Why Fashion Loves The Super-Thin Models?

Who should be blamed when fashion loves the super-thin models? Why does the use of skinny models in the modeling industry continue to be a desirable ideal?

Super-thin girls appeal to designers because they don't upstage the clothes. When models are too-thin, they do not have big boobs that may distract the attention of the audience. As thin models strut on the catwalk, the audience no longer notice their shapes or sizes. Instead, they are all-eyes on the cut, the silhouette, the concept, the fabric, and the trendiness of the clothes that the thin models are wearing.

Modeling for clothes on the catwalk or in magazines, is in fact, interpreted as a work of art. However for fashion fanatics, the constant modeling of clothes by super thin models may damage their self-esteem. Unlike fashion editors and stylists who usually look at modeling as a fantasy or as an art, the audience can interpret the use of super-thin models as a despairing fact they will not be good in the clothes their fitting because they are fat.

A fashion author thus concluded, “...Just as the clothes will trickle down to the high street, so does the message that being skinny is a physical ideal. And that is where the fashion industry needs to look beyond the unhealthy images to which it has become immune, and develop a wider perspective on the social implications of the fantasies it presents. It might be art, but life often imitates art.”

Fashion Catalogue Denounces Its Too-Thin Models, Withdraws From The Marketplace

A Canadian fashion catalogue denounces its too-thin models and withdraws from the marketplace.


Here's more of the skinny issues in the fashion industry: “A decision by retailer La Maison Simons to denounce its own fashion catalogue for using too-thin models and withdraw it from the marketplace was hailed by Quebec's health minister and an eating-disorder expert.”

The junior women's catalogue features thin, young women who were charged of displaying more bones than flesh. Following complaints against the use of the too-thin models, the 36-page colored catalogue with a print run of 450,000 has been pulled out.

Company President Peter Simons announced that he had pulled the catalogue in a bid to remove images that are “unsuitable” to the public and do not align with his company's values. In a public statement, the president added that the images of thin models are “destructive to a more vulnerable portion of the population which is exposed to anorexia.”

Simons action could have been inspired by personal experience as he shared, “Yesterday, I talked to a woman who lost her sister to bulimia... That just touches home.”

As Simons pulled out his catalogue which was produced by an in-house team, he also apologized for the publication saying he was “disappointed” in himself and that he did not see the catalogue until after complaints rolled in. "I should have done better. I should have seen it," he added.

As to how much the cancellation of the fashion catalogue will cost, Simons said he doesn't know at this point . On the other hand, his actions have been commended early. Quebec Health Minister Yves Bolduc congratulated the company for reacting promptly to the complaints, saying "Anorexia is a serious issue, and I think Mr. Simons did the right thing. It sends a message to the teenagers that they can be healthy, have a suitable weight, and that they don't need to be ultra-slim."

Retail analyst John Winter of John Winter & Associates also praised Simons as he gasped, “How many CEOs do that these days? I'm sure that he could have gotten away with it (and easily weathered a few negative media items) and letters to the editor."

As Simons denounced the fashion catalogue for its use of too-thin models and eventually pulled out the catalogue from the market, he shared that he has been responding to about 200 clients who "took the time to write the vast majority in a very constructive way" about the catalogue.

"We are into social responsibility here. I'm fully aware of what it is and I'm taking full responsibility for (the catalogue). It's my job to ensure that we are a constructive actor in the community," Simons realized.

“Never Anorexic, Just Didn't Have Time To Eat!”

"I was never anorexic, I just didn't have time to eat!"

And who else could be the most possible person to say these lines but the famous fashion model who is notorious for her waif look image – surprise, surprise, the Supermodel Kate Moss (once again).

“I didn’t eat for a long time. Not on purpose. (I was constantly) doing shows and flying economy … nobody ever fed me.

“You’d be on shoots with bad food or get on a plane, and the food would be so disgusting you couldn’t eat it. Or I’d be staying in hotels so cheap that by the time I’d get in, there wasn’t any room service.

“You go to a show, and there’s no food at all, so if you’re doing shows back to back, you can forget eating. I remember standing up in the bath one day, and there was a mirror in front of me, and I was so thin! I hated it. I never liked being that skinny.”


The 34-year old supermodel has denied that she was anorexic during the height of her modeling career in the mid-1990s where it was estimated that she just weighed 7 stone. Once criticized for her weight, the supermodel replied “It was just the time. It was a swing from more buxom girls like Cindy Crawford and people were shocked to see what they called a 'waif'. What can you say? How many times can you say 'I'm not anorexic'?”

In her recent magazine interview, Kate Moss again defended her physique as she reasoned out, “I was never anorexic, so I was never that skinny. I was never bony-bony. But I remember thinking, ‘I don’t want to be this skinny.”

Come to think of it. With her perpetual thin-framed, waifish look, how many times will Kate Moss claims she's not anorexic, just didn't have time to eat? And how many times will critics disagree?

Take It From A Supermodel: Breast Implants Are Awful!

Think big future “ahead” belongs only to those women with big boobs? Think again. In the opinion of the highly-successful supermodel Kate Moss, breast implants are awful.

As a model known for her waif-like physique, the lack of big boobs did not hinder the phenomenal Kate Moss from rising to the top of the modeling world. Her tiny tits has, in fact, been very precious assets as she sexily models her body in sometimes topless photo shoots.

Because she has carried her natural breast size with pride and glamour while representing millions of products, magazine covers, and clothing labels, it is not surprising that Kate Moss finds the idea of undergoing breast implants awful.

In one of her magazine interviews, the supermodel bravely shares her opinion and personal experiences with breast implants:

“They are awful. So many of my friends have had them, and they’ve gone wrong. One of my friends’ tits started growling like the giant peach, and blood started coming out the nipple. Then another friend of mine had one that sort of moved up to her shoulder. One tit was normal, and the other was up by her collarbone. I know only one girl who has good ones. And most of them are so hard you can knock on them like a door. I’m not into them. I mean, if I got all saggy, like the sacks some women have after they have children, I’d have them done. I’m not against them, but if you have normal ones, just to have them enlarged for the sake of having big ones… I don’t really like big tits anyway.”

For the supermodel, women's aesthetic appeal does not solely rely on large breast but on how women carry their body and present their femininity to others. The attraction that people have for big-busted women just come and go. Yesterday big boobs meant sexiness, but tomorrow could be different.

Although the supermodel Kate Moss thinks that breast implants are awful, she is not totally against the process. In fact, she admits that when the time comes that her breast becomes totally sag, she would love to have her tits “stand proud” again. The point is that she does not allow anyone except herself to define what's beautiful for her and what's not.

Supermodels Cradle Babies In Maternity Ward

Modeling is not just about strutting on the runway or posing on glamorous magazine covers with your drop-dead gorgeous body. Though fashion models are always known for sophistication, the fame that comes with the title can get them closer to the public, far more than just the “catwalk queen, international-party-chic” image.

And this time around, supermodels Naomi Campbell and Tyson Beckford are on a humanitarian campaign as they cradle babies in maternity ward.

Naomi Campbell and Tyson Beckford recently visited Nigeria to attend the This Day Africa Rising concert. While visiting on the country, the supermodels dropped by the maternity ward of a clinic in Lagos. The fiery supermodel Naomi Campbell particularly showed off her domestic side as she lifted some of the babies with an expert touch.

Aside from the supermodels cradling babies in the maternity ward, Naomi Campbell and Tyson Beckford also helped distribute sack loads of gifts to expectant and new mothers in the small clinic. The models were obviously extending great publicity and support not only to the This Day Africa Rising concert but to the general aim of showing the continent in a positive light.

From Modeling To Acting, Gemma Ward Retires From The Runway?

At the young age of 20, Gemma Ward is already considered one of the most successful models of her age. Famous for her babydoll look, people sees her as one of the young models who are nearing supermodel status. So is it true that Gemma Ward will retire from the runway now?

Reports have it that the top Australian model plans to quit modeling to pursue her career in Hollywood. Gemma Ward has already performed in films with veteran Hollywood actress Toni Collete for The Black Balloon, and with Scott Speedman and model-turned actress Liv Tyler for the thriller The Strangers. Unlike other fashion icons whose acting ventures turned out to be a joke, her acting skills had been given good reviews.

After her substantial roles in the films, Gemma Ward is now rumored to “officially retire” from the runway to pursue her acting career. Could this be true?

As an established name in the modeling industry, the young Gemma Ward have made many campaigns for top clothing lines including Prada, Calvin Klein, and Burberry. She have been on covers of 24 Vogue Magazine editions. Because she is on top in the modeling world, its estimated that she commands between $10,000 to $20,000 for a 10 minute fashion show appearance alone.

There is no way then that Gemma Ward will retire from the runway, at least for now. Because of her Hollywood commitments (maybe), the top model will not be seen that much on the runways this fall at Fashion Week. But Gemma Ward will not retire from the runway this early to shift her career from modeling to acting.

Health Test For London Fashion Week Drops, Eating-Disorder Charity Dismays

As the health test for London Fashion Week was dropped, the Eating Disorder Charity “Beat” was dismayed.

Just recently, the plan to require models to secure a health certificate before joining the London Fashion Week have been dropped by the British Fashion Council (BFC), which runs the highly-profiled fashion event.

The heath certification was deemed unworkable by the council. Chief Executive Hilary Riva has said in an open letter that there are impracticalities in implementing the annual checks. The BFC also mentioned that when the plan is pursued, models will feel discriminated and feel a lack of support from industry bodies in other fashion capitals.

Beat – an eating disorder charity, on the other hand, expressed dismay for the abandonment of the health certificate requirement plan. Beat's chief executive was quoted as saying "I am disappointed that they have stepped away from this. I know that there are practical difficulties and that there were matters of principle that the fashion industry found difficult but I feel the BFC should show leadership on this issue."

The idea to require health certificates to prove that models do not have anorexia have been proposed by the Model Health Inquiry, a British independent organization composed of model managers, designers, and supermodels. The health certificate plan was set up by BFC in March 2007 to investigate health problems suffered by models in the British fashion industry, especially during the hype of death reports from "size zero" super-skinny models.

Now that the models' health test requirement for London Fashion Week was dropped and the Eating Disorder Charity “Beat” was dismayed, let's hear it from the fashion models' side: "I feel that to ask all models to produce a mandatory certificate of health compromises their dignity and potentially infringes their human rights. Furthermore, the logistical constraints involved with ensuring all models are medically checked in good time to fulfill work engagements represent an ongoing obstacle," supermodel Erin O'Connor said.

Top Fashion Models As Writers?

Last month, we featured our most popular and iconic supermodels as businesswoman. Today we are going to see them not as entrepreneurs but as literary figures. Yes, some of our top models are also accomplished writers.



Top models as writers? It simply means that even though fashion models are not priced for their brains but for their legs, there are also outstanding beauties who are equally intelligent as they are gorgeous. Beauty and brain all together, these top fashion models managed to make good in their literary pursuits with tell-alls, novels, and self-help books.

Popular models who were able to publish their books include Janice Dickinson and the book on her controversial love affairs, Iman and Cindy Crawford with their makeup guides, and Christy Turlington who published a book on yoga.

Then there are three more fashion models who join the rank of our celebrated model-writers.

Top print and runway model Carol Ann Alt wrote the “This Year’s Model,” fictional roman a clef for teens and neophyte models about breaking into the rough-and-tumble modeling world. Asked what lessons can be learned from reading her book, the model replied, “Avoid photographers looking to 'build their book' and geriatric Italian playboys bearing diamond tennis bracelets. Oh, and stop eating.”

“One of the top male models of all time” Bruce Hulse wrote “Sex, Love and Fashion,” tell-all memoir which narrates the models love affairs. Bruce Hulse was known for bedding the famous supermodels. Asked why he wrote the book, the male model answered, “To talk about my life in the wild and exciting fashion world and also to explore my journey to find true love and happiness.”

“Model” was a masterpiece of teenage fashion model Cheryl Diamond. The book tells the “triumphant rise, disastrous fall and comeback” of the teen model herself. Written for teens, the book describes Cheryl Diamond as “one of a million worker-bee models earning her keep working hair trade shows, catalog jobs and small-time advertising gigs.” She added she wrote the book because she finds the modeling world really bizarre.

It's no doubt that these fashion models also have talent in writing, enabling them to organize their experiences and ideas into the books that represent them (unless they secretly had someone write their books for them.) But what is amazing is the fact that they are able to expand their creativity from the catwalk down to the pen. And why couldn't they when they are born to be creative? For these top fashion models to be writers, its truly “a la mode.”


Dying for more fashion models' books? Check out the self-help books of our very own Hilary now!

Actress And Models Outperform The Dow Jones Industrial Average

Three famous and wealthy celebrities Angelina Jolie, Gisele Bündchen, and Heidi Klum have their stock indexes outperformed the Dow Jones Industrial Average over the last six months.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is one of the stock market indices that compiled the index as a way to gauge the performance of the industrial component of America's stock markets.

Angelina Jolie, Gisele Bündchen, and Heidi Klum had updated their celebrity stock indexes and compared to the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Their indexes are based on the companies that they are connected (those that they represent or endorsed as a celebrity spokesperson.) For the last six months, Angelina Jolie's index was down 10%, Gisele Bündchen's index was up 1.6%, Heidi Klum's index was down only 0.7%. However, all were better than the Dow which was down 10.3%.

The stock indexes of the actress and models are supported by the following companies -

Angelina Jolie:
Sony (SNE)
Viacom (VIA-B)
Time Warner (TWX)
News Corp. (NWS-A)
General Electric (GE)
Disney (DIS)
Lions Gate Entertainment (LGF)
Comcast (CMCSA)

Gisele Bündchen:
Volkswagon (VLKAY.PK)
Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. (RL)
Vivo Participacoes (VIV)
News Corp. (NWS-A)
Sony (SNE)
Procter & Gamble (PG)
Disney (DIS)

Heidi Klum:
Limited (LTD)
McDonalds (MCD)
Volkswagon (VLKAY.PK)
Target (TGT)
Procter & Gamble (PG)
Nike (NKE)
Jones Apparel Group Inc. (JNY)
Hennes & Mauritz AB (HNNMY.PK)

It is not surprising for these actress and models to outperform the Dow Jones Industrial Average. With a lot of powerful and wealthy companies to back them up, they are simply three of the most prominent and leading celebrities not only in the fashion and showbiz industry but also in the stock market.

Britney Spears Will Perform On MTV Awards

The latest MTV Music Video Awards is coming and with a new MVA nomination for the video of her “Piece of Me” song, the fallen pop princess might be pressured to come. MTV has yet to confirm or deny if Britney Spears will perform on MTV Awards.

Last year was a total mess as Britney performed live on stage at the MTV Awards with her song Gimme More. The fans were disappointed when the bloated Britney Spears dance awkwardly and couldn't even memorize the song she lipsynched. It was said to be the worst performance in the history of MTV awards.

Yet again, Britney Spears' Piece of Me song was recently nominated for the Video of the Year category, the third time in a row. However, she has never won one of the VMA's awards although she nabbed many MTV nominations.

Though it is still not confirmed if Britney Spears will perform on MTV awards again, the awards are sure to go as it was scheduled to be handed out live in Hollywood on September 7.

Photographer Nick Knight's Video On Racism In The fashion Industry

Fashion photographer Nick Knight released a series of videos in his blog that criticizes racism in the fashion industry. The video featured the supermodel Naomi Campbell in tank, carrying two loaded handguns aiming forward.

Nick Knight's two-minute, 11-second video contains slates of text that expresses his disgust over the way the fashion industry disregards black models.

The famous text includes, "I am virtually never allowed to photograph black models for the magazines, fashion houses, cosmetic brands, perfume companies and advertising clients I work for. Whenever I ask to use a black model I am given excuses such as, 'Black models are not aspirational in some markets' or 'they do not reflect the brands values,' normally, however, no reason is given."

The slates of text were alternately shown with the image of Naomi Campbell with the two loaded handguns. The last texts says, "If I judge by my own feelings, I can only guess the indignation, anger, rage and fury that black models must feel." Afterwards, the supermodel Naomi Campbell let loose her fury and pulls the triggers satisfyingly.

Asked about his video on racism in the fashion industry, the fashion photographer Nick Knight explained, "If you look at the catwalks, the shows in London, Paris, Milan, it's the same. Right across the board, there's a total under-representation of black models in the fashion industry. It happens in editorial and on the runways. I don't think it comes from the photographers. I don't think it comes from the fashion editors. I don't like to parcel out blame, but you have to look at why business allows it. I guess these companies are being told what sells and what doesn't sell. And I think within those marketing strategies are assumed racisms."

Models Lose Cosmetic Contracts To Celebrities

Supermodel Tyra Banks blamed the celebrities for models not getting lucrative deals with cosmetic giants. She believed that models lose cosmetic contracts to celebrities as actresses and singers strike deals with cosmetic companies these days.

“I think all supermodels now are losing out to celebrities. It’’s celebrities who are getting the cosmetics contracts,” says the supermodel-turned-TV host.

Two of the famous celebrities that become faces of cosmetics company today are Eva Mendes who did the controversial TV ad for Calvin Klein and Beyonce Knowles who is a spokesmodel for L”Oreal.

And so the catwalk queen believed that because cosmetic companies prefer celebrities to do the campaign ads, hard-up models will have hard time landing on money-spinning deals with fashion, make-up, and fragrance firms.

That celebrities becoming the faces of make-up and fragrance companies is a growing trend that almost everyone already know. What's there to be discussed about should be the answer to this trend. While Tyra Banks insists that models lose cosmetic contracts to celebrities, she did not mention any possible solution to the situation.

Models Are Just Pieces Of Wood?

After decades of working with fashion models and earning a fortune with them, what could have driven fashion legend Roberto Cavalli to say that models are just pieces of wood?

The Italian clothing designer also tells UK's Observer Food Monthly that he prefers to work with “artists” like P. Diddy than professional models.

Roberto Cavalli says, “For me, models are just pieces of wood that I carve to make clothes look beautiful. There are thousands of models like all other models.”

In the simplest way, Roberto Cavalli is not impressed of fashion models at all, even supermodels like Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell:

“...Naomi Campbell is the same way (as with other models)... Kate Moss does not have what it takes to be a true star."

How could this man belittled the fashion models that served as the backbone of the fashion industry? Instead of looking at them as “pieces of woods,” he should even thanked them because without the models, there would certainly be no Roberto Cavalli at all.

It is true that Roberto Cavalli has established his industry in the world of fashion and have worked with millions of models already. Still, he has no right to treat models like woods of some sort. Models may be “waif-like” and all, but they are versatile in their craft, that is, modeling clothes and setting the fashion trends.

Black Model Looks Like A Monkey?

One of Britain's top model, black beauty Jasmia Robinson has her own share of discrimination in the modeling industry as she revealed how a fashion agent once said that she looked like a monkey.

The 21-year old model added that she was “horrified and sickened” by the monkey jibe during a modeling audition, which had also rejected her.

In her words, “I was the only black model there. One of the people running the casting said to my agent that I looked like a monkey.”

Though jibed as a monkey, Jasmia Robinson remained confident of her looks. Her beauty has helped her win the runner-up title of Britain’s Next Top Model.

As to the discrimination of black models, however, the young model believed that modeling agencies were not doing enough to recruit talent from ethnic minorities.

She said, “There is even less opportunity if you are a young black girl. People at the agencies still categorize me as a black model. I am a model, not a black model.”

Ballerina As Fashion Models

Who would have thought that ballet dancers will become effective fashion models?

In Denmark, a fashion show for Monsoon Saloon at the Copenhagen Fashion Week features the Royal ballet dancer from the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen. Uh-uh, they were not there to grace the opening ceremony in their classical ballet dances. They served as fashion models for the salon!

Pliantly, they carried their occasional job as models with the poise and bearing of real fashion models. It's not big news, though, the first supermodel Lisa Fonssagrives was herself a ballerina before making a name in the catwalk.

Sexy National Underwear Day

The sexy 6th Annual National Underwear Day runway show was held on last Tuesday in New York. Popular brands of underwear were presented with the goal of calling attention to the intimate apparel industry.

The annual event was organized by Freshpair.com and President Michael Kleinmann commented, "Underwear is the foundation. It's the first thing you put on, and the last thing you take off at night, so we wanted to call attention to the intimate apparel industry."

Among the popular undergarment brands showcasing their various intimate apparels in the show includes Tommy Hilfiger, Wacoal, DKNY, Natori, Diesel, Le Mystere, Mundo Unico, Sean John, Champion, and Nautica. These brands displayed a wide range of undergarments – sports bra, briefs, boxer shorts, thong styles, cotton, satin, and lace.

Russels Simmons who was spotted in the event couldn't help but admire, “Underwear is sexy. It keeps people moving.”

And how couldn't he? When a particularly handsome male model strut around the catwalk in his tight briefs or a gorgeous female model walks on the stage wearing nothing but her undergarments, what a sexy view would that be.

Charlie Sheen Is Highest-Paid TV Star

Known for his matinée-idol looks, Charlie Sheen have been famous in Hollywood since 1980s. Due to drugs and womanizing issues, his career in the film industry did not become as successful as that of his fellow '80s co-star, Tom Cruise. Today, however, he had proven that it really pays to be natural. So great was this pay for Charlie Sheen that it made him the top highest-paid TV star.

Charlie Sheen's high earning these days is courtesy of the TV series, Two and a Half Men, in which he played a wealthy, womanizing bachelor (which he effortlessly act). The TV sitcom is a top-rating series on CBS. The veteran actor earns $825,000 per episode, including money from his ownership rights in the show. For a rate of 23 episodes per year (typical for comedy series on TV), the American actor Charlie Sheen would earn him $20 million. Aside from the money, he had also earned three Emmy nominations from playing Charlie Harper in the sitcom.

Following Charlie Sheen on the list of highest paid TV stars are William Petersen - $600,000 an episode for playing investigator Gil Grissom on the CBS' hit police drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Mariska Hargitay - $400,000 an episode for playing a New York detective on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Kyra Sedgwick – $275,000 per episode for portraying a cop on TNT's The Closer. For TV hosts, Oprah Winfrey (as usual) tops the list with $385 million annually for hosting her daytime talk show, Simon Cowell - $50 million dollar per year, David Letterman - $32 million annually, and Katie Couric who takes home $15 million per year as anchor of the CBS Evening News.


Want to be on TV and earn miilions like these television stars? Audition for the CASTINGS now!

View Banned Eva Mendes TV AD!

The tanned model and actress Eva Mendes have made a TV ad with Clavin Klein for its Secret Obsession perfume line. However, censors banned the TV ad because of its provocative nature, in which the sexy Eva Mendes is said to show a lot of body parts that are way too sensual.

However, the steamy Eva Mendes TV ad have recently been released on the internet. And just surfers check out the video out of interest or curiosity, we thought to share this video with artists and fashionistas like you:

Skinny Models Inspire Masochism In Women

Skinny models inspire masochism in women – this is according to the recent study by the business professors of Villanova University and the College of New Jersey. The study shows that thin models make women feel bad, but they like it.

In simple terms, women are upset by thin models but they tend to buy products from these so-called skinny models than with those products endorsed by regular size models.

"They (women) have higher evaluation of the brands. With the more regular-size models, they don't feel bad. Their body image doesn't change. But in terms of evaluations of the brands, those are actually lower," says one of the researcher Karen Becker-Olsen.

Further studies showed that women tend to suppress their appetite after seeing product advertisements featuring skinny models. Women may be feeling bad for their not-so-thin bodies but they are actually loving the fact that the products featured on ads are endorsed by skinny models and unconsciously want to become thin themselves – thus reaching to a conclusion that skinny models inspire masochism in women.

The research was prompted by Dove's “Campaign For Real Beauty.” A spokesman for Dove's company, Unilever, believed that while it may still be true that skinny models inspire masochism in women, it is good to see a growing trend in using healthy looking women in advertising. In his words,“There is no question that women and young girls are being bombarded with unrealistic messages and images of beauty that impact their self-esteem. We are excited to see now (and have seen in the past couple of years) a growing trend towards more realistic and healthy looking women in advertising and in the media."