Who's Really the Problem? Media or Models?
A huge problem in the fashion industry is the use of models to show off clothing. The problem is not that there are models that are wanting to show off the clothing, but the size and structure of the models. Models are portrayed as perfect individuals.
These extremely skinny humans that will do anything to look good in the clothes they are modeling. Models are forced to be one hundred pounds and have perfect skin, and a six pack in order for them to be beautiful in the eyes of the fashion industry and to the world.
The first problem that I am going to bring up is the amount of anorexic or bulimic models that we have showing off clothes. I typed in anorexic into Google, and the first recommended search was "anorexic models" this is the first problem that we have with our perceptions of models.
Models are literally told by their agents to stop eating or work out more because they are not the ideal size for the clothing they will be wearing. There is so much body shaming going on because they aren't perfect in the eyes of their agent. I read an article on Model Zuzanna Buchwald that talked about her modeling experience.
She was told not to eat very often to keep her figure model ready, and she said that she developed anorexia and bulimia for the 4 years she modeled. Because of these mental illnesses, she stated that, "I was very week, very down all the time.
I lost my period for three years, I had problems with my teeth, my complexion was grey. My skin was dry. It was a terrible experience." Is this the type of pressure we want to put on people just like yourself, in order for clothes to look good? Is it worth it? This story made me realize that models are humans too.
They don't choose this lifestyle of not eating and exercising until they pass out. This is what society thinks is important, and there needs to be a drastic change if not now, in the near future.
To follow, what goes along with this anorexia and bulimia is depression and anxiety. In a study from 2012, 68.3% of models admit to suffering from depression or anxiety. THIS TOTALLY MAKES SENSE! Models are usually started from a young age, and undergo a lot of stress to be perfect, and act perfect, and look perfect.
They are given no room for error which would cause a lot of stress and anxiety to be perfect which is unattainable. Because of their modeling career, they don't get to grow up like normal kids.
They are placed in random cities, always traveling and moving around with their contracts. Looking for modeling gigs would be horrible.
If you are rejected or told you aren't good enough or pretty enough would take a toll on someone's confidence and self-worth. A lot of times models feel alone or rejected and out of control.
They are constantly being told how to look, and how to act and having layers and layers of makeup and product on their face and in their hair. They are just so lost and have no sense of self which is sad and something that needs to be changed.
The outrage that models get from social media is ridiculous. Social media is used to tear people down that aren't models, but just imagine how models are judged. I know that we all have watched the Victoria Secret Fashion Show.
These are supposed to be the most beautiful models on Earth that are rocking the new fashion line of bras and panties for Victoria Secret. Just last year, one of the models, who was probably already so nervous, slipped and fell on her walk around the stage. She fell on her knees and had a hard time getting back up due to the attire she had on.
No problem except that she was being watch and judged by millions of viewers. Within seconds, her fall was recorded and posted onto Twitter for everyone to see and tease her for. Seconds. It took seconds before her fall was all over social media and there were memes being made, and the backlash was thrown.
Models are seen as being perfect and with their life all together from the outside perspective. In all reality, models live a hard life of constantly being judged and looked down upon. This is something that needs to be solved.
This cannot keep being a trend for models to experience. My solution would be to fire all of the agents that think that 105 is too big. We need fashion designers to make clothes to fit the average person.
Not everyone is a size double zero. We need to make clothes that fit everybody type and brands that take responsibility for their models and get them the help they need before spiraling out of control.
As a 5'6 woman, I will never be a model. I played sports and have scars from softball that don't fit the criteria of a perfect body. AND THAT IS OKAY! These are the type of people that we need modeling to show what the clothes really look like on an average human. Nothing is worse than seeing an outfit on a mannequin and going to try it on and it look horrible on you. So why do we model clothing on models that don't look like the average human?
The solution is to use models that are average and not body shame people on social media. Models should be able to live a healthy and normal life style while still being pretty enough. Feeling pretty is a big part in ones' character and confidence and something that we need to be cautious of.
In addition, as an audience, be nice! Don't be jealous and post negative things about models because you wish you could look like them and be like them. Models are people too. Don't let jealously dictate your actions and views on social media just to tear someone down.