The life of a fashion models does not only consists of a pretty picture. Often at a very young age, boys and girls start working full-time in a grown up world, suddenly having to deal with accountancy, unpayed finances, loneliness, strict demands about their weight or inappropriate physical behavior at a shoot.

With every other job out there, trade unions and confidential advisers are there to make sure a worker's right is repected. They form a support system, checking and advising. So why is there no such thing, at all, for fashion models? Such a vulnerable group of youngsters?

"Modeling is precarious freelance labor," says model Sara Ziff, founder of The Model Alliance. "We have very little job security. It's also a winner-takes-all market. There's only one Gisele. Basically, it's a labor force of children who are working in a very grown-up business." Ziff is supported by some of her famous model friends, including Shalom Harlow, Doutzen Kroes and Coco Rocha, one of the first to speak up about eating disorders in the business.

Backed for now by anonymous donors, the Alliance was launched Monday and has a board of directors and an advisory board drawn from the worlds of law, labor and entertainment.

To donate or become a member of this necessary initiative, check out:

Model Alliance or Facebook.com/modelalliance