katie Ford, Eileen and Jerry's daughter, took over the agency. This happened after her parents retired. The agency's 50th anniversary was featured in several magazines. Katie was the CEO from 1995 to 2007. In December 2007, Ford Models was sold to another company. John Caplan became the new CEO, while Katie Ford joined the Board of Directors. Jerry Ford passed away on August 24, 2008, at age 83. He was survived by Eileen, their four children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Eileen Ford's story has been shared in many magazines. These include Good Housekeeping in 1968 and Life in 1970. She also appeared in a 1997 film about the clothing industry. Later, she was featured in TV profiles like Intimate Portrait: Eileen Ford in 1999.
Death
Eileen Ford passed away at a hospital in Morristown, New Jersey, on July 9, 2014. She was 92 years old.
Sources
- Good Housekeeping magazine, 1968.
- Lacey, Robert. Model Woman: Eileen Ford and the Business of Beauty. New York: HarperCollins, 2015. ISBN: 978-0-06-210807-4
