Irene Marie
Encyclopedia
Irene Marie is a former fashion model
, model agency founder and mother of five. After her first marriage, Marie's Greek/Austrian mother remarried a pilot for Pan American Airlines. In 1960 the family relocated to West Berlin
, Germany where her stepfather was stationed. Marie attended school in Germany until 1967 when the family was again relocated, this time to Beirut
, Lebanon
. Marie completed her last year of high school and first two years of college in Beirut.
oasis of Miami Beach. In 1983 the name of the agency was changed to Irene Marie Models
and by 1988 had outgrown its current location in Ft. Lauderdale.
Having realized Miami Beach's potential as a fashion production superpower (unpopulated beaches, vibrant colors, unique lighting), Marie soon decided to move her agency South to the relatively undiscovered South Beach
. In 1989, Marie was one of the first real estate investors in South Beach to purchase and renovate an original ocean front building. She moved her agency to the former Sunray Apartments (made famous by the chainsaw scene in the movie Scarface (1983 film)
) located at 728 Ocean Drive.
The agency continued to grow during the early 1990s with the discovery and development of talent such as Niki Taylor
(L'Oréal
, Elle
, Vogue
, Cover Girl
), Amber Smith
(Wonder Bra, Sports Illustrated
), Michael Ostheim (Esprit
, Armani), Scott King
(Calvin Klein
) and Britt Bradford (Versace).
In 1992 Forbes magazine listed Irene Marie Models
as one of the top 8 most successful modeling agencies in the world. In 1993 Marie opened agency branches in Atlanta, Tampa and was the first Florida based modeling agency to ever open in New York. During this period Irene represented the top models in the business including Marcus Schenkenberg
, Jason Shaw
, Kimora Lee, Beverly Peele
and Ana Nicole Smith. In 1997 Marie joined the Women of Tomorrow Mentor and Scholarship Program, motivating at-risk young women to live up to their full potential through mentoring.
Over the next decade, Marie continued to discover and develop talent including Cindy Taylor
, Galen Gering
and David Fumero
. In 2006, Marie along with MTV
launched the hit reality television series 8th & Ocean
which chronicled the lives of 10 models and their relationship with Marie and her staff. In 2007 Marie received the key to the City of Miami Beach in recognition of her cultural and commercial contribution to the development of the city. The City's proclimation declared July 11 Irene Marie Day in the City of Miami Beach. In 2008, Irene's agency was given a similar distinction with December 13 being proclaimed Irene Marie Models Day. The agency closed in 2009 due to the effects of the worldwide economic recession.
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
, model agency founder and mother of five. After her first marriage, Marie's Greek/Austrian mother remarried a pilot for Pan American Airlines. In 1960 the family relocated to West Berlin
West Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
, Germany where her stepfather was stationed. Marie attended school in Germany until 1967 when the family was again relocated, this time to Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. Marie completed her last year of high school and first two years of college in Beirut.
Entering the entertainment industry
In 1969 Marie was stopped on the street in Beirut by the producer of a French language variety show. Marie, who had no previous on-camera experience, was cast as the hostess of the television program based on her compelling looks and personality. Shortly after in 1970, Marie was signed by Models International Modeling Agency, one of the top agencies in Paris, and moved to France to pursue modeling. After two successful years, Marie returned to Beirut as a fashion columnist for Le Magazine.City Models
In 1974, Irene met her future husband, Patrick Marie, while on vacation in Miami Beach. Soon after, Patrick introduced Irene to his cousin; the owner of Paris based City Models. City Models was seeking to place a group of their models in Miami, and requested Irene's assistance in finding a suitable agency. City Models was dissatisfied with the regional scope of the agencies she visited in Miami, and proposed to Marie to open a branch of City Models in Florida. In 1980, City Models Florida opened in Ft. Lauderdale as the first full service ‘on location’ exclusive model and talent agency in Florida.Irene Marie Models
For the first time a Florida agency was taking an international perspective to the fashion industry. Marie's contacts in Europe allowed her to persuade foreign photographers and designers to produce their campaigns in Florida, from Palm Beach to the art decoArt Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
oasis of Miami Beach. In 1983 the name of the agency was changed to Irene Marie Models
Irene Marie Models
Irene Marie Models was the first international full service modeling and talent agency in Miami Beach, Florida. Driven by the Agency’s forte in developing new and undiscovered talent the Irene Marie Management Group established and later re-invigorated the modeling scene in Florida.The agency...
and by 1988 had outgrown its current location in Ft. Lauderdale.
Having realized Miami Beach's potential as a fashion production superpower (unpopulated beaches, vibrant colors, unique lighting), Marie soon decided to move her agency South to the relatively undiscovered South Beach
South Beach
South Beach, also nicknamed SoBe, is a neighborhood in the city of Miami Beach, Florida, United States. It is the area south of Indian Creek and encompasses roughly the southernmost 23 blocks of the main barrier island that separates the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay.This area was the first...
. In 1989, Marie was one of the first real estate investors in South Beach to purchase and renovate an original ocean front building. She moved her agency to the former Sunray Apartments (made famous by the chainsaw scene in the movie Scarface (1983 film)
Scarface (1983 film)
Scarface is a 1983 American epic crime drama movie directed by Brian De Palma, written by Oliver Stone, produced by Martin Bregman and starring Al Pacino as Tony Montana...
) located at 728 Ocean Drive.
The agency continued to grow during the early 1990s with the discovery and development of talent such as Niki Taylor
Niki Taylor
Nicole Renee "Niki" Taylor is an American model.-Early life:Taylor was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Ken and Barbara Taylor, a highway patrol lieutenant and a photographer, respectively. She was raised in Pembroke Pines, Florida, and attended Cooper City High School...
(L'Oréal
L'Oréal
The L'Oréal Group is the world's largest cosmetics and beauty company. With its registered office in Paris and head office in the Paris suburb of Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France, it has developed activities in the field of cosmetics...
, Elle
Elle (magazine)
Elle is a worldwide magazine of French origin that focuses on women's fashion, beauty, health, and entertainment. Elle is also the world's largest fashion magazine. It was founded by Pierre Lazareff and his wife Hélène Gordon in 1945. The title, in French, means "she".-History:Elle was founded in...
, Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
, Cover Girl
Cover girl
A cover girl is a woman whose photograph features on the front cover of a magazine. She may be a model, celebrity or entertainer. The term would generally not be used to describe a casual, once-off appearance by a person on the cover of a magazine....
), Amber Smith
Amber Smith
-Early life:The daughter of professional American football player Russ Smith and Carol Smith, Smith started modeling by age 16. As a teenager she traveled to Paris, France, where she worked as a model throughout Europe for four years...
(Wonder Bra, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
), Michael Ostheim (Esprit
Esprit Holdings
Esprit Holdings Limited is a publicly owned manufacturer of apparel, footwear, accessories, jewellery and housewares under the Esprit label. The company is headquartered in Kowloon, Hong Kong, and Ratingen , Germany. In the 2007–2008 business year, Esprit Holdings Limited generated a worldwide...
, Armani), Scott King
Scott King (model)
Scott King is a former American male model. He was one of the first men to have achieved supermodel status....
(Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....
) and Britt Bradford (Versace).
In 1992 Forbes magazine listed Irene Marie Models
Irene Marie Models
Irene Marie Models was the first international full service modeling and talent agency in Miami Beach, Florida. Driven by the Agency’s forte in developing new and undiscovered talent the Irene Marie Management Group established and later re-invigorated the modeling scene in Florida.The agency...
as one of the top 8 most successful modeling agencies in the world. In 1993 Marie opened agency branches in Atlanta, Tampa and was the first Florida based modeling agency to ever open in New York. During this period Irene represented the top models in the business including Marcus Schenkenberg
Marcus Schenkenberg
Marcus Lodewijk Schenkenberg van Mierop better known as Marcus Schenkenberg, , is a Swedish model of Dutch and Indonesian descent. He was born in Solna and has dual citizenship of both Sweden and the Netherlands...
, Jason Shaw
Jason Shaw
Jason M. Shaw American fashion model and actor. His nickname is Jay.He is a top male fashion model, who was the spokesmodel of fashion brand Tommy Hilfiger from 1998–2003.Shaw graduated from the University of Chicago in 1995 with a degree in History, where he was a member of the men's...
, Kimora Lee, Beverly Peele
Beverly Peele
Beverly Peele is an American model and actress. Peele rose to fame in the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing mostly in Mademoiselle and Elle magazine. She appeared on about a dozen fashion magazine covers.-Career:...
and Ana Nicole Smith. In 1997 Marie joined the Women of Tomorrow Mentor and Scholarship Program, motivating at-risk young women to live up to their full potential through mentoring.
Over the next decade, Marie continued to discover and develop talent including Cindy Taylor
Cindy Taylor
Cindy Taylor is a fashion model, actress and television host. Born in Asunción, Paraguay to a Paraguayan mother, her father was a United States citizen, having relocated the family to Clarksburg, West Virginia immediately after Taylor was born...
, Galen Gering
Galen Gering
Galen Laius Gering is an American actor best known for his portrayal of Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald on the NBC daytime soap opera Passions...
and David Fumero
David Fumero
David Fumero is a Cuban American actor and former male fashion model. Fumero is best known for his role as Cristian Vega on One Life to Live.-Personal life:...
. In 2006, Marie along with MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
launched the hit reality television series 8th & Ocean
8th & Ocean
8th & Ocean is an American reality series about a group of models living in Miami, Florida that premiered on MTV on March 7, 2006. The series aired for ten episodes, ending its run on May 9, 2006. The creators of 8th & Ocean are also responsible for Laguna Beach, a show also airing on MTV...
which chronicled the lives of 10 models and their relationship with Marie and her staff. In 2007 Marie received the key to the City of Miami Beach in recognition of her cultural and commercial contribution to the development of the city. The City's proclimation declared July 11 Irene Marie Day in the City of Miami Beach. In 2008, Irene's agency was given a similar distinction with December 13 being proclaimed Irene Marie Models Day. The agency closed in 2009 due to the effects of the worldwide economic recession.
Awards
- 2003 Business Woman of the Year - National Republican Congressional Committee
- 2004 Business Woman of the Year – Women in International Trade Organization
- 2007 Key to the City of Miami Beach