Models turned away from catwalks as too skinny

Posted Sep 14th 2006 at 3:17PM by Sarah J. Gim (Subscribe to Sarah J. Gim's posts)

Filed under: Fashion, News, Runway Report

In a move that could have models making midnight runs for chili cheese fries, Madrid's fashion week has caused an uproar in the fashion industry by banning underweight models from the runways. The city's government and event organizers say that the restriction is an effort to to project an image of beauty and health rather than flaunting rail-thin, waif-like heroin-chic as desirable for girls and young women. The event has hired medics to measure models and calculate BMI. So far, 30% of the models have been turned away.

The fashion industry, however, is not supportive of the move, especially since Letizia Moratti, the mayor of Milan, is also seeking a similar ban.

Gee, would it kill those 30% to just, oh, I don't know, put some dressing on their lettuce?!?!

Source

Tags: anorexia, bulimia, eating disorders, fashion industry, madrid, model, models, runway models

rhonda 9-14-2006 @ 4:26PM

where are the petite models? why arent there models for us gals that are 5'4 and under...we like fashion also...im sick and tired of an industry that views women above 5'8 as the ideal woman...there are many, many beautiful women under that height. I don't think we are adequately represented...

tonya 9-14-2006 @ 4:34PM

i agree.

WeissGirl 9-14-2006 @ 4:38PM

Good for the modeling industry. Too many girls are driven to anorexia because of the image ingrained in them that the only hot girl is a skinny, bony girl. I think it is great that an effort is being made to have healthy models model clothes.

back2beingsexy 9-14-2006 @ 4:51PM

This is a good thing, it is a bad look for the models anyway. i'm 17, and i used to want to be that thin, and i and other teens should be thinking that way. i wish i could do high end modeling but still have some meat on me.

Margo 9-14-2006 @ 5:03PM

Bravo...now perhaps clothes will be style for the average woman as well

vicky 9-14-2006 @ 5:07PM

it's about time! skinny, bony girls don't look good anyway. i can't wait for them to model JLo looking bodies, or just anything but anorexic looking bodies.

psychgrrll 9-14-2006 @ 5:39PM

GO Spain! This is such a forward thinking move!

muzzambrotta 9-15-2006 @ 11:39AM

I agree with vicky skinny girls just look unhealthy

meggan 9-25-2006 @ 8:33AM

i'm 6'1, and i'd probably be dead if i were that thin. it's not beautiful, it makes them look really trashy.

eat some biscuits and gravy. sheesh.

alexa 9-24-2006 @ 3:45PM

instead of changing the weight restrictions...they should be going after height instead! taller isn't always better...and shorter women more often have stronger curves.

Lisa 10-25-2006 @ 5:37PM

These girls are just following the norm of our culture. I see magazines & models & used to compare myself to them. I f you are healthy inside you will be radient on the outside. I used to think men only liked a certain kind of woman. That is a disturbing truth our young girls are killing themselves and not eating. Where is our accountability as women to let them suffer. Why cant we help them? We need to change and help them. Would you help someone who is in trouble? Lisa