In 1992,
21-year old model
Kimberly Pandelios told her husband that she was meeting with a
photographer.
However the man who’d led her to believe he was a photographer was
actually a registered sex offender who lured Pandelios into the
Angeles National Forest where he sexually assaulted and killed her.
Kimberly
was probably a lot like many young, aspiring
models. She was beautiful, vibrant and eager to take on the
world. She’d had some success modeling swimwear and lingerie when
she’d discovered a model-wanted
ad in a local weekly newspaper. She had hoped the opportunity
would help her make some headway in her career. Instead, she met a
tragic end.
Unfortunately,
this story is not an uncommon one. And it doesn’t just happen to
new models.
Linda Sobek, a former Raiders cheerleader and Playboy model met a
similar fate when she left her home to attend a photo shoot. In her
case, the photographer
who killed her was at the time a reputable photographer who had
actually amassed a small fortune and some fame and who’s work had
appeared in many automotive magazines.
We often
discuss the growing number of Internet scams that constantly target
aspiring models, but one Star
Search Casting member recently discussed the importance of
remaining aware of the dangers that face models in the real world as
well. Every day people reach out to aspiring models on the street, in
stores, or through newspaper or online classifieds with legitimate
offers. However, there are also criminals who use these same methods
to lure models with malicious intent.
To avoid
becoming the victim of dangerous crime, always remember to:
-
Ask
for references from photographers, agents or other industry
professionals before agreeing to work with them.
-
Take
a friend or family member with you to photo shoots and meetings with
agents, photographers or other industry professionals, especially if
you’ve not worked with them in the past and you have not secured
the job through a reputable agency.
-
Be
cautious of applying to blind ads in newspapers or online. If you
choose to apply to these ads, be sure to thoroughly research the
agency or photographer that you will be meeting with.
-
And
last but not least, always go with your instincts. Intuition is one
of the most powerful resources you have to protect you from
dangerous situations. Therefore don’t get involved with a project
or an agency if you have a bad feeling about it.
For more
information on scams and crimes affecting aspiring models, singers,
actors and dancers, log on to http://StarSearchCasting.com
daily and review our entertainment
industry Scam Watch.
