Chic Model boss Ursula Hufnagl helped launch Miranda Kerr, Catherine McNeil and more

She’s launched some our most famous faces but the fashion industry has styled up substantially since Chic Model Management boss Ursula Hufnagl was scouted out by legendary etiquette expert June Dally Watkins at the age of 19.

She’s launched some our most famous faces but the fashion industry has styled up substantially since Chic Model Management boss Ursula Hufnagl was scouted out by legendary etiquette expert June Dally Watkins at the age of 19.

Back then, there was no make-up team, hairdresser or stylist — models had to be all things to all shoots.

Chic Model Management founder Ursula Hufnagl with model Roberta Pecoraro (left) and up-and-coming new face India Stibilz. Picture: Justin Lloyd

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“We used to have to carry, no lie, at least six or seven bags of stuff,” Hufnagl said. “You’d have to have hats, wigs, 10 pairs of shoes, gloves, scarfs and you’d take them to each job with you and the idiot that I am, my first car was a Mini Moke.

“It’s small and made of canvas so you can’t lock anything because people can cut their way into it with all the bags inside. So every job, I’d have to lug all these bags into the shoot,” she said. “Girls now, they just turn up. It’s totally different.”

Ursula working as a model.

Ursula working as a model.

Ursula working as a model.

After her decade-long career, Hufnagl moved into management. And since Chic opened in 1992, Hufnagl, with her co-directors — Dominique Longheon, her husband of 43 years; friend and long-time business partner Kathy Ward; and Ward’s ex-husband Peter O’Connell — would go on to help our most beautiful women on to the world stage.

Among them are Miranda Kerr, Catherine McNeil, Samantha Harris, Alyssa Sutherland, Chloe Maxwell, Jessica Gomes, Nicole Trunfio, Erika Heynatz, Montana Cox, Shanina Shaik, Ruby Rose, Abbey Lee Kershaw and ’90s “it” girl Kate Fischer.

But Hufnagl is used to working hard — she was one of nine kids in an immigrant German potato farming family.

Ursula Hufnagl at a fashion parade.

“I learnt the value of hard work and humanity and being kind and ethical, and those things through my childhood is what I carry through to now,” she told The Saturday Telegraph.

“I love doing what I do well, it’s as simple as that … if I were growing potatoes, I’d be growing the best potatoes in Australia … I want to be the best, I want to achieve great things.”

Chic has now expanded to include Scoop, the commercial division of the agency; Chic Blogger Management, and influencer, talent management and development agency; Atelier which represents actors and creative talent; Entree, which specialises in food and lifestyle; and The Artist Group, which looks after photographers, make-up artists and stylists.

But on top of their management responsibilities, Hufnagl and Ward also look after youngsters fresh to the big city.

Ursula working as a model.

“We had one girl who lived with us for almost five years, coming and going,” Hufnagl said. “Catherine McNeil lived with us for years, Samantha Harris, Alyssa Sutherland too.

“For the young girls we don’t charge anything either, it’s daunting for them to move interstate and for them to assimilate into an environment which is nurturing and familiar makes it so much easier for them.

“I’m one of nine children so I grew up in a mad house so for me its never been an issue, it was nice,” Hufnagl said.

Originally published as Chic Model boss Ursula Hufnagl helped launch Miranda Kerr, Catherine McNeil and more