There has always been much talk about the impact that models have on the average woman, but not as much about the impact that the industry that employs them has on models themselves. Modelling as a profession is often viewed as a glamorous, highly paid profession that many young girls aspire to, but models themselves are often criticised for their contribution to impressionable people feeling that their own body is not acceptable enough.
Regardless of what anyone thinks about what models do for a living, the fact is that they have hopes, issues, problems & needs like we all do. While they may be presented on the surface as being beautiful, successful & happy – we all know that such a glossy veneer sometimes does not match what is going on underneath. Often when a tragedy occurs in the modelling world such as the death of Ana Carolina Reston, much of the reporting talks about the impact this has on others. While I am most definitely one of these critics, I do feel at times as if the models themselves become ‘lost,’ raising concerns for me about who is really looking after them.
It would seem that finally the issue of the mental, emotional & physical health of models is starting to be taken more seriously in Australia & I for one believe it is not before time. The organisers of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week are no longer hiring models under the age of 16. I’d personally love to see that be 18, but it’s a step in the right direction. Organisers of the week now also have dieticians on staff to advise & assist where necessary. The National Body Image Advisory Committee, which I am honoured to be contributing to, is also looking very closely into the issue of model health. This is an incredibly important thing to do as if such things are not adressed, I fear we are making large assumptions about models & their own wellbeing. I sometimes try to place myself in their shoes (hard when I wear boring flats & they wear spiked stiletto’s – but that’s another story) & think it must at times be very hard to have so many criticise you for your height, weight, shape & supposed demonic influence on others. That’s alot of burden to carry for a teenage girl who may be simply trying to ‘make it.’
I hope that a firm focus continues on the health of these girls & young women as pertains to them as people first & foremost. Maybe if that was to occur then the issue of how the profession as a whole impacts on wider society will lessen, & impressionable young women may just learn that modelling is simply another job & not something that should be upheld as a beacon of all that is beautiful, perfect & glossy.
