Meet the Founders
Katie Halchishick (formerly Willcox) is the visionary founder of Natural Models located in New York and Los Angeles. She made history as the first model to transition into an agency owner, successfully establishing a modeling agency from the ground up without any investors. Today, she has transformed Natural into a multi-million dollar enterprise, becoming a significant competitor to well-established modeling agencies that have been in the industry for decades.
Sara Davenport is the driving force behind this dynamic duo and serves as the COO of Natural Models. With over 25 years of experience as a model agent at various prestigious agencies in Los Angeles, Sara has combined her extraordinary talent for organization with her skills in creating effective business processes. Her efforts have been instrumental in restructuring Natural Models, allowing it to transcend its boutique operations and emerge as the household name it is today.
Our journey has been anything but ordinary and started in 2002! Yes, we go way back!
Our Story
Sara and Katie met in 2002 when Katie walked into an open call at a modeling agency in Seattle, Washington. Sara became Katie’s very first modeling agent—and from the beginning, there was something different about the way she worked. While Katie would go on to be represented by some of the largest agencies in the world, Sara consistently stood out as a favorite among models for her exceptional work ethic, clear communication, and genuine care for the people she represented—qualities that were rare in the industry, yet deeply needed.
Though life eventually took them in different directions, Sara and Katie always stayed connected. When Katie founded Natural Model Management, Sara became one of her greatest supporters and most trusted resources. She generously shared her knowledge, offering guidance and insight that helped Katie navigate the complexities of running an agency. In many ways, Sara became Katie’s industry coach—and her mentorship played a critical role in growing Natural Models into a top competitor in the modeling industry.
By 2021, Natural Models had reached a pivotal moment. Katie recognized that she had taken the company as far as her own experience alone could carry it. It was time to bring Sara onto the team to help co-create the next evolution of the agency. Together, they embarked on a full company overhaul—clarifying core values, rebuilding operating systems, and redefining the future of the model–agency relationship.
The result was an agency rooted in transparency, education, and support—for models, clients, and staff alike. Katie and Sara believe the modeling industry is entering a new paradigm—one grounded in alignment, creativity, and equality.
Model Hack is how they share what they’ve learned with as many people as possible. Because real change doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens when knowledge is shared, systems evolve, and we build something better together.