President of Wilhelmina Kids & Teens for over a decade, Marlene Wallach knows a thing or two about empowering young girls and teens. An authority in the world of modeling, Wallach shares for the first time her industry secrets about beauty and self confidence in four different exciting page-turning books dubbed "My Tween Lifestyle Collection." The collection series strives to help young ladies around the world find their unique personality and inner-beauty.

With young girls having positive role models like America's First Daughters Sasha and Malia, Wallach believes this is an incredible time to be a girl! ESSENCE.com caught up with Wallach at the 86th Street Barnes and Nobel's store on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where she held a special fashion industry panel and book signing event. Find out why all young girls should "JAM" to their own beat.

ESSENCE.COM: Your agency represents some of the world's most notable child/teen models. What do parents need to know about the modeling business before they approach an agency?

MARLENE WALLACH: Parents should think of the agency as a bridge between their child and their modeling career. It's the agent's or manager's role to figure out if someone has the special quality that makes a successful model. The professionals at modeling agencies have a constant back and forth with casting directors from advertising agencies, and it's their job to find the right model for a particular campaign. It is important to remember that not every agent is going to be right for your child, and that children must be completely comfortable with their agent.