Fashion Models Sue

Posted by Lori Henry Feb 11, 2007

This past year was filled with enough controversy surrounding underweight models than in recent years. Spain, Italy, the United States and the UK have all either banned super thin models outright, or have put specific guidelines into place to discourage underweight girls from working.

But now the models and agents are fighting back. Agencies are threatening to take legal action on the new regulations, citing discrimination.

Alexandra Shulmna, Editor of Vogue and member of the London Fashion Council, says, “We would not be allowed to discriminate in that way. It would be like saying you can't have black or white models. By imposing new rules on models' size, you would be trying to prove whether someone was ill or well.”

Melissa Richardson, director of Take Two modeling agency, adds, “Although being thin is a prerequisite for this kind of work, it's also important that you eat well. Lots of models eat a lot and stay thin. They do not deserve to be pilloried. They have got more litigious.”