Size Zero

Lately body image has undergone a change. It seems the world has finally realised that the starving orphan look it has long admired in runway models is unhealthy and downright unattractive.

This all began at the collapse of Luisel Ramos, during the 2006 Uruguay fashion week. She had been on a diet of lettuce leaves and diet coke for three months prior to the show, and died in hospital of heart failure, on the 2nd August, aged 22.

In the aftermath, Madrid Fashion week banned models who's BMI was below 18. Consequently 30% of applicants were turned away. Later the same year, all Italian fashion designers banned size zero models from the catwalks of Milan Fashion Week.

Slowly other countries followed suit. In 2007 a size zero model, Charlotte Carter was banned from London Fashion Week, and advised to gain a stone if she wanted to work, and in Spain, shop mannequins were increased to size 10.

2008 saw French MPs, advertisers, and fashion industries sign a charter promoting healthy body image, and illegitimating the promotion of excessive thinness, with a fine of up to 30,000 euros if disregarded.

In 2009, Germany's most popular fashion magazine, Brigitte , banned professional models in favour of women with 'realistic' figures. The editor, Andreas Lebert, claimed he was 'sick of fattening girls up' with photoshop.

This realisation that women can not connect with the unrealistic role-models the media presents them with couldn't have come too soon. 'Today's models weigh around 23% less than normal women' says Lebert, 'the whole model industry is anorexic.'

Also in 2009, Glamour magazine published a photograph of Lizzie Miller, a beautiful 'plus size' model. As a result of the overwhealming positive feedback from readers, Glamour commited to publishing more photos of 'normal' women. The enthusiasm of readers for this picture of a body that resembles their own, yet is still considered to be attractive, shows that women do not buy magazines to feel inferior and unattractive, or to be convinced that happiness is found in lettuce leaves and diet coke. Women want to see real attainable beauty - a goal they can aim for, while still working, going out, and cooking for their families, not a woman who's life is (literally) controlled by being thin. Who would want such a narrow life? Self confidence and an interesting personality (and conversation that isn't always about what you weigh) makes you so much more attractive than a few lost pounds.

In England an official ban on size zero models still has not been enforced, but a look at the pictures for London Fashion Week next month shows the principle has not gone unheeded. The models, whilst slim, look healthier and more attractive than their predecessors, and provide a far better frame for showcasing the pieces.

I really hope that this change in the media's attitude helps the nationwide low self esteem of women. 'I'll be happy when I'm thin', 'I'll be able to wear nice clothes after my next diet', 'I decided to join the gym after seeing myself in the mirror' are such common phrases from women, they seem a part of normal conversation. Sadly they reveal the incredibly low self worth of so many. Why do you need to be smaller to be happy? (unless medically, your size is affecting your health), why can't you buy nice clothes to fit you now? And why, when catching a glimpse of yourself in the mirror do you not notice what beauty is there, rather than focussing on what you want to change?

Disclaimer...This blog is not encouraging or excusing obesity, discouraging healthy weight loss, or criticizing naturally thin people, it is to encourage acceptance your own shape, right now. Even if medically, weight needs to be lost, a stressed and depressed attitude, driven by images of impossibly thin women will not make you healthier, nor will frantic self hatred make the weight loss any faster, just more painful. So please, look in the mirror and enjoy what you see, right now.

:)