Ban on underweight models sparks debate

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In the fashion industry every new season is about latest trends, shapes and sizes. From waif-thin to hourglass, the body type keeps changing, and if you fail to follow it you fall in the “outdated” category.

At a time when every woman’s dream is to look as svelte as professional models, it is hard to measure up to that image. However, to bring in a ‘healthy’ change in the mindset, a group of fashion editors from Vogue have signed a pact to ban underage and underweight models. We check with fashion gurus on how this would affect the current frame of reference.
Designer Amit GT says, “I definitely think it is a wise move. Women want to look like models and if models are underweight then they would want to be underweight. Secondly, underage girls should rather focus on studies as we all know modelling as a career doesn’t last long. Media should also highlight curvy women, who fall into the ‘plus size’ category. The West has already changed their perspective. There are actresses like Viola Davis, Christina Hendricks and Octivia Spencer, who are curvy and still look fabulous on the red carpet. I think women should be happy in their own skin. No matter what size they are, they should be fit enough to carry clothes gracefully.”
Agrees designer Poonam Bhagat, who says, “I’m so glad they have taken this initiative. Although they should have kept this ban for under 18 instead of 16.”
Designer Jenjum Gadi, however, is doubtful about how they can really implement it in the long run. He says, “Fashion is about new trends every season and this dictates the type of models that appear on the runway or in print. I do think it is a healthy initiative and one that will send across a positive message.”
However, model Tinu Verghis doesn’t agree with it entirely and says, “If there can be underage actors, why not models? As long as we can maintain an environment that is conducive for the minors at their workplace, there is no reason to ban them. There wouldn’t be underage and underweight models if there was no market for them. The fashion industry creates those markets and then blames girls for getting into it. Why ban anything? Why can’t we let people think for themselves? Why do we need to try to control other people’s lives? I hate being fleshy and I eat healthy food. I am skinny and I love it. So many people die of obesity and we want to ban something for ego issues. We live in a country with so many underage kids working under miserable conditions in factories and other fields. Underage modelling is a minor issue compared to that. We as educated people need to get our priorities right.”