Barbizon Modeling and Acting School
American modeling and acting school

Barbizon Modeling and Acting School
Location
Tampa, Florida
Coordinates26°16′09″N 80°14′58″W / 26.269141°N 80.249429°W / 26.269141; -80.249429
Information
TypeActing and modeling school
Established1939 (87 years ago) (1939) in New York City, New York, United States
Websitebarbizonmodeling.com

Barbizon Modeling and Acting School is an international modeling and acting school headquartered in Tampa, Florida.[1][2][3][4][5] It operates through licensed and franchised schools offering modeling, acting, and personal development. The school has trained numerous notable alumni, including Condoleezza Rice, Carmen Electra, and Ryan Phillippe. Barbizon established a college scholarship program in 1992 for students attending colleges and universities in the United States. The company has faced allegations and been the subject of lawsuits.[6][7]

History

Helen Fraser opened the first Barbizon School of Modeling and Acting in 1939 on Fifth Avenue in New York City.[8] The Barbizon name was developed from her trips to the French town of Barbizon, a village outside of Paris known for the 19th-century Barbizon school of painters. Fraser was a fashion model and teacher who also wrote the book Assignment in Modeling: A Guide to a Career in Fashion and Photographic Modeling.[9]

By 1973, Barbizon reported 37 franchisees in 18 U.S. states.[10]

Programs and operations

Barbizon currently operates centers in over 200 cities across the United States. Most Barbizon locations serve students aged 8 to 19, consisting of weekend instruction over six months, totaling about 48 hours of in-person training with supplementary industry placement services.[11]

In 1992, Barbizon established a college scholarship program for students attending colleges and universities in the United States.[12][13]

Reception and criticism

Barbizon has received mixed reception over the years. In 2010, Illinois residents filed a class action lawsuit against a Barbizon franchise, alleging unfair business practices and disputing the value of instruction and job prospects represented to families. Barbizon denied the allegations, and the case was resolved through a class-wide settlement.[14][15] In 2016, a class action complaint was filed in California in which plaintiffs cited California labor and unfair competition laws related to advance-fee talent representation services; that case was also resolved through settlement.[16]

Independent media coverage has described Barbizon as a provider of modeling, acting, and personal development training with a nationwide network of schools. A Tampa Bay Times feature noted the company’s continued presence and characterized its public reputation as mixed, noting both its longevity and ongoing scrutiny.[11] The company maintains accreditation with the Better Business Bureau.[17]

Notable alumni

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ thanked Barbizon in her self-help book
  2. ^ named Miss Barbizon[20]
  3. ^ in Elisabeth Bumiller's biography of Rice, Barbizon is referenced as one of Rice's early stepping stones[2]
Citations
  1. ^ Jackson, Shaaron (2010). Teen Age Guide to Self-Development and Modeling: Start Working Toward a Better You. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 978-1-4535-0439-0.
  2. ^ a b Bumiller, Elisabeth (2009). Condoleezza Rice: An American Life. Random House. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-8129-7713-4.
  3. ^ Figueroa-Jones, Madeline. "Interview with PLUS Model Magazine Cover Model… Valerie Lefkowitz". Plus Model Magazine. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  4. ^ "The Barbizon Advantage". Pageantry Magazine.
  5. ^ "Barbizon USA, Inc. and Subsidiary and Affiliates – Financial Statements (years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016)" (PDF). Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  6. ^ Scholarships, Grants & Prizes 2012. Peterson's. August 15, 2012. ISBN 978-0-7689-3581-3.
  7. ^ Freeland, Bridget (June 25, 2010). "Class Calls Barbizon School 'Worthless'". Courthouse News Service. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  8. ^ "Barbizon Modeling and Agency 1939 to Unveil Audience on Demand Crowd Placement Service". March 6, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  9. ^ Fraser, Helen (1950). Assignment in Modeling: A Guide to a Career in Fashion and Photographic Modeling. Whittlesey House.
  10. ^ Franchise Opportunities Handbook (PDF) (Report). Office of Minority Business Enterprise, U.S. Department of Commerce. September 1973. p. 101. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  11. ^ a b reporter, Sue CarltonFormer Times. "Tampa's Barbizon USA continues the 'be a model or just look like one' legacy". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  12. ^ Peterson's (August 15, 2012). Scholarships, Grants & Prizes 2012. Peterson's. ISBN 978-0-7689-3581-3.
  13. ^ Houpt, Paige. "Allen Park: High School Student Earns $100,000 Scholarship". The News Herald.
  14. ^ Freeland, Bridget (June 25, 2010). "Class Calls Barbizon School 'Worthless'". Courthouse News. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  15. ^ "Class Action Litigation". DiTommaso Lubin, PC. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  16. ^ "Acting School Accused of Targeting Kids with False Claims". Deadline. Hollywood. March 31, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  17. ^ "Barbizon USA, LLC | BBB Business Profile | Better Business Bureau". www.bbb.org. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  18. ^ Claesson, Samuel (March 31, 2023). Top Models. Sequoia Press. p. 22. ISBN 979-8-88992-180-6.
  19. ^ "Karen Montell". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  20. ^ Nolin, Gena Lee (October 8, 2013). Beautiful Inside and Out: Conquering Thyroid Disease with a Healthy, Happy, "Thyroid Sexy" Life. Simon and Schuster. p. 19. ISBN 978-1-4516-8722-4.
  • Official website
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