As a native of the Bronx near the Fordham area, Haitian-American Yanii Gough wasn’t focused on learning. In her world, she didn’t grow up seeing or hearing inspiring stories about what life could be for her once she was older, so it left her without motivation to think big. This lasted well past her mother relocating the family to the Eastern Parkway area of Brooklyn off the 3 & 4 lines.

Yanii transferred to her second high school in Downtown Brooklyn, a place with a new culture that she was experiencing for the first time. Life in BK was different from life in the BX; her shiny new school with its elite students exposed her to a world she had never seen before. The Black nannies pushing the white babies; it was also the world of modeling, creatives, and fashion that she finally saw in the flesh. It would be a few more years before she would finally get things together by way of a brief move to Maryland with her aunt, who enrolled Yanii in online school because she detested going to a campus that much. After returning to NYC, she finished school online and started networking as she finally found a spark in modeling. Once she started taking the craft seriously in 2016, she landed a contract and signed with her first agency. Today as a mother of a four-year-old and partner, her story couldn’t be any more opposite of where it originally started. She credits none other than her mother because had she not moved them to the borough on the opposite end, Yanii fears she may have been in The Bronx today stuck and perhaps more than likely unsuccessful.

Tell me about your agency, Yanii Models, and what convinced you to start one?

While modeling, I was also dabbling in photography. I was shooting models for the agency I was signed to, which allowed me to network and meet several other photographers. Working as a photographer helped me get familiar with what agencies were looking for in models based on the model packages, mood boards, and agency portfolio books I received. I took that background knowledge and started helping my friends and family get signed by submitting them to the various agencies I was shooting for, and agents began with their feedback. I helped my partner and father of my son is George Okeny get signed to his first agency, and that agency offered me a scouting fee; something I didn’t even know existed – the job or the fee. From there, I went back to the drawing board and put pen to paper as I did more research on scouts and learned about mother agencies which is what my company is.

How easy or difficult was getting it off the ground and getting people to sign to you?

I didn’t even have a legitimate contract that would bind people to my company besides my agreement with the placement agencies when I started out. Models did leave in the beginning, and that was fine. I had no hard feelings because it was their right to feel like things weren’t working out; I even recommended them to other mother agencies. I have to admit it wasn’t challenging to get it up and running; I just started. Luckily, I was able to reach out to some of the agents in the past who had managed me, and they offered me a lot of valuable advice when it came to agreements, negotiating rates, and more. It showed me how much work agents are doing even though sometimes talent feels like they aren’t. To be completely frank, I’m not sure I can call my company a modeling agency just yet. I manage the careers of the individuals signed to me and work to place them with larger agencies that will take over. Hence the “mother agency” title.

I’m basically a Scout/Manager. I find the talent, mold them, and then send them off. I’m still there helping my talent navigate through the industry. I make sure things are going smoothly with their placement agencies, send check-in texts or emails and ensure things are going well with work on set for a job.

The brand’s Instagram is full of color. Was it your mission to represent Black people and individuals of color?

Being in the industry unveils a lot of the underrepresentation, and you see it first-hand. With that said, I wanted to showcase the uniqueness of every individual of color during the start of Yanii Models. My board, in the beginning, had a wide range of colors. It wasn’t just one or the other; it wasn’t just Black models or white models; it was everyone.

What I was realizing and hearing from agents or agencies while trying to get my foot through the door as a model was that “we have a model that looks like you.” We know what that means now, and it’s them saying “we already have a Black model” without them having to say that exactly. So, for Yanii Models, I wanted to display that my models do not look alike; they are different in their own way regardless of their background or skin complexion. Also, there’s never ever enough of us.

Besides the obvious, what do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

Our talents hold other titles and are more than just models. I started a GTK “Get to Know” series on the company’s Instagram during the pandemic for our viewers to learn more about the talent behind the beautiful photos. I wanted to let people know that the individuals you see on our page are everyday people. The industry is changing, so you see more of that from brands showcasing individuals and what they do in their daily lives while being shot for major campaigns.

You seem to work with many children; tell me about their process and how things work.

One of the big misconceptions is that child models are trained. When these kids are on set shooting for Macy’s, Children’s Place, and Gap, they’re themselves. That means a lot of energy, running around, and some crying. I always tell the parents that I work with that “it’s okay let them cry; it’s natural, and the clients understand that.” I also advise parents not to force their children to be models. You can’t force it if it’s not making them happy.

Now, children (17 years or younger) need work permits. Parents must apply for a workers permit and open a trust account through the bank for their children. Every time a minor is paid from a modeling job, 15 percent of their earnings by law must go directly into that trust account. There’s no way around that. I work with the parents and/or guardians to make sure they fill out all the previously mentioned paperwork and school and doctor’s notes ahead of time to receive a child’s permit. This allows everyone to make sure they are ready for their agency placements instead of getting all of that done after the fact because it can take some time to get it approved by the state, which will delay the child from being able to start working.

None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are?

There are so many, but I can honestly say from the beginning that my partner is George Okeny has been there. He helps me make many decisions regarding finding talent and helping the company grow to now being the Director of Yanii Models. Then there’s Bridget Riley, who was 1 of my agents when I first signed. I can still text and call her to this day and ask for her advice. I would also say Katia Sherman, my fashion mom, was the person to offer me a contract. She continuously provides insight on many things because she’s so seasoned in this business.

Tell me about your successes in terms of placements and castings? What was your first big one?

As far as agency placements go, my models have gone on to sign with Wilhelmina, One Management Worldwide, Select Model Management (US & Europe), Muse in NY, The Lions Management, and more. Workwise, our models, have done some fantastic work seen in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle Magazine, have worked for major fashion and beauty brands such as Dior, Gucci, Estee Lauder, MAC, Sephora, Fenty, H&M, Tommy Hilfiger, and Pyer Moss. Under Yanii Models, we have booked Ralph Lauren, 1 of which featured my family, followed by Zara, Abercrombie, Nike, Adidas, Pat Mcgrath, Daily Paper, Purple Magazine cover, etc. Today, I’ve grown a long list of industry connections. It’s such a surreal feeling, and it’s like look at this girl from The Bronx who once had no vision of what her life could be.

What are you hoping your company becomes?

I see myself becoming a well-established agency. I want to grow an extensive network down the line, hopefully sooner than later. I’m already scouting worldwide, but I want to travel the world and expand in other territories as we further grow the Yanii Models brand.

Web: https://www.yaniimodels.com/

IG (Personal): @yaniicharms_

IG (Agency): @yaniimodels