If you’ve ever binge-watched the wild ride of “My Unorthodox Life” or checked out the glitzy TikToks of the Elite agency’s world-famous models, you’ve probably wondered: is Julia Haart still calling the shots at Elite World Group? Not so long ago, you couldn’t read two showbiz headlines without Julia’s name popping up alongside “Elite.” But here in 2025, the answers might surprise you. Let’s clear up the rumors and get to the facts about Julia Haart’s status at Elite, the backstory, and what this means for the modeling world. No vague speculation, just a crisp rundown and tips for anyone curious about this industry shakeup.

What Happened to Julia Haart at Elite World Group?

First off, the blunt answer you’re here for: Julia Haart is no longer the CEO of Elite World Group. She hasn’t been since early 2022. This isn’t industry gossip or tabloid circuses—this is confirmed by legal filings and the agency itself. So, if you saw a recent press photo of her at an Elite event, it was likely as a guest or a part of a completely different venture. Let’s rewind a bit.

Julia Haart took over Elite World Group as CEO in 2019, bringing a wave of publicity and unfiltered energy to the company. Known for her escape from a strict religious background and her larger-than-life personality on Netflix, Julia’s arrival at Elite promised disruption. She rebranded, amped up the social media game, and brought in ventures beyond modeling—into lifestyle, talent, and digital.

But things took a dramatic turn in February 2022. Julia was fired by her ex-husband and business partner Silvio Scaglia, who owns Freedom Holding Inc., the majority stakeholder of Elite World Group. The split was messy, involving lawsuits, accusations of financial mishandling, and a very public tug of war for company control. The courts found in Scaglia’s favor. After that, Julia was officially out, and Elite World Group quickly distanced itself from her brand of bold, influencer-driven management.

The facts are confirmed by court documents from New York filed during the 2022 legal battles. Various reputable business media—think Wall Street Journal and Business of Fashion—ran real-time coverage, detailing every twist as Julia was ousted from the company board, removed from day-to-day decisions, and stripped of the CEO title. You can even check Freedom Holding’s annual shareholder reports: her name no longer appears anywhere in the leadership.

The State of Elite World Group After Julia Haart

After Julia’s exit in 2022, Elite World Group rebooted its image, focusing more on its core business: high-end fashion modeling, artist management, and expanding talent bookings both in Europe and the U.S. The post-Haart leadership stopped making headlines for disruptive business plans or reality TV drama. Instead, the company doubled down on its heritage—Elite is, after all, the agency that’s helped launch the careers of Cindy Crawford, Gisele Bündchen, and many others.

A lot changed internally. They brought in a new CEO, Paolo Barbieri, best known for streamlining operations at parent firm Freedom Holding, and quietly phased out many of Julia’s more experimental ventures, including the influencer platform EWG+ and direct-to-consumer product lines. Industry insiders talked about “returning to basics,” but with an added focus on digital scouting and global diversity. As of 2025, Elite runs a hybrid business model: they’re more selective about signing new faces but are much quicker to adapt to clients’ needs, especially for digital campaigns and major fashion weeks in London, Paris, Milan, and New York.

For those who follow the numbers, Elite World Group’s annual revenue saw a healthy rebound in 2023, jumping from an estimated $220 million in 2022 to around $260 million in 2024, according to business analytics platform Statista. The agency credited this to fewer side-projects and more high-billing contracts, particularly in Asia and the Middle East markets. And here’s the part most aspiring models care about: the agency’s revamped scouting program is now open to digital submissions and offers masterclasses—a smart way to broaden their talent pool globally.

Julia Haart, for her part, stayed firmly in the spotlight. She toured the U.S. with speaking engagements, published a second memoir, and teased a new reality show based on her post-Elite adventures. But she isn’t involved in Elite World Group’s management or any of its decisions. Interviews in 2024 confirm she’s branched out into entrepreneurship, focusing on women’s empowerment, coaching, and a fashion-tech startup she launched in late 2023.

What This Means for the Fashion and Modeling Industry

Julia Haart’s departure from Elite sent a message: personal brands and corporate DNA don’t always mix. The agency that once let Julia experiment with influencer-driven business models snapped right back to traditional booking and scouting the moment she left. Some outsiders saw this as a creative loss—after all, the industry is changing fast, and digital disruption isn’t going away. But Elite’s decision-makers decided stability was more important than viral fame.

What’s cool is that the drama brought fresh attention to how modeling agencies operate. More agencies in 2025 are blending old-school discipline with newer digital tools, but the wild, reality TV-inspired leadership style hasn’t really caught on elsewhere. Rival agencies—IMG, Ford, Wilhelmina—took careful notes on Elite’s ups and downs. They all tweaked their strategies but kept most leadership transitions behind closed doors, away from reality-show spotlights.

If you’re an aspiring model today, Elite’s story is a reminder to research who’s running the agency and what their vision is before you sign anything. Go straight to reputable agency lists or use resources like The Model Alliance to check for leadership and reputation. Keep your eyes open for virtual casting events—Elite, in 2025, runs quarterly open calls through its website and has a rapid-response email team (I hear they reply within 72 hours to qualified applications). Tech-savvy models in Dubai and beyond are using voice assistants and AI-driven app platforms to match with agencies, putting more control in the hands of the talent themselves.

If you want to follow Julia Haart’s journey for inspiration—or just the next big pop culture trend—she’s active on Instagram and YouTube, and runs a subscription-based advice series about breaking into mainstream entertainment after a big career switch. Her story resonates with anyone who’s ever felt like the odd one out in a corporate boardroom. But if your concern is Elite itself, rest assured: Julia isn’t behind the curtain pulling any strings there anymore.

I’ve kept a close eye on these shifts, especially since networking with talent scouts is a regular part of life here in Dubai. The market here is buzzing, with European agencies—Elite included—scooping up fresh faces from international schools and social media campaigns. The agency’s Emirati outposts regularly collaborate with local fashion festivals and collaborate on regional branding projects, so you’ll still spot that familiar logo at high-profile venues—but don’t expect Julia Haart’s drama to be part of the package anymore.

For those looking to keep up with the latest in Dubai’s modeling scene, check official Elite World Group press releases, their social channels, or the Dubai Model Agency Association for accurate updates. And if clouds of doubt pop up about career moves, remember: leadership can change fast, but a strong portfolio and reputation never go out of style.