I feel that this is an important message that many people forget. Especially being a part of an industry where you are pressured into feeling that you must look a certain way.....skinny is the word that springs to mind.
I have been criticised about my looks countless times by ‘professionals’ telling me what’s wrong with my face and body and why I will never make it. The ridiculous thing was that most of my imperfections that were pointed out are things that I physically cannot do anything about….
I’m too short, my nose is bumpy, I’m too skinny overall yet you can still see fat on my body, my teeth are wonky and my forehead is too big.
So how am I supposed to solve these issues? I can’t and I don’t want to. All of these imperfections make me. I am only human after all. The modelling industry in particular gives a false representation of women to be super skinny….I’ve been that skinny, not by choice believe me! And I hated it, I felt weak, frail and I looked tired and gaunt, it is not an attractive look.
As someone who personally struggles with her weight due to a health condition and being told I need to lose weight is insulting. When I try every day to eat copious amounts of food to gain weight, yes I also eat salads and go to the gym to workout, it’s called balance. Being a healthy is extremely important, but what you see on magazine covers and runways is not healthy!
On a positive note people are starting to take notice, it was big news earlier this year that France are banning super skinny models, the activity of modelling is banned for any person whose Body Mass Index (BMI) is lower than levels proposed by health authorities and decreed by the ministers of health and labour.
I realise this has turned into a rant rather than being informative, this is just something I am passionate about, I have met my fair share of actors, models, singers who have gone to extreme lengths to look a certain way, it’s unfortunate that my friends felt their talent wasn't enough and felt pressured into doing stupid things for all the wrong reasons.
The point of this blog is just to remind everyone, especially those interested in a career in modelling that it is becoming more accessible and less restrictive. You no longer have to be super skinny in fact we are starting to see more plus sized models! So just be healthy and look after yourself but do it for you. The modelling industry is changing so you don’t have to xxx
