Barbizon Modeling and Acting School

Helen Fraser opened the first Barbizon School of Modeling and Acting in 1939 on Fifth Avenue in New York City. 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. By 1973, Barbizon reported 37 franchisees in 18 U.S. states. ==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. In 1992, Barbizon established a college scholarship program for students attending colleges and universities in the United States. == 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. 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. 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. ==Notable alumni==

• Audrey Marie Anderson • Nicole Gale Anderson • David Archuleta – American Idol contestant • Moisés Arias • Drew Tyler Bell • Haley Bennett • Logan Browning • Caressa Cameron – Miss America 2010 • Carmen Electra • Sean Faris • Lyndsy Fonseca • Isabel Gravitt • Julie Henderson – model • Madison Iseman • June Kirby – actress and model • Karen Montell – politician and model • Gena Lee Nolin • Tera Patrick – pornographic actress and model • Ryan Phillippe • Giuliana Rancic – entertainment journalist • Condoleezza Rice – former U.S. Secretary of State • Zach Roerig • Sofia Vassilieva • Jill Wagner • Faye Wong ==See also==