models die of malnutrition

[Dominique]

Did anyone else see this story?
www.smh.com.au/news/world/second-model-sister-dies-of-malnutrition/2007/02/14/1171405285731.html
I think it further highlights how irresponsible the fashion industry is in regards to women's health.

Some progress has recently been made though, the organisers of London's Fashion Week has promised to have no models under size 8 on their runways, it won't let me post the link for some reason, I think because it's too long, but here's a quote:

The head of the British Fashion Council today said no size zero models would be used in catwalk shows during London Fashion Week.

Hilary Riva, who has come under fire in the growing row over the use of waif-thin girls, said all models in London shows would be either size eight or 10.

Taken from an article on www.thisislondon.co.uk

There was also that Spanish fashion show last year where models were rejected from being on catwalk for being too thin.

While it's great that the industry is finally trying to do something to rectify the situation, I think it's not going to be that easy to be socially responsible to and proactive about the generations of women who have the waif thin is beautiful image drilled into their head.

Does anyone else have a take on this issue?

It's so horrible that models are actually dying from the malnutrition!

[Lu]

I've heard about it and I was shocked. I have an idea how fashion industry is (sometimes there are fashions show at tv), but I've never believed that someone could care so much about being thin, health is more important.
I think that dying from malnutrition, when you can have something to eat, is really horrible!
Maybe it isn't a problem of fashion industry only, at the italian tv there are only very thin women.
Also I know many women with the obsession of size because they're persuased that being beautiful is a consequence of being thin, I don't agree.

I think it's good rejecting too thin models, but it would be better doing that before.

[Isa]

I hadn't heard about it, but I guess I'm not that surprised... what kills me is when models say they're not anorexic - if I would look like that and eat like them, I'm sure my friends would rush me to the nearest hospital to see what's wrong with me. I'm also friends with a friend of former top model Eve Salvail (the one with the shaved head and tattoo, she used to work with Jean-Paul Gautier) and apparently she decided to quit when she realized her demands for a fashion show had dwindled down to Evian water and cocaine.

But I think - I hope - society might be ready for a change. When I talk to my guy friends, they seem really sick of watching skinny girls on TV, hence the popularity of actresses like Scarlett Johansson and Kate Winslet, for example. They're not fat by any means, but they've got some curves and I think guys have been deprived of that for too long!

[czarval]

I totally agree with that. I think its disgusting that the fashion industry would feed off the poor health of the models like that.

[Bina]

It´s pretty scary to see those skinny models, I don´t think anything is worth ruining your health like that. And it´s not nice to look at them, I mean they look like they just got out of concentration camps!!
I agree that it´ll take a long time to change this but I hate that it always takes something horrible and drastic like deaths for people to do something about it.

[Dominique]

I agree, I don't even understand how it's attractive. It's great that there are some more curvy actresses around, I love Johansson and Winslet, it does make me sad though that a lot of the younger celebrities who are more popular with preteens to mid teens like the Olsen twins and Lindsay Lohan are looking like they are starving themselves.

I agree Lu, rejecting stick thin models should have been happening a long time ago.

[Isa]

I was talking about this with my colleagues and one of them came up with an interesting explanation, though I don't know how politically correct it is - he said that most designers are gay and are therefore looking for models that don't really have feminine attributes. Like I said, not sure it's a good explanation, but I still thought it was interesting.

[Lu]

I have never thought about that, it's really an interesting explanation...don't know if it's right, but interesting.
As you all said, I also think it's great that there are some curvy actresses around and that they're considered beautiful women. One of my male best friends is definately in love with Scarlet Johansson!

[Kristie]

I hadn't heard about models dying from malnutrition, but it really doesn't surprise me because it's impossible to be a size zero and healthy. I never thought the stick-thin models even made sense because no "normal" person actually looked like that. There should be models showing what clothes would look like on real people, not walking mannequins. I do admit that sometimes I like watching Tyra Banks' series America's Next Top Model. But I don't think those girls looked as thin as other models I've seen in magazines or on commercials. The fashion industry really needs to get over the stick-thin idea and go for a normal, curvy look.

[Dominique]

Another related development at london fashion week:
www.smh.com.au/news/fashion/models-have-their-chips-in-london/2007/02/16/1171405407017.html

Well at least they're trying to incorporate normal eating habits into fashion, now all they have to do is actually eat the potato chips rather than wear them

[Bina]

That would be an idea! They might think it rather daring.