Lisa Phillips knows what it’s like to work in an industry often criticized for its lack of diversity. As a model and woman of color, she has traveled the world walking the runways of some of the top names in fashion and encountered numerous challenges and instances of discrimination — hurdles that were often dismissed as simply part of the industry.

In Phillips’s experience, many models were expected to simply ignore discrimination because their work was considered a “privilege,” and there were always plenty of girls waiting in the wings for their opportunity at the big time. Today, however, Phillips is a modeling scout on a mission to rewrite the fashion industry standards by revolutionizing the modeling space from within.

“I want to help people live their dreams, but I want them to do it safely,” says Phillips. “Knowing you can change a young person’s life empowers me.”

Phillips knows that today’s modeling industry is looking beyond pretty faces and seeking something deeper. Through her work in scouting and advocacy, she has made it her ultimate goal to expand diversity and inclusion in the fashion world.

The New Model

Modeling has always been known for a certain sameness. If we remember the days of “America’s Next Top Model,” the amount of diversity showcased was slim to none — models were very tall, very slim, and very often white. The fashion industry blamed this homogeneity on “sample sizes” when, in reality, there was an underlying fear of diversity within the modeling world.

More recently, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has become a standard operating procedure for several industries, including fashion, allowing models with different skin tones, sizes, and abilities to walk the runways for big names such as Christian Siriano, Coach, and Michael Kors. “There are so many different body types, gender expressions, sizes, ethnicities, and abilities on the runways now,” says Phillips.

With an increasing “come as you are” attitude accepted by more and more designers, aspiring models have sought Phillips’ expertise in positioning themselves to stand out among the competition. “You can’t stand out in the field now without really knowing who you are, deep down,” Phillips explains. “I help people find where their authenticity lies and how to showcase it.”

Learning The Ropes

Phillips has designed a comprehensive course called #GetSigned Model Mastery that helps aspiring models go from not being noticed to working with the biggest agencies. During her course, Phillips takes aspiring models through how to get signed by agencies, how to get clients to book them with repeat bookings, and how to authentically tap into the type of modeling they are best suited for. She dives deep into marketing and branding for her students, helping them develop personal brands that will allow them to differentiate themselves from the other hopefuls.

Phillips has been wildly successful with her personal branding approach, placing hundreds of models with fashion agencies all over the world. She stays regularly tuned in to what agencies are looking for and lives by her credo to “never burn bridges and never compromise her integrity” — a bit of advice she took from Ford Models owner Eileen Ford.

Speaking Up And Speaking Out

Phillips has also found time to weave advocacy work in to her busy schedule as well. As a young model in the early 2000s, Phillips became well aware of the grooming and abuse that happens in the entertainment industry.

Having suffered abuse at the hands of notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Phillips is using her story to fight back against abuse in the industry and make sure what happened to her never happens to anyone else. She plans to soon launch a podcast with the goal of lending a voice to those who have been too frightened to speak out until now.

Although Phillips has witnessed some of the seedier parts of the modeling world, she wouldn’t trade her years jet-setting around the world or her time now mentoring the next generation of models. “It can be a very tough business, but it’s also very rewarding,” she says.

Phillips hopes to contribute to creating a better industry for all by helping new models understand how their diversity makes them unique and how to create their own personal brand and that her advocacy work will help shield them from some of the immense challenges she faced as a young model. What she loves most about her role, however, is helping make dreams come true every day.

For Phillips, who once told Eileen Ford that she was going to be the best scout in the industry, every day is filled with creating core memories for others. “Anything is possible in this industry, and I love being a part of that,” she says.