Recently I attended an event which for me, brought out the elephant in the room about the fashion industry.
The idolization of thinness.
Maybe not everyone desires to be thin like I do, but in the modeling industry being thin still appears to be a must. One example: Did you know that "high-end fashion models" mean that the model must fit the mold of being tall and underweight?! This newly acquired information came from a modeling agent that I met. According to him being a any size over a 24 inch waist, doesn't cut it. Meeting this agent caused a lot of distress for me, his words and view on beauty cut deep. Really, he paid no attention to me, nor did I care especially after I heard what he really expected from his models. Thinness.
For someone who has struggled with body image issues and has a constant battle with food hearing someone talk about thinness as being a must was hurtful. This agent had a measuring tape around his neck the whole night and confessed that it was always there in order to measure when needed. What broke my heart the most was how the models, who were all very young girls, confessed that being the measurements was the hardest part of modeling. All I could think was about that measuring tape, that it was probably a constant reminder to stay thin. It's sad and an upsetting situation. Thinking about this, leaves me with so many question and frustration.
Through out fashion history there has been many evolutions of the ideal body image and even recently there is a subtle shift to more healthy and different body types. I really hope that attitudes of most people in the fashion industry can and will change to a more healthy view of beauty. One part of that change must come from us, the consumers and fashionistas.
7 comments:
Oh sadly, I think I know exactly who and what you mean! It was tough to hear and it made me feel instantly fat - almost whale like if you will.
It is not only in the modelling world love... When I was the Genies - everyone, as EVERYBODY is THIN! Even the guys!
=(
besos,
ML
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I get so angry from reading this! Isn't everybody talking about how curves are back now? I don't think anyone would like to see starved models, on pictures, the catwalk or anywhere! I hate this stupid trend the fashion industry just made up! Very important point though... thank you:-)
24 waist?! Some people consider me unhealthy thin (even though I eat like a hippo) and even I have 25 waist! and being almost 6 feet tall with 24 waist = yuck
anyways that is a rediculous standard, I understand they must have certain standard measurements but one shouldn't suffer health problems just for a chance to walk on the runway
Posted by Shybiker (deleted by my new widget):
This is a really sad, complex subject. I'm glad you're raising it. There are many dimensions to the problem and we benefit from understanding as many of them as possible. Your blog does good work on this issue.
That makes me sick. Just sick. Actually makes me so angry that I can't think straight on what to say about it. I'm glad it disturbed you too, enough to make you aware that you no longer want to feel trapped by such a mentality.
UGH.
Here's a blog post from a former model who got out of the industry for those same kinds of reasons. She found our blog recently and left a comment, and I thought her post was inspiring.
http://shetakesontheworld.net/2011/02/self-love-how-to-love-yourself.html
Disturbing but I can't say I'm surprised. I really wish it would change but all I see is the fashion industry's standards reflected in people's tastes.
Style blogs used to be representative of reall girls/women but all of the truly successful ones are thin. With the exception of a few blogs within the plus size niche. Fashion toast, cupcakes and cashmere, kendi every day, 5 inch and up I could go in and on. They are all thin girls. I wish I could stumble across a wildly popular blog where the blogger looked something like me. And I'm not even that big. In the real world anyways.
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