Equity Models' Union
Founder and Committee Chair
Victoria Keon-Cohen co-founded the Models’ Union within Actor's Equity in 2007 securing for the first time union representation for catwalk and photographic models. The union emerged amid serious concerns about models’ welfare, including deaths linked to eating disorders, suicide and sexual exploitation. Before the global rise of the #MeToo movement and the widespread use of social media as a platform for advocacy, its formation marked a groundbreaking step towards accountability and workers’ rights in the British fashion industry.
Industry Impact
As chair of the Equity models' committee from 2007 - 2011 she spearheaded trail blazing campaigns in a resistive market solidifying industry and government partners including the London Mayor's Office, Association of Model Agencies and British Fashion Council (now British Fashion Model Agents association), securing clear employment standards through the London Fashion Week Model Programme, establishing provisions for minimum pay, working age, health and safety, image usage and timely payment.
Models who join Equity’s UK union—now represented through its Models’ Network—receive both specialist support and wider Equity membership benefits.
Resources specifically provided for models include:
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Free legal support: help recovering unpaid fees and addressing contract breaches, unauthorised image usage and other workplace rights.
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Confidential support with sexual harassment: advice and representation when models experience inappropriate treatment at work.
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Template modelling contracts: available to members booking jobs independently of an agency.
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Free tax advice.
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Insurance: £10 million public liability cover and personal accident insurance, including a stated £10,000 benefit for facial disfigurement, subject to policy terms.
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Negotiated working standards: London Fashion Week provisions covering pay, fittings, image usage, breaks, refreshments, changing facilities, nudity, transport, temperature, safety and payment terms.
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A collective voice: opportunities to influence campaigns and contribute to industry, government and parliamentary consultations.
Models also have access to Equity’s broader resources: workplace advice and representation, tax and social security guidance, hardship grants through the Equity Benevolent Fund, a pension scheme, free freelance career training through the Federation of Entertainment Unions, and member discounts, including counselling services.
Marie Claire described the Union's work as a “pioneering campaign". The Guardian included Victoria among its “top 30 names to watch” in the 2008 feature “Meet the new radicals.”
Global Movement
Victoria served as an advisor during the formation of the US-based Model Alliance. She spoke on the Picture Me panel at the Fashion Law Institute at Fordham Law School in New York, bringing British models’ experience of collective organising into international discussions about workers’ rights and industry accountability. In 2012, she organised and introduced the UK premiere of Girl Model and participated in its New York screening discussions, drawing attention to the vulnerability of underage models within the international modelling industry.
Drawing on her firsthand experience as an international model, her work brought together public advocacy, collective organising and industry negotiation to demand professional respect, meaningful protection and the freedom to speak out.
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