What’s the issue?
Lots of young girls love playing dress-ups with pretty gowns and mum’s make-up. So what’s the problem if they want to do it professionally? When 14 year old Monika Jagaciak was chosen to be the face of the 2008 Rosemont Australian Fashion Week, people started to wonder whether the industry was taking their youth obsession too far.
Girls as objects
The big concern for the big names in the industry is making sure that young girls aren’t being objectified on the catwalk or in photo shoots. There is something wrong with the idea of drooling over girls in stilettos when they should be in school shoes.
Kirstie Clements, editor of Vogue, said she was worried about “the obvious sexualisation of very young girls” that goes with the modelling territory.
Marie Claire editor Jackie Frank felt the same way. “Yes, sex sells,” Frank said, “and at 14, you just don't have it. And if you do, I'd be very concerned as a parent.”
But some industry insiders feel like the focus is all wrong. They think there should be greater concentration on the clothes instead of the girls. "The designers love these models as coat hangers for their clothes," commented Simon Lock, founder of Australian Fashion Week. "They don't want to exploit their sexuality in any way whatsoever."
The body business
Some concerned parents believe the problem is bigger than how the girls look at fashion shows. They’re not sure how well these tweens can cope with the demands of the modelling industry. Working long hours and constantly dealing with the pressures of having to be perfect may not be the healthiest option for teenagers. Growing up is hard enough without the whole world judging whether your legs are long enough.
Meanwhile, adults are being confronted with barely developed female bodies on magazine covers as the new ideal shape. Psychologist Greg Richardson said “These are almost an artificial body shape. And if that's idealised, it's going to make other people, not just adolescent girls, but other women to try and feel they have to replicate that.”
“You are getting them so young that they haven't even developed a curve,” said Vogue editor Kirstie Clements.
But some modelling agencies believe there has been an overreaction. "It's making a bit of a mountain out of a molehill,” said a Chadwick Models representative. “If a 14-year-old wants to get on a runway and put on a beautiful dress, why shouldn't she?”
What’s being done?
In the end, the organisers of Rosemount Australian Fashion week decided that 14 years old was just a little bit too young to be strutting the catwalks and cancelled Monika’s appearance at the show.
Other big players in the industry are following their lead and implementing minimum age limits. David Jones is only auditioning models over 18 years old, and most modelling competitions have a minimum age requirement of 16. Some magazines are boycotting agencies that send underage girls for auditions, and you might even notice some photos that have been censored in your favourite fashion mag.
So what now?
The modelling and fashion industry is definitely feeling the squeeze on this issue, and they’ve started making changes. But there are a lot of people who feel that more needs to be done.
Marie Claire editor Jackie Frank wants the professional fashionistas to put their foot down. “We as an industry need to get together and actually work these guidelines into our profession.”
How do I know this?
Young models: Show us your birth certificates
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,,24063214-2682,00.html
Should Monika Jagaciak be at Australian Fashion Week?
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,,23521621-10388,00.html
Furore over AFW's underage model
http://www.smh.com.au/news/fashion/furore-over-afws-underage-model/2008/04/11/1207856791581.html
Back to school for banned model Monike Jagaciak, 14
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,,23624896-10388,00.html
Fashion Week drops child model
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2008/s2214663.htm
12yo model sparks call for fashion industry age ban
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2007/s2032975.htm
