Supermodel Constance Jablonski in $3M Agency Suit
ABC News' Linsey Davis and Amanda Keegan report:
French beauty Constance Jablonski has become one of the hottest faces on fashion magazine covers and catwalks around the world, but she got slapped with a huge lawsuit when she left her modeling agency to work with its rival.
The lawsuit claims Jablonski was a virtual unknown until Marilyn Model Management plucked her from obscurity and made her a star in less than three years. Marilyn has filed a lawsuit seeking $3.3 million, claiming the model thanked them by leaving for another firm, DNA Models.
"The modeling agency is supremely cut-throat," said fashion designer Nick Verros. "If a model signs a contract with a beauty industry company, this could mean a big cut for the agent."
Jablonski began her career with Marilyn in 2008. The agency takes credit for making the 21-year-old the face of Estee Lauder, tripling her earnings from 2009 to 2012, making her worth reportedly more than $3 million.
Marilyn is also suing the model's new agency, DNA Models, arguing she was stolen away at the peak of her career. Jablonski is in such high demand she has two Vogue covers next month.
"I think there is some sympathy factor for the Marilyn agency because after all, they developed her career yet they are not really able to reap the rewards," said legal analyst Dana Cole.
Jablonski's lawyer says Marilyn breached several portions of its agreement, telling ABC News, "Unfortunately, with time, the agency changed" and "when she called no one responded to her questions."
Marilyn also represents supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer. Their lawsuit alleges that DNA's wrongful conduct was aimed at destabilizing its business and causing irreparable damage to its image and reputation.
Joblonski hasn't spoken about the suit, but did weigh in on Twitter saying, "With a New Year comes new beginnings. After my bookers, many of those I began with at Marilyn and my dearest Marilyn Gaultier left the agency this past year, I decided to move on to DNA. I'm very excited with the move and I hope you are too!!"
Still in the midst of the mayhem over her millions, the beauty also appears to have other things on her mind, tweeting, "In NYC, you are always looking for a job, a boyfriend or an apartment."
Or in her case, apparently, a new agency.