Tanya Powell Model Agency founder retiring after 40 years

TANYA Powell, stalwart of Australia’s modelling industry, is finally calling time on an illustrious career

28/4/15 - Tanya Powell having lunch with Anna Vlach at Alphutte. Photo Naomi Jellicoe

LIFE after modelling began at 40 for the Adelaide industry’s first lady Tanya Powell.

The household name, who this year celebrated four decades of owning and running the Tanya Powell Model Agency, has decided to retire and “smell the roses”.

Lunch with Tanya Powell on her retirement in May 2015

Ms Powell, who started the business in 1975, has sold it to Ute Petersen — a top model with her in the early days who then went on to help manage the agency.

More than 20,000 teenagers and young adults have graduated from courses run at the Adelaide agency.

“I hope most sincerely that their experience helped them in their journey through life,” Ms Powell said yesterday.

Among the success stories were Peter O’Brien and Annie Jones, who found fame in Neighbours during the 1980s.

Laura Csortan, who represented Australia in the 1997 Miss Universe and Miss World pageants before going on to a successful television career, and international models Matt Ingham and Alessio Alia, are also Tanya Powell discoveries.

“With her great charm and aptitude for hard work, Ute will move the business forwards and upwards,” Ms Powell said.

Anna Vlach lunches with Tanya Powell

ANNA VLACH: Tanya Powell and Tanya Powell Model Agency are household names in Adelaide and Melbourne, if not Australia. How did you get your start?

TANYA POWELL: As a naive 19-year-old when I was working for George Patterson’s advertising agency, Pam Ellis, of the Pam Ellis Model Agency, invited me, much to my surprise, to be one of her entrants for the 1970 Miss Advertising Quest.

28/4/15 — Tanya Powell having lunch with Anna Vlach at Alphutte. Photo Naomi Jellicoe

She encouraged me to partake in one of her grooming courses from which I graduated “with honours” — well, that’s what it said on the certificate! After that, with Pam’s encouragement, I began a part-time career in modelling.

I had trained and studied classical ballet throughout my childhood and teens and, fearing nothing, I decided to set up dance classes, which I did, and spent many nights teaching jazz ballet.

Also, fearing nothing at that time, I did a stint as a weather presenter with Channel 9. In 1975, I decided to open the Tanya Powell Model Agency and Jazz Ballet School on North Tce. In 1982 I opened the Tanya Powell Agency, in Collins St, Melbourne.

Everyone knows someone, or have themselves, been a graduate of your courses here in Adelaide.

I’ve calculated the agency in Adelaide has trained in excess of 20,000 teenagers, young men and young women over the past 40 years.

The agency trains and manages models and talent and also provides courses in self-improvement, presentation, fashion co-ordination, etiquette, voice production and deportment.

It teaches make-up, skincare, healthy nutrition, body image and job interview skills — all of which young people need in today’s competitive world. The school mostly deals with young people at a very formative and often vulnerable time in their lives.

It has been a huge responsibility, and one of which I have been deeply conscious, to have been trusted with even a small part of their development. I sincerely hope that my efforts have made a difference and have helped them in some small way to achieve the goals they set for themselves.

What has been the highlight of your career?

Perhaps the biggest challenge was producing and directing the annual National Elders Wool Fashion Awards over a four-year period in the mid-’90s. My job was to identify up-and-coming young fashion designers around Australia and get them to design and manufacture garments in Australian wool.

These were then judged and presented at many venues, including all Royal Shows around Australia and in the larger regional centres. These shows replaced the Australian Wool Board Parades.

It was hard and stressful work. The models had to perform 54 parades each day for 10 days in each capital city.

However, it was such a thrill for me, as I was able to unearth many talented designers — one of them was Collette Dinnigan.

It was also a thrill and a great opportunity for them as they were able to present their creations in such a spectacular manner to the general public.

Forty years is a long time in the business — do you have a favourite era?

I loved the glamorous ’80s. Life was exciting and lots of fun. It was a time of booming business and tax-deductible lunches. Fashion was dynamic, as were women.

They challenged entrenched male dominance. There were tailored suits with padded shoulders, military and safari-style jackets, pants and skirts and, of course, animal prints. And, in the evenings, dresses were very sexy with low necklines, low backs, halter necks featuring heavy beading, glitter, sequins, side slits, back-slits — you name it.

Hairstyles were dramatic, with wiglets and heavy teasing. French rolls were back. Over-the-top large-stoned jewellery was a must. It was Joan-Collins-eat-your-heart-out stuff! Men never had a chance!

You clearly love your work so why are you retiring?

I feel I need time to smell the roses. I’m looking forward to devoting more time to my friends and family, especially my dear, ailing mother, Shirlee, and my long-time friend, Rhonda.

I intend to do the things I’ve never had time for such as reading, gardening and caring better for my beloved animals — wild and domesticated — that share a few acres with me at our home in the Adelaide Hills.

I’m learning French and, with the encouragement of my long-suffering husband, I intend to take cooking classes. I also hope to travel more often and more leisurely than in the past.

What will happen to the Tanya Powell agencies in Adelaide and Melbourne?

Adelaide is being taken over by Ute Petersen. Ute has been a very successful model and has worked in the office with me for the past 37 years so she knows a thing or two.

As a model, she was highly professional and was extremely popular with all our clients particularly when it came to city stores and designer parades. She is an exceptional person with impeccable integrity

The Melbourne agency will continue as before. It’s owned and run by my sister, Candida, and it will remain linked closely to the Adelaide office.

May I ask you to weigh in on the industry’s weight debate, as in, the controversy over models who are obviously underweight and unhealthy?

I feel that a healthy girl who is a size 8 is quite acceptable for modelling. However, an emaciated size of 4 or small 6, notwithstanding the clear health issues, is unacceptable for fashion work in Australia.

One needs to understand that many young teenage girls are quite thin genetically are not necessarily dieting. Over the years, many of these girls have expressed their discomfort and dismay to me at them being labelled “skinny”.

I have never knowingly employed models at my agency with eating disorders or with bulimic behaviour. It is unfortunate that some designers interstate and internationally still insist on using super-bony stick-like figures for their catwalks and publicity.

Of course, times are changing and there are now many fuller-figured models being booked by fashion designers both here in Australia and overseas who have clearly changed their outlook on size.

Again, 40 years in business is a long time. What’s been the secret to your success?

A model agency doesn’t exist without models. I’m extremely proud of my girls and boys — past and present.

As I leave this business, I would like to be remembered for the quality and professionalism of my models who have for many years graced the catwalks of this city and beyond.

The Tanya Powell Model Agency has been my passion. It’s been hard work, with many responsibilities, challenges, successes and, inevitably, some disappointments.

I hope I’ve made a contribution to the community of this wonderful state of ours.

Most of all, I feel blessed and extraordinarily privileged to have met and worked with so many fine people in this industry over the past 40 years. I shall miss them all.