The Lions Ali Kavoussi on Style & Staying Ahead in Fashion
- May 16
- 3 min read
Few executives in fashion have shaped the industry’s modern modeling landscape quite like Ali Kavoussi. As founder and managing partner of The Lions, Kavoussi has built a reputation for spotting talent early and guiding careers with longevity in mind rather than chasing trends and virality. Under his leadership, the agency has become known for balancing established supermodels like Candice Swanepoel, Eva Herzigova, Mariacarla Boscono, Anne V, Kristen McMenamy, Kate Upton, Alessandra Ambrosio, Valentina Sampaio, and Natasha Poly with a new generation of culturally influential faces already making their own mark like Amelia Gray, Charlie Jones, Daiane Sodre and Felice Noordhoof.
Since his childhood growing up in Miami in the ‘80s and ‘90s, he would spend his time combing through the pages of Vogue Italia, admiring Steven Meisel’s artistry and being captivated with the era of the supermodel. He always knew he would end up working in fashion, but exactly how wouldn’t present itself until he was 22.
Kavoussi got his start at DNA Model Management under David Bonnouvrier and then moved to Women Management to work alongside Paul Rowland. “For the past 28 years, I’ve been living my dream while also helping others realize theirs,” he tells Elevated Lifestyle Magazine. “That, to me, is the greatest reward. I carry so much gratitude for that. Starting at DNA Model Management gave me a standard of excellence that shaped everything I do today.”
When he launched The Lions alongside CEO Julia Kisla Taylor a little over a decade ago, his vision was clear. “We wanted to combine the intimacy and care of a boutique agency with the power and scale of mainstream influence,” he says. “It wasn’t just about high fashion, it was about building brands, shaping narratives, and creating long-term value for talent in a more holistic way.”
Today, The Lions is its strongest yet with a powerful roster, a clearer identity of strategy, purpose and alignment as well as a leader who encourages the talent to see their own power and guide them to fully step into it. “I lead with kindness and strength,” he shares. “I give people the space to make mistakes and grow, because that’s where real evolution happens. I’m patient and generous, but also firm when needed.”
It’s the traits that have turned his clients into “family”. They trust him and adore him, and what they have built together will stand the test of time and be forever archived in fashion history. “Some relationships go back over 20 years, and even the ones who’ve left for other agencies often find their way back,” he notes. That says everything to me.”
Several including Frankie Rayder, Candice Swanepoel, Anne V, Taylor Foster, Amelia Gray and Daiane Sodre helped him ring in his 50th in Key West. “I am more than just an agent, but I’m also very aware there’s a line and professionalism always comes first,” he adds. “What never changes is my love for the work and my instinct to protect the women I represent. My priority is always the talent. I don’t waver from that.”
As he looks to the next decade of The Lions and his life, his goal is simple, “It’s to impact as many people as I can in a meaningful way, while maintaining my health and peace of mind. If I can do that, I’ve succeeded.”
It really is full circle for Kavoussi. Just as he was a young boy in Miami in awe of the fashion world as an outsider looking in, he now finds himself back there as a man leading the charge and impacting the industry from the top. “Life in Miami is slower for me,” he says of his recent move. “A lot of sleep, a lot of quiet time with my partner. It’s really about regulating my nervous system after years of grinding in New York.”
The hustle continues but at a different pace and with more wisdom. “What matters most is being able to say I always stood for what was right, that I led with integrity, made the right decisions, and can look back with a completely clear conscience about how I built and ran my business.”
Photography by Juan Algarin, Mary Kang & AKR Public Relations
