The Ban of Anorexic Models

Today it is impossible not to look at super skinny-models. Whether it is a poster, commercial, or fashion magazine, thin women are on every media surface.

What many people do not know is that mannequins did not use to be so thin. They used to have voluptuous, curvy body shapes. For example, Marilyn Monroe was the major role model for young women. Only with Twiggy, the starving British model, skinny mania started.

Being confronted with these bony creatures 24/7 makes many teenage girls, and also boys, feel insecure about their bodies. 7 out of 10 girls in 5^th – 12^th grade reported that magazine pictures influenced their idea of a perfect body shape. Additionally every second girl admitted wanting to lose weight because she compared herself to the models on these pictures.

The teenage years are a though stage in life. For many adolescents it is already hard enough to accept and love themselves, without the media bombarding them with false images of too thin models. These photos make it even unthinkable for youths to be satisfied with their bodies. In some cases it is even considered vain to feel comfortable in one’s own skin, and showing it to others.

Another impact that the media makes is the rising rate of eating disorders. Especially anorexia and bulimia are far more common than they used to be. Research suggests that about 1 percent of juvenile females suffer from anorexia – without the dark figure.

Designers claim that their fashion is presented best on emaciated girls, but promise that they will only employ healthy ones. Due to that, all the clothes they sew for a fashion show are extremely small. For example, models walking for Chanel may only have a maximum hip measurement of 88 cm. Only scrawny, starved women are in possession of the required dimensions.

Fortunately new fashion companies have been founded. They are trying to ban anorexic models from the catwalks in the world. However, influential individuals from the fashion industry like Karl Lagerfeld, or Anna Wintour will not change their opinion. It seems like the world will have to wait for a new generation of creative geniuses to make a change in the fashion industry, or perhaps a new Marilyn Monroe.