My experience was here in Arlington, Texas. I just did it for fun to see how and what it was all about. The lady I talked to (Jessica) said there are no fees to audtion but I knew I was going to pay something so I didnt bring my wallet just in case they sell me. I dont think its a scam but I do believe they are just trying to get money the best way possible. They want only new faces and people because most likely you want have a portfolio. I won the "first round" in competition but there was like 8 others that won and like 2 that didnt make it. Furthermore, American Mall Model search have been at the Parks Mall for weeks everyday at least twice a day and ALL these people are winning. What got me is that I didnt have the money for a photo shoot that day. I understand I need one and HAVE TO PAY FOR ONE BUT I could ONLY pay that day and nothing else. I told her (Trinie)when I come to the photo shoot I dont mind paying then but she said "do you really want to do this" and Im like "yeah". Well I want photos anyways so i didnt mind paying but she told me I couldnt go on if i didnt at least put something down today. Ha! If this wasnt for mostly your money and mostly love my talent and beauty they would let me come back to pay. Basically, this is just for money and the odds are veeerrryyy slim. For a company to have been here sooo long. WHY I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY OF THE MODELS OR ACTORS THEY CLAIM GOTTEN CONTRACTS. They were ONLY small jobs that they had. You'll have a better chance to keep entering into tv contest. If this is really your passion go for it and invest in yourself even if its by slim chance but dont let this be your only option.

Some people are big idiots when they complain about American Model Mall Search. First of all you only have to pay if you do not have a portfolio. Many of the interns assume that you do not have one so they fill it out for you. You do not have to pay if you have a portfolio and resume on hand. Since there are little kids auditioning who obviously do not have that, they use this fact to fund their operations and keep the business open. I took my little niece to this today and it is legitimate enough for me. She did not know it was an audition of some sort, but she still made the best of it. The people were friendly and even offered to help those who did not know how to do the cat walk. I believe this will be a good experience for her.

I work in the entertainment industry and deal with modeling and acting agencies every day as well as placing talent. My review comes from my professional experience. First of all, those who think that "if you are talented enough, an agency will pay for you to get started in the industry" have clearly not worked with many professional agencies. When you audition directly with a legitimate, licensed agency you are required to do what they call a "test shoot" if they are moving forward with representation. These test shoots are frequently funded out of pocket by the model, NOT the agency. Agencies make commission off of their models, so how could they afford to pay for photo shoots for every single one of their models or potential models when only a fraction of them find high-paying work? Secondly, professional photographers that are what is considered "celebrity" quality will have some major credentials and will cost you generally much more than $150, depending on what kind of shoot you are doing and how many looks. Your portfolio should ONLY contain photos of this quality. Anyone who believes that you can make it big in modeling or acting without paying to get yourself started is naive and inexperienced in the entertainment business. To really find paying work you need a strong and current portfolio, zed cards, an evolving resume, and at least some kind of training or experience. Many agencies won't even consider interviewing a person without these (I've seen them literally throw applications in the trash because of this). Furthermore, age is not a factor for immediate dismissal. Think about all of the children you see in Toys R Us or Pampers ads, or grandparents featured in a family unit or on insurance pamphlets. All ages, shapes, and sizes are considered in modeling because there are SO MANY types of modeling other than what people see on America's Next Top Model. HOWEVER, all this being said, the American Mall Model Search IS a huge scam. It is not because they charge you for photo shoots, or let absolutely everyone through. It is because they have been operating with a talent agency with a delinquent license, at least for most of last year when their license became delinquent in May of 2010 and was not renewed at least through November. This is highly illegal. I have not yet checked to see if this has been renewed as of the new year. Also, they operate with false promises that border on the line of false advertising. With promises of fame, they provide you with mediocre photographs and you are REQUIRED to use THEIR photographs to be considered for a contract. While real agencies may require you test shoot with their photographer to see how you move behind a camera, you use other pictures you've already had done to get past stage one. They only test shoot with you if they are signing with you are very seriously considering it. They won't take money from people they know they don't want to represent. It's very unethical, and the American Mall Model Search is looked poorly upon by the rest of the industry for these reasons. Their success stories are vague. They don't tell you much about who has appeared in what, just that "our talent has been featured in Glamour Magazine, 90210, Pepsi ads" or whatever it happens to be. Where are the testimonials from real life success stories? If they were so successful at representing and finding amazing talent, do you really think they would be out trolling malls? Or would they have a nice posh office and people would be contacting them? Something to consider... Lastly, their services are fairly useless. You don't need a company like this to "market" you to agents and employers. You need to market yourself. Get great head shots done and send them with resumes to agents in your area. Take professional training classes at a qualified talent school. Make connections with people in the industry. Join local casting groups. These things will get you industry representation, not putting your hopes into American Mall Model Search.

I got scammed by this company too, along with two fo my friends and their kids. I filled out the form like everyone else did and they called me a week later asking me to bring my son in for an interview with their casting Director, Brody. I was told, like everyone else, to be there the following night at 7:15. I was lead to beleive this would be a one on one, at no time did they tell me about walking a catwalk, the many other people that would also be "auditioned", etc. My son is 2, I showed up at 7pm, only to be told to have a seat, we would be called for our appt. time with the casting director. After watching their various advertisements for their company, including endorsements from "Oprah", it was now 7:30 and my two y/o was getting antsy. Finally we were called, only to find out their were multiple people all going up on stage for a talent/fashion show and we were lined up. My son was "picked" along with everyone else, which clued me in something was fishy. I was then told to book an appt. for a photo shoot for them to use on their website and for us to use to solicit jobs, they had three pkg.'s with different prices, but we were told in order to continue on to the next step we had to pick one and pay a deposit up front. The the balance to be paid by the competition date. I then explained to Brody how we were deceived and he apologized and assurred me that the photo shoot would be individualized attention. I went on to explain that I had not brought a juice cup, a change of clothes, a cookie/cracker nothing and I was ill-prepared to have a two y/o wait patiently for 2+ hours (which is how long this whole process took). Like all the other fools i paid the deposit and went shopping for an outfit and showed up with my 2 y/o for our scheduled photo shoot at 6:30 two nights later only to find out they were doing another "audition" and we had to wait until the end, not one of the other 5 staff members could help us. The one guy that could take the stinking pictures was running another "show". Only I had googled them the night before and done my homework and knew that they were a scam. I figured at the very least I could either get his pics done or get my money back at this point. They wouldn't let me talk to Brody and no one else could answer my questions. I was told I am only an intern or I'm just 12 interning and apart of the competition. His assistant Kyle, keep blowing me off and telling me he'd be right back. I even got out the business card and called Brody's cell right there on the spot, of course, no anaswer. I left a message, of ocurse, no return call. After waiting yet again for over an hour, I walked off. I should have listened to my gut and what people told me, if they were legit they would take you on for free, not ask you for money up front. And let me tell you the second "audition" I got stuck watching while we waited for a non-existent appt. for a photo shoot - THEY ALL MADE IT TOO! Funny, we must be some talented people in this town.

Location: Crystall Mall, Waterford, CT

~~~I HAVE WORKED FOR THIS COMPANY~~ THEY ARE ONE OF THE MOST BIGGEST SCAMS STILL ABLE TO OPERATE. EVERYONE IN THIS COMPANY IS CORRUPT AND NOT TO BE TRUSTED. THEY ARE CHEAP, **NONE** OF THEIR PHOTOGRAPHERS ACTUALLY HAVE A LICENSE. ALL THEY AARE DOING IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CHILDREN AND SELLING THEM DREAMS AND IT'S NOT FAIR TO PUT HAVE THESE PEOPLE FEED YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES A BUNCH OF LIES. I QUIT BECAUSE ONCE I SAW WHAT WAS BEHIND THE SCENES I WANTED NO PART IN IT WHAT SO EVER. THEY HAVE NO CREDENTIALS AND ALL ABOUT PERSONAL PROFIT FOR THE FAMILY THAT OWNS THE ENTIRE BUSINESS. DO NOT I REPEAT DO NOT LET THEM WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY!!!1