Press
Essence Magazine
America’s Next Top AI:
Can the Black Community Stay On Top?
7/28/2025Essence Magazine
A growing movement is challenging colorism and reshaping the way Black womanhood is seen on screen. Essence Magazine welcomes Collective Casting CEO Ariona Beninato to highlight how some clients explicitly request lighter-skinned Black women for roles, reflecting a broader industry issue that prioritizes Eurocentric beauty standards over authentic representation.
07/31/2025Project Runway Debut
In Season 21 of Project Runway, the spotlight wasn’t just on the designers. With a reputation for discovering next-generation talent, Collective had the honor of placing our models, Yu Liang and Jewel Surphlis, on the show marking a proud milestone in the agency’s journey.
02/04/2024“How She Did It” Podcast Featuring Ariona Beninato
In this episode, Yvanna Bollanga interviews Ariona Beninato, the founder of a New York-based casting company called Collective Casting which focuses on models and talent of color. She comes on to discuss her journey to success as an entrepreneur and a model despite facing various obstacles in a notoriously non-inclusive industry.