Fines and jail sentence for using too thin models

What doI think?

There is an on going discussion in the French parliament concerning a legal health condition to propose a minimum weight for models to reduce cases of anorexia. In France an estimated 40.000 women are suffering from this condition and a major part of the blame is put on the fashion industry.

Work is being done on a BMI-index formula that summons anyone who employs a model that doesn’t meet this qualification, risking an $ 83.000,- fine or even a jail sentence of six months.

 An eating disorder is a form of addiction, and if you’re an addict you can’t function properly as a top model.

I would be lying if I said all the models out there look fit and healthy but blaming them for a serious eating disorder like anorexia, is pushing it. Models do as they’re told when designers ask for a hip width of 89 or sometimes even 87 cm, this doesn’t mean they suffer from a metal condition. An eating disorder is a form of addiction, and if you’re an addict you can’t function properly as a top model.

I’ve been backstage enough times to see that bodies being checked, but I’ve also seen a lot of eating. Maybe not as much as with ordinary mortals, but it’s on a regular basis and all very healthy. Some girls (Lieke van Houten and Bregje Heijnen) are blessed with a natural thin body that other girls have to work hard for to achieve. What I’ve noticed is that these girls know that their body weight isn’t average, but they just see it as part of the job.

..they would just put lead in their panties. This already happened in Spain where an initiative on using the BMI-index has been taken.

So here’s my point; it’s a grand gesture that the French parliament is concerned for these women but a BMI-index limit just isn’t the way to go. First of all models would just drink three liters of water before hitting the scales and second they would just put lead in their panties. This already happened in Spain where an initiative on using the BMI-index has been taken.

The thing is, this doesn’t happen because the models really want this, they just do what is asked of them by their employers, the designers. They tend to find their clothing more attractive on bodies without to many curves. It’s about the clothing and curves tend to divert the attention towards the body. Besides these runway designs are used for photo-shoots, and we all know a person looks fuller on film that they actually are. Don’t lose it now, they’re not my words.

 Don’t go banging on the doors of models and bookers but move over to the doors of the designers.

And that’s why the models have to train down to those mini-sizes. So dear premier Hollande, and following, don’t go banging on the doors of models and bookers but move over to the doors of the designers. Just tell them the size of the garment has to have a minimum width of 90 cm. It won’t hurt the garment, the stage appearance and there’s even a slight chance we could worm ourselves into one of those. Amen.