America Valdés Claims Unpaid Dues from Modeling Agency, Alleging Unauthorized Use of Her Image

America Valdés, daughter of Cuban comedian and actor Alexis Valdés, recently took to Instagram to publicly call out the modeling agency Model Zone. She accused the agency of owing her 270,000 Mexican pesos since March 2025 and continuing to use her image without compensation.

"Model Zone owes me 270,000 pesos from last March," the 24-year-old exclaimed in her video, recounting her unsuccessful attempts to collect the money she's owed for over a year.

America detailed her year-long collaboration with the agency, during which she initially received partial payments until the agency completely ceased compensating her.

The situation worsened when she accidentally discovered that Model Zone had been sold and was under new management without her being informed. "They didn't even have the courtesy to tell me who to contact for my payments, and unfortunately, the new administration hasn't paid me either," she said.

After over a year of attempts, she has only managed to recover 20,000 pesos of the 270,000 owed. Meanwhile, the agency has continued to renew commercials using her image. "The current administration at Model Zone has profited from my image without paying me," she stated.

Currently represented by MMA Runway, America has their support in this matter. She emphasized that her case is not unique. "There are many cases of abuse by this agency. If they could do this to me, I can't imagine what they might do to models from precarious situations who don't even speak Spanish and are at a disadvantage against such abuses," she pointed out.

The model and actress also warned about a silencing tactic: according to her, Model Zone often uses bots to harass those who speak out, urging her followers to comment on her video to prevent it from being suppressed by the algorithm.

America also issued a direct appeal to the industry: "I urge producers and casting directors not to work with abusive agencies," she said, adding, "We need a collective commitment among models, producers, and casting directors to demand fair treatment from agencies towards their models."

This is not the first time America Valdés has spoken publicly about challenging situations. In 2021, she openly shared her experience with an abusive partner.

America began her modeling career at 14 and made her acting debut in 2022 in the Mexican series "El Galán," the same year she filmed a movie with Jamie Foxx.

As of now, Model Zone has not publicly responded to the allegations.