AngelaThe French people have decided: the law that banishes models with a BMI of less than 18 from the catwalks and magazines has been approved. Read here what the French Minister of health, Marisol Touraine, aims for with this law.
The BMI ban has been discussed extensively by the media over the last few weeks. I am sure you have been following the news about it as well. I have followed the news and have my thoughts about it. You can read them here, or read my earlier thoughts on a BMI ban for models here.
I wondered what other models actually think about the BMI ban, as these are the ones possibly directly affected by the ban. These were the reactions on the ban by models Eline, Deborah, Eva, Patty, Dienke and Jacomien:
Eline van Uden, former model and alumna in gender studies:
“I am very worried about the consequences of this law for the working situation of models. I think it can be seen as a form of body ‘policing’, which means that the French government is adding another repressive measure to their situation.
Models are now in a biased situation, on the one hand they have to fit in the sample sizes of designers while on the other hand having to fulfill the requirements set by the government. For fashion models their body is their product. These new rules will set limitations on performing their profession.”
“I think this law is completely irrelevant. The fashion industry itself is not affected by this law so it won’t have any effect on the way models are portrayed in fashion photography.
“Besides my worries, I think this law is completely irrelevant. The fashion industry itself is not affected by this law so it won’t have any effect on the way models are portrayed in fashion photography. These measures won’t hurt the ones who are in charge of producing the pictures itself. The appearance of fashion models are a product of the rules in the industry.”
Patty Luijt, De Boekers:
“Again, thin models are under fire. I’m getting a bit tired of it and wonder whether it is realistic that models (whether or not by law) should have a BMI value of at least 18”.
“Personally, I regularly visit the doctor. She recently indicated that my BMI is too low and that she wants to keep an eye on me. I live healthily though and have a healthy, muscular posture. If she would look beyond the value that appears on her computer, she would know that I’m not underweight. ”
“Back to this law: I understand that the government wants to do something about their anorexia problem, but I wonder if this is the right way to do so. I think it is better to take look at each model individually to check their health, take extensive blood tests and maybe let them keep a food diary (although a food diary is fraude-sensitive). BMI is in fact a number; a number that tells little about a person. That number does not know whether you eat healthy or unhealthy all day or work out a lot or little”.
Will we eventually also prohibit people with a too high BMI to visit fast food chains?
“Around me I see many thin girls, sometimes too thin in my view, although that does not mean that they are indeed unhealthy. After all, there are plenty of girls who are naturally very thin and have a fast metabolism. With a law like this would you punish girls for a body that they can do nothing about. Will we eventually also prohibit people with a too high BMI to visit fast food chains? ”
Jacomien Roobol, De Boekers:
“I don’t think this is going to work. It’s a very good initiative to boycott thin models from the catwalks with the aim of protecting young girls. I don’t think the BMI is a good measure for that, though.”
I don’t think the BMI is a good measure
“Many models, including myself, are naturally thin. I’ve always had a BMI value of less than 18. That doesn’t immediately make me scary thin. I’m at a healthy weight for my body and am proportioned. If I’d have to exceed a BMI value of 18, it means that I will have to gain weight and no longer have my natural weight. I think thàt’s unhealthy. ”
Modeling agencies should take better care for their girls
“I also believe that the fashion industry is not about to change. The designers will continue to make the samples in small sizes. I do think that modeling agencies should take better care for their girls. If a girl her posture is not suitable for high fashion, then the agency should not wish that from her. It would also be ideal if the young girls learn how to eat healthy and stay in shape by working out. ”
Eva Marie Mulder, Elite Model Management:
“Personally, I think banning ‘too thin’ models is a strange concept. Of course, inciting anorexia isn’t a good thing, but as proven this disease is a mental issue. This means that those who suffer from anorexia don’t function properly.”
Is the mental health of a girl or boy actually checked?
“As such, the question arises how it is verified if a model suffers from anorexia: is it verified by the BMI? Is the mental health of a girl or boy actually checked? Is the next step introducing the same regulations for other athletes that also belong in a weight class, such as marathon runners, martial artists, dancers and gymnasts? Probably not. “
“It is positive that for many girls and boys in the modeling industry it would be easier to take part in the profession of a model, because they might have to work a little less hard to ft in sample sizes. Nevertheless, working in the modeling industry and the aforementioned sports requires lots of training and discipline. ”
“In summary, I think banning ‘skinny models’ without anorexia an eyebrow raising concept. After all, before it can be determined that a particular BMI value is unhealthy, health checks should first be performed. There is more to health than just the BMI.”
Deborah Schoutema, Ulla Models:
“I’ve been following the news as well. I remember I was at Noahs place and both of us were relieved at first. We appreciated the concern of the French government towards their teenagers. But when thought again I realised that if you want to create a healthy, realistic mindset about human bodies, this is not the way to go.”
If you want to create a healthy, realistic mindset about human bodies, this is not the way to go
“My trainer (Marjolein, Models in Shape) explained me how confusing the BMI can be. A friend of hers weights 95 kilo’s. According to his length that would mean he has heaps overweight. But he actually is a super healthy, muscled, trainer. I think BMI is not a trustful method to check ones health, and it therefore would be unfair to use this index for boycotting models from magazines and catwalks.”
Dienke Rozendom, De Boekers:
“I actually don’t notice much about the BMI-ban in my work as a model. Because of my height (173 cm), I am less able to work in high fashion/couture, in which masurements are more important than in beauty. This way, I notice less of the strict requirements of the fashion instrudy for models (and us such, also not of the BMI-ban).”
“I must say that I’ve often thought: fortunately I am not that tall, otherwise these strict body measurement demands perhaps would have imposed me as well. I do notice that, compared to my non-model friends, I’m more concerned with my body image and often worry about food and wether I still to comply with the bodily standards. Luckily I’m already 25, I’ve studied psychology and I have so much to fall back on if modelling doens’t work for me any longer. However, I can imagine that a 16 year-old girl easier fall back on unhealthy eating habits to keep herself standing in the fashion industry.”
These unhealthy eating and lifestyle habits should be stopped
“I therefore agree with the fact these unhealthy eating and lifestyle habits should be stopped and that girls that seriously suffer from them should be protected against the serious consequences. However, I think the BMI ban isn’t the right way to do so. If you make something which is so difficult to externally control (modeling equates size zero) illegal , you can assume that it’s not going to change. The practices will be carried out in an illegal manner. You can compare this with the laws on prostitution. In countries where it is illegal, it is still performed, but under much more dangerous and uncontrollable circumstances. ”
Ik denk dat de BMI-ban de plank misslaat. De praktijken zullen op een illegale manier worden uitgevoerd
“In my opinion, if it really comes to model’s health, another way must be found to prevent eating disorders and the like. It is not realistic to expect that fashion designers and modeling agencies will actually adhere to the new law, because the whole industry runs on these strict demands on the body. There will always be maneuvers which allow the girls to continue doing their work. There are plenty of tricks, like a false BMI passport, fraude with body weight and so on. ”
Plenty of tricks, like a false BMI passport, fraude with body weight and so on
“Models now find temselves in a split position, in which they must satisfy both the requirements of the government as well as the demands of fashion designers and agencies. This brings models, those whom the BMI ban is ultimately about, in an even tighter position than they already were. ”
Models now find temselves in a split position
Question
Are you a model or have you been a model? What do you think of the BMI-ban?
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