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Models Told They’re "Washed Up" At 16

Debate has been sparked in the fashion industry today after the head booker at GEAR Model Management referred to models over 16 as "washed up" and too old for the catwalk.

"I know people may think 13 is very young but that's what the international brands are looking for in Europe," said Naomi Fitzgerald from GEAR.

The shock statement is in disparity with the current catwalk model age limit (16), which was enforced by the fashion body in 2008 following concerns for the wellbeing of younger models.

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"International clients do not book 'children' for their campaigns and they should be closed down for trying to push that message," said Chic Management director Kathy Ward.

Ward admitted that Chic took on girls aged 13 and 14, but that they had to go through apprentice-style management until they were old enough and mature enough to take on the demands of international modelling.

“We would never send a 13-year-old girl over to New York or Paris to walk in the shows," Ward told the Sydney Morning Herald.

But the director of GEAR, Dragan Dimovski, argued that the agency's under-age models were carefully monitored.

"Everything goes past the parents for approval," he said. "We are pretty much targeting the younger 13 to 16 [age group]. That's what they're doing internationally. The models in Australia are missing out on opportunities internationally."

In contrast, the editor of marie claire, Jackie Frank, said she thought the idea of being "washed up" at 16 was ridiculous. "We wouldn't use a model until she was over 16 anyway," she tweeted.

What do you think of models over 16 being told they’re "washed up"?