Ban on Skinny Models
By Natayle Henry
Move over skinny, there’s a new standard of beauty taking global stage. With a surge of body acceptance and the positive body image revolution, many countries are doing their part in ensuring ‘healthy’ takes center stage, as they should. In America, there have been many strides to bring a more positive image of the female form as of late; Ie: Gigi Hadid is a fresh face making headlines on her not-so-stick thin figure, and is helping to break the super skinny mold. Mattel has introduced an array of body shapes and sizes with their barbie dolls for their young impressionable consumers. Plus size models are gracing covers of magazines traditionally slated for thin models or glamorous stars. Following suite, France has now joined the movement to bring a healthier view of beauty.
France has now introduced a law banning overly thin models– following similar measures enforced in Italy, Israel and Spain. Under this new law, models applying for work in France must provide a medical certificate proving that they are in overall good health while also showing that their BMI (Body Mass Index) is within the healthy limit for their body type. Breaking this law can result in up to six months in jail and a fine of up to 75,000 euros (just over $84,000). Taking it a step further, French officials have also signed a law stipulating that commercial photos of models whose bodies have been digitally altered to appear either thinner or larger, must include a disclaimer that states that the photos have been retouched. Fines for this infraction starts at 37,000 euros (around $41,000) and up to 30% of the ad spend.
Gigi Hadid
Fresh Face Gigi Hadid breaking the skinny mold in modeling industry
While these measures are a great step in the right direction to show that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, there is still a long way to go in the quest to deprogram the ideal female form that has been ingrained in society for decades.
-NH
