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The South Asian Modeling Agency(SAMA) is run by Mala Singh, her husband and business partner. She is a FRAUDULENT talent/modeling agent. Beware of this woman. She charms her way through conversations, but when it comes to money - she's vicious and selfish. People fall for her when she speaks, but as soon as they start working with her, attitudes change...
If she wants to sign you, she'll persist until you sign. She'll sway you by telling the story about one of her models that made $7000 off of one gig and you'll think you can do that too (then after you sign, you'll find out that the most you make on fashion shows is $100 - see below). Once you sign, she'll insist that you pay her SAMA's registration fee upfront. She'll be as nice as possible, and always answer your phone call until you pay her. The second you pay her, it's next to impossible to get ahold of her. And when she does answer, she'll always tell you she's in a meeting...or that she's with someone. And if you persist to call her, eventually she'll just hang up on you. SAMA saves their ### by providing ridiculous gigs and shows.
If you seriously don't believe, just ask a few of the models signed to SAMA. Even they don't like dealing with SAMA. They just do it because they paid and they want to make the money back. The first audition I ever went to just check out had models complaining amongst each other about SAMA...saying to only do enough shows to make your money back and leave quit.
SAMA charges $500 total - $250 for representation, and $250 for your portfolio. Many of the girls havent even had their photos taken even AFTER they paid! And the photographer that they set you up with SUCKS! Don't believe me? Check out SAMA's website: www.samamodels.com and see for yourself. The photographer doesnt even touch up the photos. So, $250 just to click photos that barely come out good? They sign any ramdon person...take a look at those models...do they look like the ones you see at real agencies like Ford, or Elite? Only a few do...
On top of that, I overheard models talking about the fee they were charged. It turns out, some models were charged only $150, while others charged $500! Now if that's not a scam...I dont know what isnt!
The fashion shows that SAMA sets their models up with are something else...The girls were told that no matter what fashion show they do through SAMA, they would only make $100. What ###! In many cases, the models are told its a paying show, then after the show they are told it's for CHARITY, or that they are still negotiating pay, so no one gets paid. These girls/guys in the show REHEARSED for days for the last show, and they were told they were only going to get paid $50! ...to think these models even worked this show after that...Then after the show...many of the models didnt see a dime.
There are only a few people that get paid decently, and those are SAMA's "team leaders", or odd model - very nice people I tell you, but I'm sure they have no idea what the other models deal with.
The best part about some of the gigs SAMA sets up is that the models have to sometimes bring their own clothes to model! There was once a shoot, the agency said their'd be makeup, hair and clothes provided, but that the girls should still bring one outfit of their own. Upon arriving, there was no hair/makeup artist (they apparently cancelled at the last minute) and there were no outfits provided. The girls had to use all of their own things for this Promo Ad. What kind of shoot is that? Not a real one, that's for sure...
Even SAMA's top models dislike working with them...it's the talk of every audition, practise or rehearsal...some of the models are blind to this...but many of them can see what's really happening.
When one girl began voicing her opinions about SAMA to other models, Mala actually told other girls not to talk to her.
There was another girl that asked for her money back, and Mala laughed at her on the phone.
Another said that her photoshoot ended up being in the basement of photographers house...wow. Safety anyone?
She also expects you to meet her wherever she wants as soon as she says to meet her. I asked to meet with her once, she said ok, and then "forgot."
There's also no address to their offices...considering SAMA represents a few hundred, you'd think they'd have a place to do business...
Everytime I tried getting Mala's attention, she'd be too "busy" to talk, picking up her phone, pretending to talk to someone when she wasnt. Then when I was firm with her, she rolled her eyes and sighed in irritation.
Some Agent.
SAMA claims to give people of the South Asian community in Toronto an opportunity to be discovered. What SAMA really does is scam their own people who are just trying to make a living...What ashame... and what's unfortunate, is that there's the odd model that can't see through her plot, and will stick up for her because she's so smooth with her words...
BEWARE of SAMA. I'm an actor, and SAMA is NOT the agency to go to if you think you're going to get your face out there...the top models at SAMA all happen to be signed to other agencies that have given REAL work...SAMA scrambles like a chicken with its head cut off when a good model threatens to quit...
...or you can try it out for yourself...wait and see what happens.
bout time someone complained! all those models complain so much about sama but noone does anything about it!
what a crappy agency. they did nothing but make me want to steer clear of all things fashion photography and film.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I was a kid when she scammed my dad out of his money. I signed up because I wanted to be a dancer. My father paid her fees but when it came to performing it was like I was at a high-school talent show. It was during the time when she had just opened her restaurant and she wanted to do live entertainment. When my father tried calling her or seeing her to get our money back she disappeared. But honestly she does lure people in sucks their money like a leech. She would tell my dad about her struggle as a Guyanese woman in the south Asian community and that us Guyanese people need to stick together. Also I did hear that her father's law firm really does some shady things. Maybe that's why she gets away with so much. Fraudulent father and perverted daughter alike.
My advise to all you prospective models...if you ever want to expose your self to the industry SAMA is NOT The way to do it. Mala is a two-faced, disrespectful, cunning, self-obsessed, greedy, class-less, vicious woman who you would NEVER want to acquaint with. I am speaking from experience, and I have never seen a two-faced woman like that. She uses her sweet talk to lure you in and takes your money. I am a law student, and paid her $500.00 from working at McDonald's never mind my student loans. I was with her for 2 years attempting to earn my money back so I can leave in peace, but did not even make a PENNY. I wore my own clothes and make up, and once in a blue moon, a make-up artist would work with her to promote their business ( who also has many complaints). She uses a few girls to maintain hers and her agency's image. She treats her husband like a peasant. That is sufficient to see her character. Karma will get her back, and I pray that justice be done. Someone needs to take the leadership and start a class action to sue her for fraud and misrepresentation because I'm sure there will be enough people including models and people who did business with her to testify against her. DO NOT FALL FOR HER "SWEET WORDS"! She is vicious! I have never felt this frustrated before. And I hope no one makes this mistake again!
Please post separate complaints with names of people who are exploiting women with Mala Singh, like Gitta Bains and Parminder Mangat.
Please post her brother's name and the name of the law firm. Mala Singh uses them to harass and threaten people.
Mala Singh is a notorious pimp. All of the punjabi music artists such as Gitta Bains call her for models to "dance" in their movies. After these models shake their behinds in the video, then, she forces them to sleep with these artists. Mala Singh owes many people money. She pretends to be christian and all of a sudden she is hindu again. Whoa Mala.. what happened there?
Mala supplies women to mortgage agents such as Parminder Mangat. She warns the men to wear condoms while fornicating with these women then drives away laughing.
I am so sick an tired of this women prostituting her models out to men. She is SICK SICK SICK.
Well said, she coned me out of my $500 and never gave me work should I send her a contract termination letter on her email ... I want to mail but she has no address.
It's been 2 ###ING YEARS AND THAT FAT ### ### STILL HASN'T GIVEN ME MY PICTURES! i swear, we all need to call the cops on her. She claims that she's a lawyer's daughter, but she HAS NO IDEA what's in store for her. MALA SINGH, BEWARE. I hate you. and Mala, you and Ray will get what you deserve one day. When I did a gig with you, you made me stay in a hotel room with a man and thought nothing of it! I'm your daughter's age... what if someone did that with your daughter!? You're a horrible mom... we all know that you sleep around and will do anything for a touch a fame, and I MEAN ANYTHING. I've seen it with my own eyes. You're a pig Mala, a dirty, ugly pig who needs to realize that you're old and not one of the models that you claim to be a an agent too. You're a disgrace to the South Asian Community of Toronto and North America. You're a fraud. and like I said, BEWARE MALA SINGH, YOU WILL GET PUNISHED FOR YOUR WRONG DEEDS.
What is with this Company? Something is wrong when so many people are experiencing the similar situations. I would suggest everyone getogether and make your petition to the board and let the law deal with this. Hold one head as it seems something is wrong here. My own experience is seeing her own models at other Agencies and talking abt their experiences which is not good.
i'm 100% agree with u
You are absolutely right. This sweet tongue women should defninately be taught a lesson. Another black spot on the face our south asian community.
I completely agree wit you, the same experiences have been repeated. If we are not getting paid, we are acting legal against them. Please if someone could co-operate, we needs to stop this.
Hmm i guess i need to find a new place to start my potfolio and modeling interest...
You guys seem experienced any ideas where i can start or how...?
ohh man! that was my mistake guys. I was with DeenaP and accidentally wrote that while i was stil logged on her account.
i joined sama like less than a month ago and cant even get 2 min alone to talk with anyone in charge. each time i call mala is too busy to talk! she wont even let me finish my sentence before she says she has to go. i feel so helpless bout this and i feel like someone screwed me over.
frustratedddd!
hey NoThanks
have you had a run in with SAMA before? Id like to hear about it if you have
hmmm I wonder if deenaP is the same person that complained AND commented?
watever. Regardless thats been my experience at SAMA too sadly. She even told me that she can make me a big star. i cant believe I even let myself belive that...I feel silly.
i say stay away.