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Model Poaching: Elite Sues Next for Stealing Karlie Kloss

Quick — someone grab “Klosshave” before another
agency does!Photo: imaxtree

The fashion industry is keeping lawyers pretty busy these days: First NBC sued the Weinsteins over Project Runway, then Phat Fashions sued Victoria’s Secret over a “P” logo, and in turn Victoria’s Secret sued Macy’s over its Pinkish line. Not to be outdone, the modeling industry enters the fray today with Elite Model Management’s suit against Next Model Management. Elite accuses Next of stealing its talent, namely burgeoning supermodel with the best runway death stare ever, young Karlie Kloss. The Post reports:

The suit claims Next offered her “improper compensation” to lure her. A source said, “Elite is especially angry because they are the agency responsible for launching her career.” The suit claims Next has also “poached through improper means” other Elite models. It cites a February 2006 New York Post article in which Next co-owner Joel Wilkenfeld acknowledged, “These things happen in our business.” Wilkenfeld told Page Six he hadn’t seen a copy of the suit and therefore had no comment.

We wonder what “improper means” refers to. Did they dangle Chanel handbags in their faces? Perhaps Next’s comp cards have better paper stock? The article also hilariously, repeatedly refers to Karlie Kloss as “Karlie Klosshave,” which means the paper either made a really embarrassing error (seriously, they could have checked our Model Manual) or uncovered her real top-secret pre-model name. We’re leaning toward the former, but the latter would be pretty awesome.

MODEL SHOP LOSES STAR, SUES [NYP]

Model Poaching: Elite Sues Next for Stealing Karlie Kloss