As fashion week takes to the stage, I grow more and more excited to see the work of up-and-coming designers alongside the new designs by old favourites. As the years have gone by I must admit I’ve noticed the models get skinnier and skinnier each year – clearly designers and models have become ignorant to the health warnings surrounding size zero. I’m disappointed I am unable to comment on any of the fashion pieces exhibited this year due to painfully thin runway models taking the attention away from the designs; I was too distracted trying to concoct a plan of how to sneak pork pies into their diets without them noticing.
Having struggled with weight dilemmas myself during my teen years, I was curious as to when size zero became “sexy” and what message this unhealthy image was conveying to other young women. During my quest to name and shame designers, models and celebrities encouraging women and men to feel insecure about their bodies, I discovered curvier women were actually more desirable in the 1950s when Marilyn Monroe was the depiction of female sexuality, being her sexiest at size 16 alongside Elizabeth Taylor and Ava Gardener.
Size zero appears to have become increasingly popular since Brigitte Bardot, the first size zero celebrity, became a sex symbol after staring in Roger Vadim’s controversial classic, ‘And God Created Women’ in 1956 sporting an unhealthy waist size of merely 19 inches.
Since then, on a global scale there has been an increasingly obvious pressure on women and men to portray a certain image; in the 90’s, sadly, super skinny models became the bench mark for other aspiring models at size zero.
Now don’t get me wrong, I believe everyone should be comfortable in their own skin and have the freedom to look the way they want, however, the image of size zero has caused many sparks and heated debates in the fashion industry as it has clearly put a lot of pressure on impressionable youths to start extreme dieting and encourages eating disorders. Living in a society where women’s bodies in particular are constantly put under rigid scrutiny, analysis and comparison to what the ideal woman should look like, the image of women should be positive and inspiring to young women, not potentially harmful, and the media should be responsible for ensuring that this is being administered.
Even the World Health Organisation, doctors and women’s groups are concerned that the use of underweight models sends out dangerously wrong signals to girls who look to models as inspiration.
So does a healthy size zero exist? In my opinion, the simple answer is no. Here’s why: in 2010 hospitals in
England alone reported an 80% rise in the number of young women being admitted to hospital for anorexia and other eating disorders. The quest to become a size zero involves a starvation diet and rigorous exercise, this dangerous trend has caused the death of several young models. In 2006 Uruguayan model Luisel Ramos, died at just 22 after following a diet of eating only lettuce and drinking diet coke. Shortly after her death Ana Carolina Reston, a Brazilian model, died at the age of 21 following a diet of just apples and tomatoes.
In the words of American playwright, Elmer Rice; “If nature had intended our skeletons to be visible it would have put them on the outside of our bodies.” Size zero is far from sexy; the media should be idolising and celebrating the way real women look as there are serious health risks with attempting or being size zero. Nutritionist Emma Mills agrees there needs to be a greater emphasis on being healthy and eating well as opposed to what you weigh, in time this will create a more “normal” body size.
Thats absolute bull crap. Some girls are just born skinny. Who are you to say that they’re unhealthy when that’s the way they are? Isnt that just as bad as making fun of fat people? Many girls are a size zero even though they eat more than most people. It’s called genetics. Some people are just genetically thinner. And saying that there’s no such thing as a healthy size zero is stupid. What about girls that are 5′ and under? Don’t be so ignorant.
“I was curious as to when size zero became “sexy” and what message this unhealthy image was conveying to other young women.”
I am curious as to why you think sexy is something that is required of models? I think it shows a misunderstanding about models; surely you don’t assume they are there to be sexually appealing? I also find it curious that one could define “sexy” as anything. The message seems to be mixed, everyone is sexy in their own skin, but not you skinny girl, I’ve decided without speaking to you that your ill, going to die and defiantly not sexy to anyone!
As for the increase in hospital admissions for eating disorders, I would think that the increase in awareness of the condition via the constant discussions of the subject over the past few years would substantial impact on that statistic. Incidentally how many deaths has anorexia caused? How many deaths has obesity caused? Why is media attention not more focused on the latter? It surprises me you haven’t mention the many charities set up by models to help battle the condition… It is indeed sad that models are still falling victim to the condition, but have you ever tried to help people with eating disorderes? They don’t always want help, which is difficult to deal with. Change is happening, just for obvious reasons it’s not going to be instant.