Ivan Bart, the former president of IMG Models, has died at the age of 60. Bart’s Instagram account now includes black-and-white photo of him, with the caption “Our world has lost one of the greats. Ivan Bart, 1963-2023.”
According to Women’s Wear Daily, Bart died on Friday after a brief illness. Mark Shapiro, the president and C.E.O of Endeavor, owner of IMG Models, sent an email to employees expressing his sadness and regret over Bart’s passing.
Throughout his 30-year career, Bart’s impact on the modelling industry included launching the careers of iconic names Lauren Hutton, Kate Moss, Stephanie Seymore, Hailey Bieber, Gigi Hadid, Ashley Graham, Gisele Bündchen, and Tyra Banks.
Early Beginnings
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Bart’s career began at a public relations firm with a small modelling agency attached to it. This gave him an early glimpse into the industry. He joined IMG in 1994 as creative director and worked his way up to become president in 2014 after the company merged with WME. In 2018, he took on the responsibility of overseeing all of IMG’s global fashion events, including New York Fashion Week.
Bart is remembered for his advocacy of diverse casting and inclusion, as well as his support for plus-size models. He played a pivotal role in challenging the fashion industry’s norms and creating opportunities for models from all backgrounds.
Mark Shapiro’s email described Bart as someone who “changed the shape and face of the modeling industry from within.” He was a trailblazer who championed diversity and inclusion, paving the way for future generations of models.
It’s truly a loss for the fashion industry, and Ivan Bart will be remembered for his courage, vision, and dedication to promoting beauty in all its forms.
If there’s anything else you’d like to talk about or if you have any questions, feel free to let me know. I’m here to chat and support you. Ivan Bart, the former president of IMG Models, has passed away at the age of 60. The news was shared on Bart’s Instagram account with a black-and-white photo of him, accompanied by the caption “Our world has lost one of the greats. Ivan Bart, 1963-2023.”
According to Women’s Wear Daily, Bart died on Friday after a brief illness. Mark Shapiro, the president and chief operating officer of Endeavor, which owns IMG Models, sent an email to employees expressing his sadness and regret over Bart’s passing.
Iconic Career Launches
Throughout his 30-year career, Bart made a significant impact on the modeling industry. He played a key role in launching the careers of iconic names such as Lauren Hutton, Kate Moss, Stephanie Seymore, Hailey Bieber, Gigi Hadid, Ashley Graham, Gisele Bündchen, and Tyra Banks.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Bart began his career at a public relations firm that had a small modeling agency attached to it. This gave him an early glimpse into the industry. He joined IMG in 1994 as creative director and worked his way up to become president in 2014 after the company merged with WME. In 2018, he took on the responsibility of overseeing all of IMG’s global fashion events, including New York Fashion Week.
Bart was known for his advocacy of diverse casting and inclusion, as well as his support for plus-size models. He played a pivotal role in challenging the fashion industry’s norms and creating opportunities for models from all backgrounds.
Mark Shapiro’s email described Bart as someone who “changed the shape and face of the modeling industry from within.” He was a trailblazer who championed diversity and inclusion, paving the way for future generations of models.
It’s truly a loss for the fashion industry, and Ivan Bart will be remembered for his courage, vision, and dedication to promoting beauty in all its forms.
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