Why are Fashion Models So Thin?

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Many people decry the very thin fashion models, commonly seen treading the catwalk or in photo displays. Thin fashion models are in, which many think has a negative impact on the body image of all women, and especially young girls. Most designers clearly state that clothes hang better on thin fashion models. Yet if we look at models from the 1950s or earlier, they didn’t appear to suffer from lack of beauty due to a slightly fuller figure.

In 1960, average fashion models were about 5’7” (1.7m) and weighed approximately 129 pounds (58.51 kg). Currently average fashion models are two inches taller and weigh about 114 pounds (51.7 kg). While fashion models from the 1960s had a healthy body mass index (BMI), this trend would soon change with a British model named Twiggy. Suddenly thin became sensational, with a 91-pound Twiggy leading the charge.

In the 1980s, however, models like Christie Brinkley and Cindy Crawford had a slightly healthier BMI, but the 1990s resurrected the Twiggy-like model with "heroin chic" styles. The goal seemed to be to duplicate the look of those in the last throes of heroin addiction. Most fashion models of the 1990s and 2000s have a weight that is considered unhealthy for their height.

With a thin-obsessed culture like America, many look at fashion models wearing clothes, and hope such clothes will make them look just as thin and, some say attractive. Studies show that women tend to respond more positively to products advertised on thinner fashion models. However, designers in Spain in 2006 made a clear statement by setting minimum weight and BMI requirements for models. This perhaps represents a turning point in the fashion industry toward encouraging healthier weights among models.

High fashion plus size models is one trend begun the 1990s has become increasingly more popular. In 2006, there are many women with a much higher than average size catering to the plus size clothing market. These women are in many cases, just another representation of beauty. In fact, had they been born in the 17th century, or in a different country in some cases, they would have been considered far more beautiful than thin fashion models, since plumpness was a desirable quality, and continues to be in some cultures.

From the many statements made by both fashion models and actresses with anorexia, we know that trying to maintain super thin status can be very difficult. While there are some women who seem to naturally run very thin, others seem to not, and diet has very little to do with it. Forcing a super thin ideal on the public clearly affects public taste, and may be very harmful to young girls attempting to drop weight to unrealistic and unhealthy goals. Many hope that Spain’s decision leads the trend away from the very thin, to a better fed, and healthier model. It certainly indicates that some designers are now willing to take better care of their models, who through their work, enrich designers.

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13
i hate how models just make real sexy girls feel bad about themselves because they aren't a string bean. i mean like who would you pick, an hourglass, or twig? (no competition) people who aren't like models are not fat.
- anon48743
12
Sorry, but ultra-thin models have an almost ethereal beauty that is unapproachable by "normal" women. The fashion industry employs them for this reason. Men are attracted to them because they resemble 14-16 year old girls in the height of their fertility. GASP yes its true. Curvy or plus size women simply don't stand out. Why would you want to put your clothes on an "average" "normal" i.e. *boring* woman?
- anon45234
11
I am sick of normal or plus size people ragging on the thin, sticking to that maxim, "I'm a goddess! I'm a diva! I'm fabulous!".

Even worse, "Men like curves!" Honestly, when has everything ever been all about men? I'm naturally thin. Do you think I should get reverse-lipo just so I can attract more men?

Keep in mind that these tidbits fed to you by the media that a curvy figure is the best is really just the same as the fashion industry promoting stick-thin models.

Get over these weight issues, stop putting the blame on people who are different to you. We are all humans.

"anon24100" has it spot-on, apart from the fat people and very thin people aren't beautiful. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

- anon43927
10
I am posting this because I am sick to the teeth of hearing models and the fashion industry being blamed for eating disorders, particularly on the internet where we are constantly bombarded of photoshopped images of waif-like high fashion models.

Firstly, let me just say that the fashion industry is not to blame for models with emaciated bodies. In my opinion, you cannot blame the fashion industry for anything. Fashion is merely a reflection of society, and in today's society, there is no such thing as 'too thin'. All fashion designers are doing when using 'size 0' and 'size 00' models is fuelling our fantasies, bringing something that we have created in our own heads to life.

Despite what you may think, designers do not use waif-like models for their own enjoyment, they use such models to sell clothes. And while you may shudder at images of gaunt bodies of young models, remember that thin sells.

Next, I'd like to clarify that eating disorders are mental diseases, and not diets. An eating disorder is not something one chooses to have, nor is it something that just 'happens' when you stop eating. I'm not an expert on modelling (so correct me, skinnisarah or denimdiva, if I am completely wrong), but in my opinion, successful models are naturally of that stature, it's in their genes like.

I understand that most models have to watch what they eat, but that it is for their profession, which brings me back to say again that they are dieting (or starving), but they do not suffer the main body of an eating disorder which is the psychological affect.

I presume that most models are aware of the pressures in the modelling industry once they are signed by an agency.

I honestly believe that you cannot go very far in any career, even a modelling career, if you are struggling with an eating disorder. Because everyday is a struggle.

Take this from somebody who has an eating disorder and is not a model.

Because the sad truth is that approximately 1 in 10 of all women, will suffer from an eating disorder in a lifetime, and up to 1 in 5 of these will die from that eating disorder. And just how many of these are models?

- anon38457
8
I was bulimic, at age 13, partly due to the fashion industry. I am tall, around 5'10" and have a healthy body, but I considered myself fat due to the images of ultra-thin models. I hope the super thin trend ends. It is scary looking back on that time in my life and I hope other girls won't end up how I was because of the skeletal model trend.
- anon30545
6
Why the hell do agencies say a size 6 is fat!!!!!??????!?!!!!! I'm a size 9 and I'm 5'6" and I feel fat! Go for it girl! Screw them! You're beautiful even if you're a size 30 they're missing out on a gorgeous body. they're just bulimic losers

Ur beautiful inside and out! =] GIRL POWER!!

- anon25608
5
When will so-called 'civilized people' begin to realize that we are more than just a physical body? We don't have four cloven hooves and we are capable of great ingenuity, creativity and intelligence - yet still we are obsessed with appearances to the point where young women are brain-washed into believing they ought to look emaciated! Thin is NOT beautiful. Nor is fat. Healthy, glowing youth is beautiful and more likely to lead to a healthy glowing old age than following a starvation diet just because its fashionable.
- anon24100
4
Size 6 is not too fat and never will be. It is the idiots at the agencies who are conceited. Models today make me cringe. They would die if I told them my ideal body weight. I am 5'3, but my ideal weight is between 131-147. Gasp! I have large hips like my paternal grandma and I love it. More guys love voluptuous curves over anorexia any day. I understand some women are small, but there's a difference in that and looking sickly.
- anon16241
3
Even though this thin trend has been going on for a long time, i really think it is going to phase out. Ultra thin models are really _less_ attractive, and it appears like they have to struggle just to stay conscious.

I hope that some common-sense will return to the field.

- elsewhen
1
My daughter is a size 6 and is very heathy. i have taken her to agencies in 6 cities and no one has showed interest in her. one major agency in NY even resulted in getting a measuring tape to measure her hip and said she is 1 inch too big in her hips, she was a 37inch. she has been modeling for 13 years but decided to become a model as a career choice. I do not stress her about eating and she is a great model. just wanted to know why she is not signed. why is a sz 6 considered fat as oppose to a sz 2, i dont get it and not just for my daughter but for all the other models who cant get signed because their sz is not in demand
- Shay

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Written by Tricia Ellis-Christensen
Last Modified: 14 October 2009

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