Amazing Mom Ellen Wasser-Hrin!

Ellen, founder and director of MMA Modeling Agency, represents some of the best, well-rounded, and healthy talent in the Tri-State area, and is truly a positive, energetic mom on the move and role model for us all!

Ellen, mom to 13-year old Madison and happily married for 23 years, waited 10 long years for her bundle of joy. When Ellen finally found out that she was pregnant, she was told that Maddy was 90% Down syndrome.

Feeling more blessed than ever to have gotten pregnant, Ellen and her husband prayed that everything would happen as it should. "No matter what happens, she will be absolutely perfect," Ellen remembers thinking. And Maddy was just that- absolutely perfect. Madison arrived in perfect condition!

"They saw a little spot on her brain and a little spot in her heart, but she is very bright and very social," says Ellen. "I believed that these were sparks in her mind and heart, that she would be one of these indigo children." And she is proving to be just that!

Ellen credits Maddy for bringing her back to earth at times and changing her perspective in times of stress. "Maddy once said when I was stressed out once, Mommy, just don't think about it, think about something else. And she was only 5 years old at the time." recalls Ellen. Sometimes our little ones can give the wisest advice.

Ellen explains, "It's important to change your thought process so you focus on the positive not the negative. We don't think about it but we need to focus on what makes us really happy." Ellen's energy, refreshing perception of life, and her strong faith that everything happens for a reason or as it is supposed to, has been a constant motivating force to all of those she meets.

Prior to Ellen opening MMA Agency, with degrees in dance and psychology, Ellen had hopes of becoming a therapist.

Ellen has always been a strong believer in fitness, health, and the mind, body, and spirit connection. "These areas were always my joy," she says. After receiving her masters, she set out to be a therapist. Because it was such a new field, she was only offered jobs that entailed her to work with criminals and the mentally insane. Feeling that this was not her path, she prayed about her career move and ended up with a job at the John Casablanca Career Center. Here she was able to use her dance and acting background. In college, she and a group of diverse and equally talented friends started a performing arts group that provided widely praised performances for the student body.  

As she began to teach various programs at the John Casablanca School, and as she began to take charge of the Career Center itself, she found that she had a strong passion for inspiring teenage girls.  

She knew it was time to start her own agency. In March of 1991, MMA started as a high fashion agency with about 25-30 really strong girls.  Although it was a bit difficult to break into the Philadelphia market, Ellen has incredible intuition which translated into great success with the girls that she recruited. Ellen began placing local talent in New York and various other major markets throughout the country.

 "I wanted it really pure. I wanted a pure gem of an agency," Ellen says. This is how she made her niche as a boutique agency. Ellen had boutique fashion models working in New York City. MMA started to become the hub to type -A, high-end agencies in cities like New York City, for Philadelphia talent.

 Soon MMA turned into a full service agency. Besides their Fashion Division, MMA hosts a Commercial Division, Children's Division, Hair and Makeup, Runway Division, Promotional/Trade Show Division and On-Camera Division.Their impeccable service along with high caliber talent remains MMA's trademark.

What's even more notable about Ellen and her agency is the emphasis that she puts on having a healthy mind, body, and spirit. "It's very important for my talent to have a healthy mind and body," explains Ellen. In an industry where there is an unhealthy pressure regarding body image, Ellen makes sure that all of her models have a healthy mind-set and strongly enforces the "open-door" policy. "They can come and talk to me any time about any issues they are having."

So how does a woman with a thriving Modeling Agency manage life as a mom and wife to Madison and her husband?

Ellen graciously explains, "The company was 6 years old when I had Maddy, and I was blessed to have a staff who helped with the phones and faxes, because we didn't have computers back then. It was phone, fax, fedex-ing packages."

Even still, it was very challenging to build a business, a brand, and successful name. Ellen credits her success to a lot of hardwork and a lot of prayer. "And it was always trying to do the right thing," she adds. Ellen's positive mind-set helped her attract all the right people and the support she needed to build a happy and rich life.

A typical "Open Call" involves a cold reading, an interview, and a mini runway walk depending on the talent's focus.

Ellen's advises parents with budding actors, actresses and models to encourage their children to express themselves, and to make sure that they really want to be an entertainer. " It's hard to see parents who innocently push their children into this profession because they see talent in them, or they feel it's what they want to do," Ellen says.

Ellen's positive energy, strong will, incredible faith, nurturing manner, and admirable business sense, have made a mark not only in her community, but also in the Modeling world. A role model to her talent, her peers, and most importantly her family, Ellen truly is an amazing mom!