In a legal battle that highlights the ongoing tensions around image rights and advertising scope in the modeling industry, two New York-based models have filed separate lawsuits against Roc Nation, alleging the entertainment powerhouse exceeded the bounds of their modeling contracts by displaying their photographs on billboards across multiple U.S. cities without authorization.
Janelle Delacruz and Tonoia Wade filed nearly identical complaints in court on Tuesday, December 16, targeting Jay-Z’s influential management company over images originally shot for Megan Thee Stallion’s Hot Girl Summer swimwear line. The rapper, who is managed by Roc Nation, launched the brand in May of this year.
According to court documents, both models participated in an April 30, 2025, photoshoot promoting the swimwear collection. Delacruz was compensated $5,000 for her work, while Wade received $8,700, with additional fees paid to their respective modeling agencies. However, the models claim their contracts explicitly limited usage of the photographs to social media advertising only.
The lawsuits allege that Roc Nation subsequently expanded the campaign’s reach far beyond what was agreed upon, placing the models’ images on billboards in Los Angeles and three other unnamed American cities—a usage tier that typically commands significantly higher compensation in the modeling industry.
“Roc Nation had a limited license to use the plaintiff’s likeness from the April 30, 2025, photoshoot,” both lawsuits state in identical language. “Defendant knew that it did not have plaintiff’s consent and did not make any attempt to notify plaintiff that plaintiff’s likeness would be used without plaintiff’s consent.”
The models are pursuing financial damages on three fronts: breach of contract, misappropriation of likeness, and false advertising. They argue that Roc Nation has been “unjustly enriched” by leveraging their images in high-visibility outdoor advertising without proper authorization or additional payment.
While the lawsuits do not specify an exact dollar amount being sought, such cases typically hinge on the difference between what models were paid versus what they would have commanded for billboard usage rights—often a substantial gap in the industry.
Notably, Megan Thee Stallion herself is not named as a defendant in either lawsuit, nor is she accused of any wrongdoing in connection with the alleged unauthorized use of the images.
The dispute underscores a longstanding issue in commercial photography and modeling: the precise scope of usage rights. Industry contracts typically delineate specific media platforms and geographic regions where images may be displayed, with prices scaling dramatically based on the breadth and visibility of the placement. Billboard advertising, given its public prominence and extended viewing periods, commands premium rates compared to digital or social media usage.
Attorney Bassil Hamideh, representing both models, struck a forceful tone when contacted about the litigation. “We look forward to vindicating our clients’ rights and trying these cases,” he told Billboard on Tuesday. “We take models’ rights very seriously. We consider Roc Nation’s unlawful conduct against our clients to be egregious.”
As of press time, Roc Nation representatives had not responded to requests for comment on the allegations. The company, founded by hip-hop mogul Jay-Z, has grown into one of the entertainment industry’s most formidable management and marketing enterprises, representing a roster of high-profile artists including Megan Thee Stallion.
The lawsuits arrive as the Hot Girl Summer swimwear brand continues its debut year in the competitive fashion market, backed by the Grammy-winning rapper’s substantial social media following and cultural influence.
Legal observers note that such usage disputes, while relatively common in the modeling world, rarely make headlines unless they involve high-profile brands or entertainment companies. The outcome of these cases could serve as a reminder to brands and their marketing partners about the importance of clearly defined and strictly observed usage rights in talent contracts.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Two models are suing Roc Nation for breach of contract after their photos from Megan Thee Stallion’s Hot Girl Summer swimwear campaign appeared on billboards in multiple cities—despite being paid only for social media use.
The models were compensated $5,000 and $8,700, respectively, for what they understood to be limited digital advertising, but their images ended up on high-profile billboards without additional consent or payment.
This case illustrates a critical principle in the modeling industry—usage rights matter. What you’re paid for social media posts versus billboard advertising can differ by tens of thousands of dollars, and exceeding agreed-upon usage without permission isn’t just bad business practice; it’s potentially illegal.
The models are now seeking unspecified damages for what their attorney calls “egregious” conduct by the entertainment giant.
