Irene Marie
Irene Marie | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 22, 1950 Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Businesswoman, former fashion model |
| Known for | Founder of Irene Marie Models, MTV's 8th & Ocean |
Irene Marie (born August 22, 1950, in Miami Beach, Florida) is an American businesswoman and former fashion model. She established the South Beach modeling agency Irene Marie Models, which gained recognition through the MTV show 8th & Ocean. Often referred to as The Grand Dame of Modeling, Marie has led the Dade Film and Print Advisory Board and contributed her expertise on modeling to CNN.
City Models
In 1974, Irene encountered her future spouse, Patrick Marie, in Miami Beach. Patrick connected her with his cousin, who owned City Models based in Paris and was interested in expanding into Miami. Finding local agencies limited in scope, City Models requested Marie to open a Florida branch. Thus, in 1980, City Models Florida was inaugurated in Ft. Lauderdale, becoming one of the earliest exclusive model and talent agencies in South Florida.
Irene Marie Models
Irene Marie Models was the pioneering Florida agency to adopt a global fashion outlook. Utilizing Marie’s European network, the agency attracted international photographers and designers to conduct campaigns throughout Florida, from Palm Beach down to Miami Beach. The agency was renamed Irene Marie Models in 1983 and outgrew its Ft. Lauderdale premises by 1988.
To meet increasing client demand for South Beach’s distinctive golden lighting, affordable accommodations, and scenic locations, Marie moved the agency in 1989 to the former Sunray Apartments at 728 Ocean Drive—an address famously featured in the film Scarface (1983).
During the early 1990s, Irene Marie Models expanded its roster by discovering talents such as Niki Taylor (L'Oréal, Elle, Vogue, CoverGirl), Amber Smith (Wonder Bra, Sports Illustrated), Michael Ostheim (Esprit, Armani), and Britt Bradford (Versace).
By 1993, Marie had broadened operations with additional offices in Atlanta and Tampa and became the first Florida-based modeling agency to establish a presence in New York. At this time, she represented prominent models including Marcus Schenkenberg, Kimora Lee, Beverly Peele, and Anna Nicole Smith. In 1997, she co-founded the Women of Tomorrow Mentor and Scholarship Program aimed at empowering at-risk young women.
Over the following decade, Irene Marie Models continued nurturing talents such as Cindy Taylor, Galen Gering, and David Fumero. In 2006, Marie collaborated with MTV to produce the reality show 8th & Ocean, which highlighted the daily experiences of models under her representation. In recognition of her cultural and commercial impact, Miami Beach awarded her the key to the city in 2007 and declared July 11 as Irene Marie Day. The agency received similar honors in 2008 when December 13 was named Irene Marie Models Day. Due to the worldwide economic downturn, the agency ceased operations in 2009.
Television appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 8th & Ocean | Herself | Reality television series (10 episodes) |