model nation

The constant buzz surrounding models and their eating habits is as tired as the Jersey Shore cast's attempts at being famous. We all know that not all models live healthy lifestyles (let's face it we've all seen one too many photos of models' limp wrists dangling while clutching a half demolished marlboro light). There is absolutely no way that a healthy lifestyle can produce a 5 foot 10 woman who weighs 130 lbs, I don't care how great of genes you have. None the less we know how things work in this industry and the thinner models are the ones who book the jobs while the curvier ones are (usually) left in the dust.

Don't get me wrong there have been numerous attempts at trying to change things; Milan raising BMI's so that it is slightly above the level of an anorexic person. I'm sorry but raising a BMI to borderline healthy does not mean a person is actually living healthy.

Another feigned attempt to prove that the curvier models deserve a spot in the world of high fashion is the somewhat recent editorial spread in V Magazine where they paired a thin model next to a curvier model in the exact same outfits. Who modeled the outfits better... well it's safe to say the curvier model did. So, why bother even showcasing them side by side? I propose just giving the better model the job. Whoever is better at selling the clothes and making them look good is the person who should be chosen, regardless of size. Take Gemma Ward, a terrific model and a beautiful woman. She gains a bit of weight and loses her 14 year old prepubescent body and she is pretty much forced into early modeling retirement. Not even Heidi had to do that and she is older, way older and has had a bazillion kids.

V Magazine spread

The models of today seem to be formed by one mold, thin and it's too bad that the fashion industry cannot see another side. Even todays male models (love them but they too are taken hostage by the skinny obsessed world we live in) like Cole Mohr, Luke Worrall and Ash Stymest are absurdly thin. I get that there aren't as many male models to their extreme boyishness but none the less male models do tend to be thinner than the average male, and never have I seen any male model that was a bit heavier than the body type that Dolce ads use (I find their models are more muscular than those of say for example Rag and Bone).

As a society we are taught from an early age that thin is good, it's healthy and what little girls are supposed to aspire to be ,while being a bit on the heavier side (not even heavier, just a normal size for the average woman) is not the typical pretty anymore, it's all about smaller this, smaller that and you can wear this but only if you lose 10 lbs. I know it's a bit of a tired subject but if the issue is still the same then what's stopping the change? Is the consumer the problem? I adore today's models, Chanel, Daria, Karlie all have their place amongst the top models but is it really that horrible to have one model that is curvier (and if I hear one more person refer to Lara Stone as curvy I'm going to scream).

This sounds more like a rant doesn't it. Well let's just clarify. I love models and am often envious of all the fantastic clothes they get to wear if only for a few short moments but I just wish there was more diversity when it comes to sizes, they occasionally let slip a 5' 6'' waif-like girl so why not a size 6 and don't tell me because that isn't the sample size. Being the better model should equal getting the spread, ad or cover regardless of size.