Introduction
In the world of professional modeling, models have been expected to be thin. This is not a good trend as far as modeling is concerned. Many people have assumed that for one to make a good professional model they should be thin. It is evident that most designers are only interested in ensuring that their products fit their prospective customers. On the other hand, they have forgotten to critically look at the whole modeling aspect as expected. The model trends have been mostly leaning on thin models. To suit the market these models have always struggled to ensure that they have the right bodies that will make them more competitive. And this explains why many of them prefer to be thin. It has been forgotten that modeling is a round profession that should also involve fat models.
The study aims at ensuring that the trends are changed so that we can incorporate new aspects in the modeling profession. For a long time, many designers have been using models to try and sell their products. Modeling is a good profession whose impact on society can not be ignored. Since it touches on everybody’s life we need to change our minds on how we look at these noble professions. We have been able to change our perceptions about some products because of the good mannerisms in the profession. On the other hand, we have forgotten to give this industry the attention it deserves and left it to thrive on unsound principles.
Though it has been proved that thin models make better professions we can not forget that we also have other capable people who can also do well in the industry. Modeling is not a wholesome industry but it has many segments that can be redefined
to incorporate other emerging approaches to the profession. It has different aspects like photographic modeling, fashion modeling, fit modeling and commercial modeling (Mendick 12). This therefore tells us that this is a very big industry that can accommodate everyone and not necessarily thin models.
We consume many products and this explains our diversity. On the contrary we have not translated this diversity to allow even bigger models to market the products that we use because of our belief that modeling should only be done by thin models
Discussion
Argument 1
The weight issue has presented many arguments as for which way to follow; there are many cases where models have always starved themselves in the process of trying to be to come up with the right bodies. As a consequence of this the models have ended up having a problem of anorexia nervosa. Models have in most occasions been straining just to have the skinny figure that will win those contracts. This is in total violation of nutritional ethics and impacts negatively on their health (Rumney, p. 5).Anorexia nervosa is a bad disease to the modeling industry and it has resurrected the justification for there to be limits towards weight that one is supposed to have so as to reduce the number of skinny models.
Argument 2
Most of the modeling has been emphasized to rely on skinny people. The way people view models is that they are supposed to be skinny. This is as a result of the globalization pressure from advertisers and marketers who have insisted on certain weights. This has led to unhealthy modeling to thrive in the industry, as it has forced models to be skinny so that they can be competitive. The large picture that is created is that models are only supposed to be skinny which is not good. It has created a bad trend to other women who have looked at the models as their role models. In trying to be like them they have also strained to cut weight and in the process encountered health complications. Insistence on thin models has locked out other deserving people. It is necessary to have a minimum weight that will stop this kind of exploitation and in the process open up the modeling industry. When we restrict such their will be an opportunity to redefine modeling so that it is not only based on being skinny (Berry, p. 5).
Argument 3
Because models have been seen to be skinny they have had a bad influence to the whole industry. Most people who look upon the models as their role models have also followed these trends so as to be like them. Since we are not the same we should also allow large models to practice this noble profession. There are diverse products that the market is offering and this should also in co-operate those with big bodies. It has been proved that bigger models can also be used to promote products. This has been seen in most magazines that are coming up with this new idea as people have not been questioning the change (Bowdon, p. 6). Larger models will not have a negative impact on the industry as they will help to redefine it and bring in new trends.
Like any other profession it needs to be able to operate freely. First of all we need to change our perception about modeling. Most people think that a model is someone who’s is skinny, yet this is just an advanced opinion. Modeling agencies and companies should place a minimum weight that will lock out models that are too thin. There are different ways of modeling that can accommodate various body sizes and not necessarily being skinny. These should not restrict fat models from joining the career as there are products that are also used by fat people.
Models with bigger body weights are normally denied a chance to exploit their talents just because of weight. A restriction to modeling weight is evident to encourage models to add on weight. There are many numerous opportunities that exist in modeling even for those people with large weights. Modeling is diverse and should be able to accommodate every body. There are even extreme cases where models have ended up dying because they want to have a skinny body which is not good (Beckford 3). People should not be locked out of modeling just because they have big bodies because this amounts to discrimination.
Conclusion
Modeling is a lucrative career that employs a lot of people and hence should be promoted. Countries are supposed to come up with good regulations that will oversee the industry. Instead of looking at modeling as a career other people have looked at it as a leisure activity. It is high time that we gave it a strategic approach. There is need for proper investment in the modeling industry both by the government and the private sector to ensure that there is self sustainability. The industry has the capability to expand and grow even much better if it is given a better outlook.
Works Cited
- Bawdon, Fiona. “No Model for Girls: Controversy over “Size Zero” Models Is No Longer Confined to the Fashion Industry.” New Statesman 136 (2007): 28-30.
- Berry, Bonnie. Beauty Bias: Discrimination and Social Power. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2007.
- Mendick, Robert. “Pressure Mounts for ‘Ban’ on Zero Size Models.” The Evening Standard 2008.
- Rumney, Avis. Dying to Please: Anorexia, Treatment and Recovery. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 2009.