Body Image Activist, Eating Disorders mamaVISION

I’ve never understood why more models do not come forward to speak about the sickness of the modeling industry, they seem to avoid the topic like the plague.

But not Coco Rocha, a 21 year old model, self described as “6 inches taller and 10 sizes smaller than the average American woman, came forward to have her say during NY Fashion Week 2010;

“This issue of model’s weight is, and always has been of concern to me. There are certain moral decisions which seem like no brainers to us. For example, not employing children in sweatshops, and not increasing the addictiveness of cigarettes. When designers, stylists or agents push children to take measures that lead to anorexia or other health problems in order to remain in the business, they are asking the public to ignore their moral conscience in favor of the art.

Surely, we all see how morally wrong it is for an adult to convince an already thin 15 year old that she is actually too fat. It is unforgivable that an adult should demand that the girl unnaturally lose the weight vital to keep her body functioning properly. How can any person justify an aesthetic that reduces a woman or child to an emaciated skeleton? Is it art? Surely fashion’s aesthetic should enhance and beautify the human form, not destroy it.”

Then came the inevitable jabs from the NY Times Fashion Freaks in an article titled A Model’s prospects: Slim to none, which insinuated that Rocha is no longer desirable because she is too fat, and therefore speaking out (which is a pile of BS BTW);

“A lot of designers no longer hire her for their runways. They consider her a veritable behemoth in a business that makes a fetish of being what the actress Emily Blunt once termed “edge of ill” thin.”

The good news in all of this is the Council of Fashion Designers of American (CFDA) has finally come out of their coma to address these issues (I was stalking them way back in 2008 on this topic – even went undercover to their offices to expose how clueless they were).  Supposedly their goal is to increase the sample size and to book models over the age of 16 (I”ll believe it when I see it, but hey at least they are pretending to care now).

Coco Rocha went on to say;

We need changes. I’d prefer that there would be no girl working under the age of 16, but if that has to be the case then I’d love to see teens escorted by a guardian to castings, shows, and shoots. The CFDA has set codes in place for their members and I’d love to see the entire industry follow. Society legislates a lot of things – no steroid use in sports is one example – its only reasonable that there be rules of conduct to keep the fashion industry healthy.

My sincere hope is that through our efforts young models will one day be spared the humiliation, the risky weight loss, the depression that comes along with anorexia and the misery of abandonment by an industry ashamed to see them turn into actual women.

There are natural human standards in how we treat one another and how we treat children. There are those who continue to trample on these standards but there are also champions of a better way. I hope that the continued efforts of the CFDA and all those who hold these values in regard will sway the opinion of those on the opposing side of the industry to ensure a true change for the better.

Amen,

mamaV

Marie Claire dares to place an unairbrushed photo on the cover of their magazine. No one gives a rip, instead focuses on the fact that the model is nude.

I just went on a big long rampage on this story on WeAreTheRealDeal here (part 1) and here (part 2) , so I’ll give you guys a synopsis, along with some specific commentary I want to make specifically to this eating disordered community.

Here’s the gist of it:

1) Former Miss Universe, model Jennifer Hawkins poses on cover of Marie Claire.

2) Hawkins is commended by The Butterfly Association for her efforts to “raise awareness about eating disorders,” (how exactly, no one has been able to figure out).

3) Her unairbrushed photo* supposedly shows “a slightly dimpled thigh.” (I have yet to see it, so let’s do a Where’s Waldo to try and find it).

*a new concept in Magazine production where the model actually appears as a human being “as is.” No computerized program is used to eliminate any/all signs of life.

My point here is the following, which I need to spit out before I have a heart attack:

1) This model does not, in anyway whatsoever, represent the “normal, average” girl/woman — so don’t even START kidding yourself. We live in a demented world.

(more…)

This is a good one — check out the side by side images of a “normal” skinny mini sized model next to Plus-sized model Crystal Renn, reported by Daily Mail.

In this soon to be published magazine editorial in V Magazine, hands down Renn is rockin’.  Now is this because she is a better model, does she have a better bod, or something else?

Here are their stats:

Renn, 5′9 age 23, size 16

pictured alongside fashion’s latest new face;

Jacquelyn Jablonski, 5′ 9, age 17, size zippo

See more pictures next page.

(more…)

“Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels,” yet another genius quote from one of my favorite pro-ana models, the infamous Kate Moss.

So what’s up with this chick? I’ve always found her to be so trashy. Just a ratty-looking-little-nail-biting-drug-addicted tramp. Yet, this society props her up like the Queen of the Prom. Go figure.

In Britain, they honor Kate, in gold, in a twisted posture to accentuate her “features.”

My prediction: Moss will drop over soon. She just seems like one of those people that will end up dead, another life cut short because she opted to promote the proanorexia way of life, and act like a total bimbo.

Harsh but true.

If you think that statement over the top, how would you like to be this womens daughter?

What a nightmare waiting to happen.

Keep it real,

mV

SITE STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION…YOU MAY SEE WACKED OUT PAGES

A poster of a second impossibly thin Ralph Lauren model has emerged in Sydney, landing the exclusive fashion house in more hot water.

See first disaster here.

The blogging website Photoshop Disasters posted an image today of an unknown model with a tiny waist posing in a Ralph Lauren advertisement.

(more…)