According to reports a legal battle is brewing between rival modelling agencies The Lions and DNA Model Management over the British model and activist Adwoa Aboah.

In a lawsuit filed (this month) in Manhattan Supreme Court, The Lions claims that Aboah recently asked to be released early from her three-year contract after being recruited by DNA Model Management, cofounder David Bonnouvrier.

The Lions says that it penned a deal with Aboah in 2015 when she had “virtual no modeling fees" and was relatively unknown in the modeling industry. Two years later, “Aboah was one of the top models in the United States,” the suit says.

During her time with The Lions, Aboah got her first Vogue cover shoot, (alongside Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner) and since, has been booked for high-profile shows such as Dior’s London Fashion Week show, this months recent Burberry show during London Fashion Week and has modelled in campaigns for Calvin Klein, H&M, as well as the likes of Fendi, Alexander Wang among others.

Daughter of Camilla Lowther, founder of the high profile CLM Agency, one of the most influential management agencies that represents creatives across the fashion editorial industry, including photographers Tim Walker and Juergen Teller.  

Particularly of concern in the suit is Aboah’s mother Lowther - whom The Lions claim “intentionally and improperly” induced Aboah’s breach of her contract. Lowther “made a deal for Aboah to be represented by DNA,” the suit says, even though her daughter’s contract with the Lions doesn’t expire until January 2018.

The Lions pointed out that Aboah’s mother Lowther is a personal friend of Bonnouvrier, and claimed that he told the agency that Lowther is “very powerful in the fashion industry” and if Aboah was not released from her contract, she would “attempt to harm the Lions business,” according to the complaint.

According to reports, Aboah contacted her Lions reps in August to tell them she wanted to leave, despite stating earlier in July 2017 that she was “very happy...and her loyalty was with [The Lions]" the suit says.

On the recent announcement made this month of Aboah being represented by DNA. Lions contacted Bonnouvrier and a lawyer for Aboah informing them that the agency expected her “to fulfill her [contractual] obligations.”  The suit goes onto claim that: “The Lions was in the middle of negotiation deals that would generate substantial fees for both Aboah and The Lion.”

The lawsuit made out is for unspecified damages. Lowther, Bonnouvrier and DNA are all defendants. The British Model Aboah is not being sued.