MODEL SKINNY

As London Fashion Week kicked off, so did the row over size 00 stick-thin models. And as the shows drew to a close, it showed no sign of cooling down.

Madrid set a new trend, and the cat amongst the pigeons - by banning girls with a body mass index of less than 18.5 from the catwalk - but London fashionistas resolutely refused to follow suit, stuck their pert little noses up at the very idea of it, and at many shows, size 00 was still the order of the day.

Health experts condemned the decision and ordinary women agree - a poll carried out by Closer Diets this week showed a resounding 96% of visitors to the site would prefer to see real women on the catwalk and not the standard walking coathangers.

Now, I have nothing against naturally thin girls, if you are made that way, you can no more change it than most women become a size 00 without serious restriction and a Coke habit - either Diet or, well, you know...but the fact is that people like Kate Moss, who are naturally thin, are freaks of nature, who people like Victoria Beckham try to emulate and have to suffer to do it. Then...mere mortals and young girls try to copy Vicky B and we're getting into a right mess.

Images

Gail Porter added her weight to the argument by saying: "Having struggled with the disease (anorexia) myself, the image that we’re portraying to our children scares me."

It scares me too. If adult women are encouraged by seeing ever thinner role models...what is happening to the nations ten year olds - on the one hand being encouraged to eat Frosties and Walkers Crisps - but on the other being told that eating crisps is as disgusting as drinking cooking oil (British Heart Foundation adverts last week)

Eating disorders

The dangers of worshipping the uber-skinny look are clear: Eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia and compulsive over-eating disorder affect a staggering 12% of the population.

Some women swear blind that they naturally have a low BMI and the fact that healthy-looking stars like curvy Kelly Brook has a BMI of just 17.8 and healthy model mum Melinda Messenger just 17.4 adds weight to their argument. So, no to picking on skinny girls too!

Tara Palmer-Tomkinson (BMI 16.1) pointed out: "As a naturally thin person I understand that some of these girls can have a BMI of less than 18 and still be healthy."

And Stuart Rose, chairman of the British Fashion Council, said that a ban was unreasonable: "Outright bans and legislation are definitely not a route we want to go down."

It may well be that banning models on the grounds of BMI alone is not the answer, but it’s certainly time for the fashion industry to take some action to change this unhealthy, ugly and downright dangerous trend.

Luisel Ramos

Surely, even if the industry refuses to accept that it plays a part in encouraging young girls to idolise the super-skinny, the horrific death of 22 year-old model Luisel Ramos last month – of a heart attack after surviving on a diet of salad leaves and diet coke for 3 months - should spur them on.

Elena Miro

To counteract the size 00 trend, weekend previews at Milan opened with the work of Italian designer Elena Miro featuring beautifully proportioned size 14 and 16 models, which most designers seem to be unable to accept, is actually the average size for a woman. All were bloody gorgeous!

Fashion writer Laura Asnaghi said: "They were a joy to watch. They were sensual and sexy and most of all had  flesh on them, which was fantastic.Miro's show is opening the week which today also features collections by Dolce & Gabbana and Giorgio Armani. Among the models at the Miro show was 20-year old Valentina Mezzetti, a size 14.
Much as I'm anti-diet - this is an interesting link. Closerdiets.com's Nicky Harley has been interviewing the stars to find out what they think on the subject. 

What do you think? e-mail Relentlessly Positive and tell us all about it!