Male models are being paid up to 75 percent less than women, according to a top British modelling agent.
Models (from left) Tyson Beckford, David Gandy and Lucky Blue smith. Photo: AFP
Elizabeth Rose manages male models at Premier, which has helped build the careers of Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford.
"I think it's the only industry where men get paid less than women. It's unfair for men [and] I wouldn't say it's female empowerment at all."
She said a woman could be paid up to £40,000 for walking in a top UK show, while a male model would only get £10,000 on average.
With London Fashion Week over, Ms Rose's models were getting ready for Milan and Paris.
She said the situation was slowly changing, because advertisers were increasingly looking for male, as well as female, models.
"[One] reason why women get paid more is that [advertisers] say women spend more money on female products, but I think it's one of those things that's changing.
"More and more, male models are being used for grooming products.
"Men are taking a lot more care of themselves generally in the 2000s. It's fine to take a long time doing your hair. It's fine to use moisturiser. It's encouraged to wear make-up."
Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen Photo: AFP
The world's highest paid female model, Gisele Bundchen, made about £34m last year, according to Forbes.
When the company last compiled data on male models in 2013, it found the highest paid was Sean O'Pry, who made £1.15m.
"The top 10 female models all make millions. Only the top three male models make over a million," said Ms Rose.
She said she would re-negotiate a model's fee if she felt they were being discriminated against.
"The first thing is I'll go, 'Can you bring up the budget to more like the women's?' and the client will probably say, 'Yes, we can give you this much for the men,' but it'll never be quite as much.
"I had a brief today that came in and it was 'male model, [pay] £1500', and the female model was £5000, for the same usage."
But she acknowledged that women were discriminated against more because of their age.
"Men have a longer career path, definitely. The male models that make the most are probably in their 30s."
She said her models never complained, but she had asked clients to split the rate - taking some out of the budget for women.
"The more models are made aware of it, the more you can try and help change it, because the more agents that say, 'No, we're not accepting this,' that's the only way it'll ever change.
"And models standing up and saying, 'I'm not going to do this unless I'm paid the same as the woman.'"
- BBC
