Ford, Eileen (1922–)

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Ford, Eileen (1922–)

American entrepreneur. Born Eileen Otte, May 25, 1922, in New York, NY; dau. of Nathaniel Otte and Loretta Marie (Laine) Otte; Barnard College, BS, 1943; m. Gerard William Ford, known as Jerry Ford (entrepreneur), Nov 20, 1944; children: Gerard William Ford, known as Bill Ford (president of Ford's licensing division); A. Lacey Ford (who m. John Williams); M. Katie Ford (who m. André Balazs and became CEO of Ford Agency, 1995); Margaret Ford, also known as Jamie Ford (who m. Robert Craft).

With husband, started the Ford Model Agency in a Manhattan walkup (1948); revolutionized modeling by establishing standardized fees and acting as agents for models by collecting fees and handling bookings; had flair for spotting charismatic models; discoveries include Lauren Hutton, Jean Shrimpton, Capucine, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Suzy Parker, Christie Brinkley, Jerry Hall, Cheryl Tiegs, Brooke Shields, Ali MacGraw, Penelope Tree, and Christy Turlington.

See also Women in World History.