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.