Radar: Australia to ban ‘too skinny’ models
Models are too skinny? No! The story isn’t new. Big names in the industry, from Michael Kors to Anna Wintour, has made their stance known on the growing incidence of anorexia in the modeling world. Although they say they are against the super skinny standard, somehow it remains a mainstay on the cover of magazines and on the carpets of runways. The Daily Telegraph announced today that Australia plans to ban women with a extremely low body mass index or men that are overly muscular. Youth Minister Kate Ellis has developed a new rule that will be sent to all Aussie modeling agencies, magazines and fashion labels.
The changes include:
- Disclose when images have been retouched and refrain from enhancing photographs in a way that changes a person’s body shape, for example, lengthening their legs or trimming their waist, or removing freckles, lines and other distinguishing marks.
- Only use models aged 16 or older to model adult clothes, both on catwalks and in print.
- Refrain from using models who are very thin or male models who are excessively muscular.
- Stock clothing in a wide variety of sizes in shops to reflect the demand from customers.
- Use a broad range of body shapes, sizes and ethnicities in editorial and advertising.
- Do not promote rapid weight loss, cosmetic surgery, excessive exercising or any advertisements or editorial content that may promote a negative body image.
Finally Australia is taking self-image to the Federal Government. Where do young women get ideas of beauty? From magazines, fashion advertisements, tabloids and every other way beautiful women are displayed in the media. Although we can’t control the disappearing waistlines of Hollywood, there does seem to be a reemergence of the curvaceous ideal. Actresses such as “Mad Men” star Christina Hendricks are redefining and challenging our current paradigm, which puts women on a pedestal that have little to no body fat. When asked about her positive self image, Hendricks told this month’s issue of Health Magazine, “Back when I was modeling, the first time I went to Italy I was having cappuccinos every day, and I gained 15 pounds. And I felt gorgeous! I would take my clothes off in front of the mirror and be like, ‘Oh, I look like a woman.’ And I felt beautiful, and I never tried to lose it, ’cause I loved it.” It is important to stay healthy and remain at the right weight range for your height, however young women have recently taken it to the extreme.
Maybe Australia’s stance will inspire other officials and countries around the world to embrace a women’s body, instead of airbrush it.
