Dead Model Walking

Hello to all my readers!

 
















I am writing a paper in one of my classes, and the focus has to be on advertising.  So I am working on research right now, and it is eye-opening!  My focus is basically that designers, editors, and advertisers keep continuously using these deathly-skinny models.  Some designers have tried to put a stop to this by only using models above a certain weight or size.  However, this "revolution" in the industry is a SLOW process, and one that is having a lot of resistance.  It is all supply and demand, research shows that skinny models do sell, that that is what we, as the consumers, want.  And it is so difficult to get all designers on board with this revolution when  top designer Karl Lagerfeld is making comments defending the use of waif-like models, saying "no one wants to look at plus-size women on the runway." (NY Daily News)  

     Most every model in the industry is a 00 or below ( first of all, 00 is not a number, it's less than 0, it's a negative number) so if there WAS a complete stop in using these models, there wouldn't be any left for designers to use.  These scarily-thin models are considered TOP MODELS in the industry, they are just encouraging future models to be as thin, or thinner than they are.   It is a viciously-scary cycle that needs to be broken.

     The concept of "plus size" is so warped in the industry, "plus" to them is the average woman.  Whitney(at right,) from America's Next Top Model (the winner, mind you) was considered a "plus size" model, she is gorgeous and goddess-esque, and looks completely normal and HEALTHY!   When I asked my boyfriend to look at the picture above and the picture to the right he automatically pointed to Whitney and said "she's hot" (I am allowing this comment from him because it is helping with my point lol.)  The fact is, it is not healthy, achievable, and should not be considered desirable to look like these models.  They are dying trying to fit the mold.  Like Brazilian model Ana Carolina Reston (above left,)  who died at the hands of anorexia at age 22. 
     There needs to be more of a focus on this in the industry, it's costing lives.