Valerie Askew (25 January 1939 – 27 August 2020) was a British modelling agent, and the co-founder (with her younger sister, Gloria) of the Askew Team modelling agency in 1966.

Early life

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She was born in Epping, London on 25 January 1939, the daughter of William Askew, an opera singer turned music and drama teacher and Irene (née Molyneaux), a poet.[1]

Career

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In 1966, together with her younger sister Gloria, she founded the Askew Team modelling agency in 1966, at 22 Bruton Street, Mayfair, London.[1] In 1973, they were the first London agency to open a branch in Milan.[1]

Their models included Sue Nadkarni, Ika Hindley, Catherine Dyer, Lorraine Chase, Michael Edwards, Sadie Frost, and Naomi Campbell.[1]

Personal life

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In 1960, she married Joe Joseph, an RAF engineer.[1] They had five children.[1] They divorced in 1978.[1] She died of heart failure on 27 August 2020.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Valerie Askew obituary". The Times. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.