No one knows better than Peter - It's not what you know, but who you know.  He knows them all - movie stars, models, comedians, astronauts, musicians and legends - but more importantly, he helped make many of them superstars.

    "Making unknowns into stars and stars into superstars is my business. I've been doing it all my life.  The promotion man connects you to the media, to get you the exposure you need to become a star."

    Peter's portfolio bulges with publicity photos of the stars he has produced, promoted, managed and worked with in his 30 years in the business.  He has been the Promotions Director of Apple Records Company, he was the Promotional Manager for the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Who, as well as Personal Manager and Promoter for the individual careers of John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, and Paul McCartney.  He also enhanced the careers of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.  Peter has devoted his life to promoting and producing celebrities, the late George Burns, Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley, and John Wayne.  Also included were such stars as Elizabeth Taylor, Brooke Shields, Steve Tyler, Eric Clapton, Michael Bolton, Vince Gil, Tony Bennett, and Bob Hope.  He signed Michael Jackson to CBS Records in 1976.  Peter Bennett masterminded the brilliant timing strategies and media maneuvering that initiated "radio station exclusive" to break artists.  Billboard and Performance Magazines have named him "The world's most powerful man in the entertainment industry."

    A picture is worth a thousand words and Peter has a photo and story about everyone he has promoted and produced, so many in fact, he is writing a book.  He loves people and loves a challenge. He is always looking for new talent to nurture and guide.  How did Peter become involved with promoting models after so many years of handling recoding artists?  "I meet many models which are drawn to the events, concerts, and pageants that I produce and judge.  I have a long list of models that I have enhanced the careers of, including Claudia Schiffer, Cheryl Ladd, Jaqueline Smith, Antares Davis, Miss America, and Miss Universe contest winners."  Peter is responsible for establishing Beverly Johnson as the first black model to be on the cover of Glamour and Vogue Magazines.  He inspired the Super Model career of Kathy Ireland, who he met in Santa Barbara, California, when she was waiting tables in an Italian pizza restaurant.  Peter put Kathy in touch with people in New York, who then put her on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

What advice does Peter have for models?

    "The number one, most important thing to know: You have to be marketed with the right promotion.  It's not enough to have the 'right look.'  The world doesn't know about you without promotion and marketing.  

The right promotion is what the major agencies need to book you."

    "Number two: Get great photos, but absolutely do not spend a lot of money building a portfolio.  I have promoted models with snapshots.  Be careful of the 'photographers' you deal with.  Trust your instincts and don't be afraid to speak up.  The photographer won't make you a star - it's the promotion and marketing of your photos that make you."

    "Number three: Don't give up.  You must believe in yourself.  Look at the people who have made it to the top.  They got there because they believed in themselves and didn't let anyone discourage them from reaching their goals.  If I put my name on you, then I believe in you."

Personality is extremely important to Peter.  It's the reason he is so successful.  He is constantly on the go and on the phone, yet he still takes time to be nice to people.  "I never know where I'll find the next star.  They could be waiting tables, driving a limo, or be just another starving artist."  While in Tampa recently he cooked an Italian meal for twenty of us here at 8th Avenue Model & Talent Magazine and entertained us with amusing stories of his life among the stars.  Like the one about the beginning career of Harrison Ford: while a carpenter building the offices for director George Lucas, he attracted an audition in Star Wars.  The role of "Hans Solo" is legendary.  Most recently, Peter, in his role as producer has offered Harrison Ford the lead in his newest project, Apollo 14.

Peter Bennett International is strategically based in New York City.  Satellite offices in Los Angeles and throughout Europe support his demanding role as Starmaker, Producer, Manager and Publicist.  At any given time Peter may be negotiating a deal with Disney Motion Picture Studios, Warner Brothers, Paramount or Universal Studios, or boosting models' careers with the "elite" of fashion designers in Milan, Paris, Miami and New York.  Peter's current projects include producing shows at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida with Donald Trump and Marla Maples.  While jetting around the world, he is working with motion picture and television people on pre-production of Apollo 14, based on the story of the sixth astronauts who walked on the moon, which will be filmed at NASA in Cape Canaveral, Houston, Nevada, and Hollywood.  Peter recently arranged a feature appearance on NBC's Dateline for Dr. Edgar Mitchell, of Apollo 14 and author of the book, The Way of the Explorer.

"Promotion, Promotion, Promotion!  
That's what makes you become a superstar."