Soon after Paris Fashion Week ended on March 11, the French Parliament is considering passing a bill that would ban models from the runway that are “too skinny.” According to The New York Times, “The French Parliament is debating legislation that would effectively set minimum weights for women and girls to work as models, a step that supports of the bill say is necessary to combat the persistence of anorexia.” The New York Times said confronting the fashion industry about weight standards is “confronting one of the dark sides of fashion: the glamorization of too-thin women.” Shape magazine reports if the bill is passed, models will be required to have a medical certificate proving a BMI of no less than 18. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute states that a normal and healthy BMI weight is between 18.5 and 24.9.If approved, says New York Times, France would be joining other countries that have passed similar legislations. In 2012, Israel established a law that required models to have a minimum BMI of 18.5 or face criminal penalties. Other countries like Spain and Italy, reports The New York Times, “have weighed legislation similar to the one under consideration in France but for now continue to rely on voluntary pacts with the fashion industry.” Lindsey Ferrin, a junior psychology major from Oklahoma, said, “Today is about being confident in your own skin. If you want to improve yourself, eat right, exercise and most importantly do the things that make you happy.” Shape magazine says, “We all know that strong is sexy, so we’re glad to see the fashion world jumping on board too.” Actress Hillary Duff has recently admitted that, “I’m just not that concerned with being the skinniest person. I’m not a model… I’m normal and I’m perfectly happy being that way,” Duff told Elle magazine.Katie Willcox, plus-size model and Founder of Healthy is the New Skinny and Natural Model Management, told GLAM4GOOD, a fashion and beauty movement organization, about how she would like to see the future of the fashion and beauty industry change, “I would love to see all types of models being used… all colors, sizes and ages. In life there is beauty all around us, but we teach people to only think that beauty is thin, tall and young.”Cecilia Fisk, a junior psychology major from Utah, said “Sure models show us what clothes are popular but they are not the image of beauty.” Fisk continued that she does not feel like she needs to look at models in magazines or on TV for what is beautiful instead Fisk said, “To me, beauty is confidence and that comes in all sorts of shapes.”McKinzie Norton, a freshman graphic design major from Kansas, said, “I think the Church has done a good job making women feel good for who they are. I always have felt most comfortable in my own skin at church. I am happy being me and being happy is what matters to me.”Uploaded March 24, 2015
Writer: Jessica Tautfest
