Skinny Models?

Question

Do you guys think that skinny* models should be banned off the catwalk?

* skinny - A BMI of 16 or less

Answer 1

I'm all for different body types, and I don't think there is anything wrong with being skinny. That said, a BMI of 16 or less is LOW. A BMI is varies with height, so lower than 16 is like a 5'6 girl weighing less than 100 pound, 96 or so. That's TOO skinny, when girls (or guys) are placing undue stress on their bodies and doing harm to themselves sheerly to wear a particular designers clothes, I think that's not only unhealthy, but more than a little neurotic. When people are doing physical damage to themselves by restricting their eating, that's a mental disorder and it's only right not to provide encouragement (let alone employment and often fame) for taking advantage of people with mental disorders.

Answer 2

I have yet to see a truly "fat" woman on a catwalk, except when it is intentionally a show of very fat women. The fashion industry doesn't sponsor those as far as I know. Healthy is the answer.... not appearance. Too skinny is just as dangerous as too thick. I've struggled with my weight ever since puberty and recently discovered that a diagnosis of PCOS accounts for much of it. I just started a medication that they say will balance my hormones, control my sugar, lower my cholesterol and bring down my blood pressure. Sounds like a miracle drug... and it's just a commonly prescribed diabetes medication called Glucophage. I'm praying that this works. I read some testimonies of patients who lost a lot of weight to the tune of about 10 lbs or so a month just by taking this.... people with PCOS I mean. If this works... a year from now I want to be 100 lbs thinner! Be open to people of all sizes, Dear. You sound like you can't handle someone who is overweight at all, and you have no idea what road that person has had to walk, the rejection they suffer from people like you, and the despair of ever being accepted or fitting in with anyone. Please..... be kind. Best Wishes, Sue

Answer 3

I think that they should be banned. The models are so skinny that you can see all of their bones and who wants to see that? I think Madgid was right to set the BMI to 18.5 because the models are still thin but not creepy looking which makes the clothing look better on them and that way the clothes will sell better. I think the US should start doing the 18.5 BMI rule.

Answer 4

A BMI of 16 or less? Oh gosh, yes. Even being small framed, there are not many who would be healthy at a BMI of 16 or less.

HTH : )

Answer 5

No. It's their choice being that way so we can't say anything about it. Do you think people with BMI of 30 or above should be locked up until they lose some weight? I think it's the same thing you are talking about....wether they are fat or skinny...it's their choice so leave them alone.

Answer 6

We cannot ban them but we can collectively decide that we will not support designers or merchandisers who show their clothes on unhealthy women.

It is like anything else. Living in a capitalist democratic system means it isn't against the law to do a lot of things that aren't really good for us. That is like trying to shut down McDonalds because their food and their business practices are horrendous for our collective health and wellbeing and our environment. But we can't because in the end people have the right to choose whether they eat there or not...and McDonald's will sell as many items as we want to buy from them. They will do it using the most convenient ingredients possible, with the least broken laws possible, and they will gloss it over as a family establishment because they are allowed to sell you any idea they want.

What kills businesses is when the demand for that service is extinguished. So consumers ultimately drive the economy of even the largest businesses, including fashion. So what we have to do as a society is support smaller businesses with like minds who are showing their clothes on ordinary healthy models...until the larger companies see that they are being threatened economically and do likewise to keep up. It sucks because often, and especially for folks on a budget, what you can buy, even if it in a regular healthy person's size, is often born of ideas that were first introduced on anorexic women. Still, consumers who feel that strongly need to put their money where their mouths are.

Of course you also have to look culturally at the choice models are making to work under these conditions. They don't understand that they are disgusting, they just know that if they get to this size, the camera loves them...and millions of people will submit to their influence on what to wear. That can be an intoxicating to an insecure girl who thinks she is fat even though you can see all her ribs and hip bones through a very tight skin.

In this case, the socially appropriate thing to do is exercise your voice, your vote, your money, in support of pro-women ideals. Not man bashing, just self-definition instead of measuring yourself by these ridiculous standards. When the fashion industry knows that no one is going to get that small to be a model, and we aren't going to buy it when someone says they have to be smaller because the camera adds 10 lb, and that they can define our standard of sexiness, then they will cut the BS and present clothing from a more ethical and honest place, with models that are treated well and allowed to be healthy.

It isn't a perfect situation but as an overweight girl, I am seeing a lot more cultural acceptance of diversity in size, age, weight, etc. There are a lot of readily available clothing items to be found these days, different ages, sizes of models, etc. So the influence of "regular sized people" is slowly gaining some momentum. You could say that even the fat stores, though, who offer their clothing in the largest sizes, never feature those clothes on the largest ladies. They put their size 14's on the skinniest fat model they can find, who is probably perfectly normal and healthy.

All I can say is thank God for the song Baby Got Back. It may be dehumanizing but it did help continue the discussion of how sexy curvy women are.

Answer 7

yes, it's just gross and unhealthy. I'm not so sure about the being a bad role model for young girls (I never looked up to models, I thought they were dumb girls that only knew how to starve themselves and wear rediculously ugly clothes instead of being capable of going out into the world and getting real jobs) I just think it's gross, I'm not into bony malnourished divas.

Answer 8

Yeah. I like a girl with a little "meat" on her. Not fat mind you, but about 10-15lbs over what is considered normal looks HOTTTT! Think J-Lo if you wanna know what I'm talking about. Anorexic girls are not sexy, they look sick and I'd be afraid of breaking them.

Answer 9

Yeah, they're gross and sooooooo skinny, there IS a thing to be TOO skinny.



♥ Christina

Answer 10

I think they set an unrealistic image for young girls...besides they are dying off at record rates. They need to eat.