Is the modeling industry going too far?

[Lisa Newton]

Today’s Wall Street Journal features a story about Tatiana Stewart, who at 6'2" and wearing a size 4, want to be a fashion model. However, she was told she needed to lose 10-15lbs.

What do you think? Looking at her photo and knowing she wears a size 4, do you think she needs to lose weight?

[Christopher]

If she thinks it is ok to loose more weight go for it! It is easy to gain it back once she is done modeling. Realistically, it is free country the modeling agency can say a do what they want, if this young girl wants to do what is required to become a top model let her. If she doesnt understand that it is not a healthy lifestyle than educate her, if she is niave than forgive her, if she doesnt make we'll forget her. And so life goes on.

[Liz Rosenbaum]

Oh my! This subject gets me all fired up! The unrealistic pressures that women (mainly) feel these days to be more and more thin is ruining our self perceptions. The fact that this girl was told she needs to lose weight, tells her in a round about way, that she's not good enough...and that she doesn't measure up to someone else's idea of what she should be. Of course, this also tells the rest of society that if we are a good, healthy weight, or an average size, that we too, are not GOOD ENOUGH. Thoughts and suggestions like these foster eating disorders, feelings of depression and lowers self esteem. I know, because I am a perfectionist who used to always try to MEASURE up to the standard that society set - and didn't appreciate me and my body for the way the good Lord intended it to be!
It makes me disgusted that a girl this thin would be told she needed to lose more weight in order to be successful at modeling. I know my voice is small, but I hope to make a difference somehow, in helping others avoid the difficulties that come from measuring up to SOMEONE ELSE's idea of perfection.
Great post Lisa!

[Jen@PatinaEsprit]

Thanks for the post Lisa! I completely agree with what Liz says, and also for too long tried to fit everyone's expectations for my body type and became entangled in a struggle with self-esteem and eating issues. It's an easy trap to fall into and a heck of one to climb out of.

Tatiana is beautiful and talented. Yet, that's not good enough for the fashion industry. "Heroin-chic"?! who wants to look "heroin-chic" - that's terrible for someone to be pressured to strive for that image. It seems as though the mom is more wrapped up in image (e.g., using an entire pay check to buy a Juicy Couture outfit for Taitiana b/c it was popular). So not only is Taitiana getting negative messages from the fashion industry but from her own mother. I was saddened when I read the article and how she is now on a cabbage diet and fruit per directions from her mother. I know that her mom wants her to achieve her dreams and be a successful model, but at what price?!

I know it's hard, and as individuals we want to fit in with society, to follow our dreams - but where do we draw the line? I think that instead of focusing on the weight loss and fitting into the "ideal top model" mode, that we, society, and more importantly, Taitiana's mother should celebrate her for who she is. Laud her talents as a dancer, appreciate that she is deemed beautiful as a person, has had success in other modeling ventures and life pursuits.

[John Obraza]

My sentiments exactly Liz..read my reply :-)

[Doris Herrmann]

Honestly, why can't models look like most women? The beautiful woman in this picture looks healthy and very fit. It is a shame that women feel they'd have to be a size 0 to fit into some image that a media driven society has made for us. I look at some of the models today, and I'd never want my daughter (if I had one) to look that pale or thin. I also wonder what the results will be for the super model types when they enter their 50s. Have they missed valuable minerals just to keep up the look without realizing their bones will suffer later?

This girl is beautiful, and I'd love to see her modeling clothing, in my opinion she's closer to the ideal then most of the super models I see in magazines and commercials.

[DR]

Ridiculous!

That girl is so skinny, I swear that I saw her pancreas produce insulin.

But let's try and see this from the designer's point of view. Simply put, clothes look better on super skinny models.

My suggestion: Do away with the models altogether, put the clothes on a perfectly proportioned "Judy" and have it travel down the runway on a conveyor belt.

That way, every body wins and Tatiana can bulk up to a size 6 or eve, shudder...a size 8.

[Alex Costa]

It's ridiculous to tell her to lose weight, I believe that it's time for our politicians start to introduce some laws to this market.
For example, require a minimal bmi for models, if one model have a bmi less than 15% she can not be hired.

[Cash Sunshine]

The length models go to achieve fame is absolutely unhealthy and they pride themselves to be an idol to youngsters.

[Alyssa]

Um, no! She does NOT need to lose weight! I think the modeling industry has been going too far for quite some time now. Models and actresses keep getting skinnier and skinnier, and it has to stop. Models are dying. Young women are starving themselves literally to death in order to walk the runway. These images DO affect women and young girls in negative ways.

[Rachyl Stone]

Wow. This just makes me so sad. I think this world has gone crazy. I think at 6'2" and size 4, this girl probably needs to gain a few pounds. Who decides what is good enough, pretty enough, skinny enough, sexy enough and even cute enough? And why do we listen to them?? I was sick to my stomach recently when I saw a story about a Chinese girl lip syncing at the Olympics. Apparently, the 7 year old girl who actually sang the song wasn't cute enough. "The reason was for the national interest. The child on camera should be flawless in image, internal feeling and expression," music director Chen Qigang said on Beijing Radio, noting that the switch was made upon request of a senior member of the Politburo. What the...??? It is so hard to instill positive self-esteem and self-image in kids as it is. Do we really need people telling 7 year olds they aren't cute enough??? My 14 year old daughter is extremely beautiful and people are always approaching us about modeling. But I don't want her in that lifestyle. And I guess I did a pretty good job raising her because she doesn't want that lifestyle, either. I feel like I don't have the words to express how I'm feeling about all of this, so I digress.

http://www.washtimes.com/news/2008/aug/13/olympics-lip-syncing-hits...

[John Obraza]

I can't stand to hear about how models...the "fashion icons" are told to lose weight...even though they are already as thin as that crackhead waif Amy Beerhouse. Girls already are bombarded with too many self image issues...I hate the modeling industry. What happened to the days of Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell etc. Marilyn was a "whopping" size 12 and had men tripping over their tongues when she wiggled across the screen. I struggle everyday helping my 15 year old daughter accept the body God gave her. We exercise and eat the best diet possible and she is a very healthy 150 lb softball player that can kick any of these "stickgirls'" butts.

[Chris Parkinson]

hello John and everyone,
This was going to be my sentiments-----I think the days of my parents actors were much more human/humane! Women like Lauren Becall and Marilyn Monroe, Katherine Hepburn and so on. They had grace, style and the whole beauty of that more "normal" size and figure. Keep up the good work with your daughter, it is important for her at this age.

happy weekend to all!!!