Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Doug Douglas. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Doug, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear from you about what you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry and why it matters.

When I decide to start a company, it’s because I think things are broken and so widespread that it cannot be reformed, but a total reset is needed. I own a Mother Agency – I discover new talent, I develop and train them until they can compete for work on a global level with the best models in the world, and then I assist those models with getting signed by a larger, global, major agency. My focus is on DEVELOPMENT. However, most Mother Agencies focus on themselves, gigs, and money, rather than the model.

The standard Mother Agency will sign and sign and sign new models. Then they’ll work with and give opportunities to about 10% of those they’ve signed. Why not work with all of your models? Why not see what they can do, and if they can improve? At DX2 Models, we limit how many models we sign so that every model gets individual monthly coaching and attention. We want all of our models to have the opportunity to grow, not just 10%.

The standard Mother Agency will send out models to whomever requests them, even if they don’t know them, have a history with them, and send the model alone without any support or protection. That model will make money from that gig, and a percentage of it will go back to the agency. Now, there’s nothing wrong with the agency getting their percentage, but at what cost? Sending models to every wanna be photographer in town who has a “super cool concept” they say they want to shoot, not knowing who they are, alone….it’s just not safe. It’s not what’s best for the model.

At DX2, our models work with our designated photographers and videographers. People we know. People we trust. People the models are comfortable and familiar with. Not only is it safer, but the photographer becomes very familiar with the model and what habits or tendencies she might have and can work to eliminate bad habits and replace them with things that will make her better. NO OTHER agencies offer that! It’s a huge difference maker and the reason DX2 models develop faster than other industry models.

Last, the standard Mother Agency will send a model to a major global agency even if that model isn’t prepared to compete for work at that level. They want to check a box saying they got another one signed.

At DX2, we tell scouts that 3 things have to be in place before they can speak with a model:
1) Needs to be prepared and able to walk any runway in the world.
2) Needs to be prepared and able to shoot any print campaign for any designer.
3) Needs to be mature enough and old enough that they can travel anywhere in the world and be safe and not get taken advantage of.

Once those things are in place, we’ll talk to scouts.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

When I was in elementary school, this stranger heard me sing and he was drawn to me. He said that I was unique and special and he wanted me to have every opportunity to be successful….so he had my mom (newly divorced and working 3 jobs to pay the bills) go enroll me in one of the top private schools in the world and he paid my tuition until I graduated from that school. It made an impact on me and I wanted to do the same for others if I ever had the means and the opportunity.

So DX2 Model Management is my version of what he did for me. I look for new talent that is unique and special, who have a dream of being a model. I develop,them, give them the right experiences, and then try to help them sign that contract at the global,level.

We focus on fashion modeling and work primarily with fashion designers, labels, producers. We shoot print campaigns for fashion designers that they can use for the website or for their social media content, get them published in fashion magazines around the world. Last year, we were published 823 times in those fashion magazines. But we also focus on runway. We love runway! We are widely known as the best runway models in Texas. We work very hard at it and take a lot of pride in how we interact with and support designers, and how we bring their vision to life when we get on the runway.

We also have a fashion production company that produces fashion events/shows. We recently unveiled the Spring 2024 apparel for HOKA Athletics to a crowd of 800+. We opened the 15th anniversary show for Austin Fashion Week with a spot I choreographed. We have two shows later this year with the City of Round Rock. We will be opening Dallas Fashion Week this Fall. We’ll be involved in Texas Fashion Week. We do about 30 shows per year.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I got into this for one reason only – to help people achieve their dreams.

We had a young lady, one of our models, pass away last year from a car crash. She had been with us about 3 months and she had already been published twice and made the cover of a magazine. Her future was very bright!

I messaged her the day before she died. At the end of her message – the last thing she said to me – “Thank you for all you’ve done for me. It makes all the difference in the world to know that someone believes in you.”

I’m not just teaching people how to walk and how to pose. I believe in them, and they begin to believe in themselves. 100% of our models say they have grown in their confidence and their ability to take on new challenges. We teach them communication skills, professionalism, all sorts of things that will benefit them in life if they make it in modeling or not.

The reward is the look of determination, confidence, and belief in themselves that they can do great things, and be a really good person while doing it.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

As much as it thrills me when I see our models gaining confidence, feeling powerful, getting to experience some really cool things, and grateful for the opportunity and investment made into them…that’s not the case with everyone.

I work with a limited number of people so that everyone can get the attention they need and deserve. I have to be very picky about who,I select for this team, who I turn away, rules have to be enforced so I have to cut people from the team, and then some don’t want to be here and leave.

In those situations, the most common response I get is that I’m a jerk. I don’t know anything. I’m stupid. I’m this. I’m that. And sometimes it goes beyond that to slander, defamation, even death threats.

I do this to help people. That’s the only reason. I try to help. It’s very difficult to take all of the negativity, slander, threats, and hear it from people you’ve invested your time, your heart, your money into – and there is no gratitude or appreciation for what’s been done. When one breaks a rule and has to be removed from the team, not a single one has owned up to their mistake and taken responsibility. It’s always blamed on me somehow. That’s disappointing and it’s really hard to continue when it’s people I’ve genuinely cared for.

Your desire for success in others has to outweigh your own need for gratitude or you’ll never continue.

Contact Info:

• Website: DX2ModelManagement.com
• Instagram: @dx2model / @dx2_fashionproductions
• Facebook: @dx2modelmanagement