British models banned from Madrid
by Chris Read
The push to make the fashion industry slightly more realistic is slowly taking charge, with Madrid again leading the way after 3 British models were banned from taking part in Madrid fashion week because they are too thin.
70 models were examined, and three failed to pass the regulated minimum Body Mass Index of 18%.
The controls were put in place in September 2006 by Madrid’s regional government, after complaints young girls were developing eating disorders trying to emulate the stick-thin model physique.
The move followed complaints that girls and young women were developing eating disorders by trying to copy the models’ rail-thin looks.
The ban on overly thin models, the first in the world at a top-level fashion show, caused outrage among modeling agencies when it was first imposed.
Five models were stopped from taking part the first year that the ban was put in place and another five were banned last year.
The United Nations’ World Health Organisation defines a BMI below 18.5 as “underweight” and recommend an index of between 18.5 and about 25.
As they are 3 people short and as my BMI is not below 18.5 - by some way I might add, I think I may send a picture in to see if they will take me!
Tags: fashion, Madrid, Madrid fashion week 2008, models