First, I spoke to Carolyn (520-455-3426), the owner of the company when I first got the call about my daughter auditioning. Tonya put her on the phone. I specifically asked, "After the runway initial audition, do you then ask us to buy anything like photos?" Her reply was along the lines of "...we are not a modeling agency. we do not train, we do not have modeling classes, we just represent the stores in the mall like Aeropostale, Macy's and get paid by the malls across America to advertise their clothes. At the same time, we take all of our photos and videos of the contestants and forward them to all of the major modeling agencies. We do not charge you anything if you are chosen to advance in the competition."
I then asked again, "So do you require a fee paid photo-shoot to advance?" Her answer was emphatically, "No!" She said that at the competition, there will be photographers and videographers and they would probably sell you their photos for $10 apiece, sort of like Santa’s photos at the mall… at your option. But that’s between you and them.
Satisfied with her answers that this was not your typical "sell fame and charge for services" SCAM, I took my daughter to the Mall.
Of course she was chosen along with everyone else that showed up (accept for one person who I suspect is a shill).
Now comes the real story. The Producer/Director said, "Although your daughter has been selected, she cannot advance without spending a minimum of $150 for online photos by our photographer or $300 for a book of the photos." I indicated that I have professional photos and she has professionally modeled and I would bring in her Bio/Resume and her portfolio. He said, "I don't care how good she is or experienced she is or how good her portfolio is, I guaranty that she will not get chosen to advance without buying one of these packages.
I conveyed to him about my conversation with the owner, Carolyn and he told me, "send everything to her then, but I guaranty that she will not get chosen to advance without buying one of these packages."
I argued that, "If you are truly looking for talent, then why would you restrict your search to the less talented just because they are paying?"
He said in a gruff and irritated voice, "Look! You just don't get it. Do you know people at Ford Modeling Agency? We do and if you want a chance to get there, then you need to buy one of these packages." and walked away.
As you can see, this is a scam. I've always had an agent in the entertainment business and they never charged me a dime until after I was booked and paid. They got a percentage.
Their business model is full of lies and misrepresentation and unethical business practices if not downright illegal.
I am contemplating a class action suit against this very large company and for those of you who have lost money, lost time, suffered family grievances due to the emotional upheaval of a child’s dreams, feel free to let me know at "ejtopp at in dot com"
Perhaps we can force them and others like them to behave in a legitimate manner or shut down.
They claim that 20, 000 candidates sign-up per month. At a minimum of $150 per person that is $3 million per month or $36 million per year. That’s big for photography but they are not selling photography. They are selling fame and delivering photography.

By the way, the only positive statements on this blog are probably originated by AMMS under false names and locations.