Bonjourno young chums. I haven’t done an ‘opinionated’ post in a while have I? Well, I’m back with one, and this post is going to be full of one very strong opinion I have. I’m sorry if I come across rather angry…. but I am rather angry (you’ll see why)…
This morning I saw a tweet which linked to a Daily Mail article, I had no idea what it was, but I clicked. I scrolled down, reading every single word, and was horrified. The article was all about, now former model, Georgina Wilkin. Georgina was scouted on Oxford Street at just 15 (2 years older than me). When she was half way through her GCSEs, she was asked to model for a Japanese agent, but she was told that she had to lose 3 inch from her hips and 1 inch from her waist. Georgina was drawn in and she started to lose the weight, her diet consisted of salad, vegetables and sometimes 2 days without food. Before she started modelling, she weighed 8st 6lb, which shows that she was ‘slim’. I can relate to this because I am ‘slim’ and I have been told I am underweight before, but I was/and still am, perfectly healthy, and I am sure Georgina was too. Even though she was this weight, every 2 weeks she would be weighed and measured and told to lose more weight. Georgina said in the article… ”The skinnier girls, got all the bookings and I was even told I wouldn’t be able to work for jewellery companies because my fingers were too fat.” Georgina became thinner, weaker and started to get ill whilst she was in Tokyo. She was getting blue lips and hands because her heart was struggling. When she returned, she worked with brands including Topshop, GAP, and Giles Deacon, where apparently, nobody ate. In 2007, she was diagnosed with Anorexia. (See the full article here.)
Now obviously, we can’t believe everything the Daily Mail says (and also you could say that it was her parents fault), because everything is made to attach to our heart strings, but I honestly do think that if you read the article, you will understand where I am coming from when I say that I am… disgusted. Totally, utterly disgusted. I’m not disgusted because it is the fashion industry, I am disgusted that the industry thinks it’s okay to let this carry on, for their own good. It’s not even mean, I personally think it’s pure ‘evil’. Imagine looking at a girl who is obviously ‘thin’ and going, ‘You’re too fat’ (well, maybe not those exact words, but you know what I mean!). It’s bonkers. DEE-SGUST-ING. Models becoming ill for brands to get more money? Sounds a bit cruel in my books.
Some people will say ‘Well just don’t model then’. The fashion industry, could not and will not survive with out models. I’m fine with models, I’m fine with that, just not the whole ‘If your not a size 8, you’re not good enough’ attitude. There needs to be change. I don’t think saying you have to be Size 8 or more, is the right way to do it, but I think there needs to be a more healthy way of looking at it. Thinking about health, and being HUMAN more than just creating a good picture to get money. We don’t want ill models, and we certainly don’t want young girls looking up to ill models, do we? No, I thought not. I’m going to have to say it, but the modelling agencies are almost… killing what they are doing in a way. They hire models, and tell them that they are too big. The models go away and lose more weight, come back and are ill, and in Georgina’s case, come even close to losing their own life, so the agency has to chose another girl (or boy), and it goes on and on. Disgusting.
What do you think? Do you think something needs to change? Let me know in the comments!
