Yahoo Lifestyle Models Tying Weights In Their Hair To Meet Minimum BMI Requirements
While we all thought France banning underweight models from the runway was a breakthrough for the industry, a new report suggests otherwise.
According to the New York Observer, models are finding inventive ways of getting around the minimum BMI requirements in order to fit into sample sizes, which remain on the tiny side.
"They gave us Spanx underwear to stuff with weighted sandbags so the thinnest of girls had a 'healthy' weight on the scales," a Spanish model told the magazine. "I even saw them put weights in their hair."
To get a job during Paris Fashion Week, models have to maintain a Body Mass Index of at least 18, and a weight of about 54kg for a height of 5'7."
But, argues Jennifer Sky of the New York Observer, even people with eating disorders can have a healthy BMI.
"It is shortsighted to think that simply forcing models to be a certain BMI will change the fashion industry," wrote Sky. "I think a better solution is to raise the age limit for models to 18. Many ultra-thin models are simply still going through puberty, and allowing their bodies to form before their career would be beneficial to all."
The new law introduced by France stems partially from the 2007 death of French model Isabelle Caro, who died after a long bout with anorexia.
Currently, Israel, Spain and Italy are the only other countries to establish such guidelines - with harsh penalties in place for those who disobey the law (in France it will mean a fine of up to $80,000 and potentially six months in jail.)
The law has not yet hit Australia, but several designers at Australian Fashion Week including We Are Handsome, Manning Cartell and Bondi Bathers deliberately made the choice to feature girls of all shapes and sizes.
"I love what they are doing with the models and casting different sized girls," Erin Heatherton told marie claire. "I love to see girls that are beautiful and feminine and powerful on the runway no matter what size or shape they are."
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