"I Did My Due Diligence" — Alicia Amin Reveals Aftermath Of KLFW Protest For Unpaid Models

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On 18 August, the Asia's Next Top Model alumni took a stance outside the venue of the show at Pavilion Bukit Bintang, holding up a giant sign in her one-woman protest for models that were unpaid by the event.

"All models this year to be paid within a day," the sign began. "Those still waiting for Andrew's payments from previous years, come speak to me," the caption ended, with Amin referring to founder of KLFW, Andrew Tan.

Amin also clarified some confusion on the matter for those who wondered about how walking for KLFW worked. "There are models that KLFW hires and rotates among shows accordingly. Designers can hire models outside the KLFW selection if they want," she explained.

Nonetheless, she was also forthright in explaining how tired she was of models being mistreated. "I'm alone because I don't want to risk anyone else's career or reputation. I can disagree and protest against terrible paymasters and still support my beloved designers who built my career because these two entities are not the same."

Taking the noble route, Amin disclosed that while she was not owed any money, she remembers how isolating and scary it was to be a young freelancer trying to balance getting what was rightfully hers and the opportunity to get booked again. "It's a hard place."

In a conversation with Malay Mail last month, Amin revealed that the unresolved matter of models being unpaid had occurred for KLFW 2019, which moved her to take up the cause on behalf of other models for that year. After having a conversation with Tan to have the models paid, she still received messages months later that some models still did not receive payments.

However, the supermodel was also irked by a comment made by Tan this year stating, that while the establishment may be late in paying some models, they always end up getting paid.

Amin also recalled an experience she had with delayed payments after walking for KLFW in 2013, but received her dues after threatening to sue the company behind the event.

Speaking with SAYS, Amin was candid about holding Tan accountable regarding a conversation she had with him about paying the models within a day of their work at KLFW 2022.

"Previously, we tried talking about this but these issues of payment were still sorted. So to avoid another round of broken promises, I just made a promise between the two of us public for everyone to see, thus making this open secret a fact instead of hushed whispers. People cave under pressure, from media especially."

Tan had also commented on Amin's protest, noting that everyone has the freedom of expressing themselves, and that he would personally oversee all aspects of KLFW's finances for the 2022 show.

"All KLFW 2022 models were paid this year as far as I know," she said in conversation with this SAYS writer. "I did my due diligence backstage to ask everyone personally."

Amin also shared how models who had walked for KLFW in 2015 finally had their owed money cleared out as well, after a long and arduous wait.

However, the issue is not exactly resolved in its entirety, according to the supermodel. "Some less known models are still chasing their payments but I am in contact with them and following up when I can as best as I can," she noted.

Though she did not share extensive information on this issue, Amin also revealed that the matter of getting models paid has since caused some volunteers to come forward regarding bad working conditions of the show.