B&M Models

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Arlene Stewart

Jislain
B&M's roster comprises a very diverse group of models: editorial, lifestyle, men, women, plus-size and even some kids. "If you're open an honest from day one," explains Sarah Kelar, "there can always be different types of models. There will be the runway models and there will be the editorial models and catalogue models. One of our girls has dreads (dreadlocks). Most agencies in town would say to her 'you've just typecast yourself and limited your career. We aren’t going to build you up because what are you going to shoot?'"


Natalie Brown

Morgan Handbury
With B&M however, dreadheaded Arlene Stewart has booked several major North American jobs, including the current Diet Coke campaign.

Natalie Brown, who has been with Bookings/B&M since she was 15, appears in a tonne of TV commercials (Sears, Canada Post, Bailey's, Molson Canadian, The Keg).

There's Jislain, a male model that's booked Ralph Lauren, Zegna and Esprit; and has shot for GQ, Men's Health, Vanity Fair, Highrise, Glow, and Flare Magazine.

And, of course, there's Morgan Handbury, who recently graced the cover of Flare and can currently be found anywhere Buffalo Jeans advertises. Handbury was with the agency when it was located on Front Street, before moving to Dupont - before moving to its current King Street location more than five years ago.


Gail McInnesA more recent addition is booker Gail McInnes, who has been with the agency for two years. "B&M is the only agency I would work for," insists McInnes, who previously spent five-and-a half years at Armstrong Models before taking a position at the Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI). "Having been to conventions and talking to clients and meeting people and working at TFI, you learn what you like. Especially in an industry like this, you want to make sure people have values and work on the same level you do."

McInnes combines her personal sense of whimsy with the knowledge she acquired at TFI and her formal education in Humber College's Fashion Arts Special Events Promotions course to satisfy her other role as B&M's Marketing & Promotions Director. "I look at things from a marketing aspect, which means getting down to how the model is promoted - seeing how else we can do little marketing ploys that are different from the rest of the industry."

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