Models are by definition thin because designers are always looking for girls with as little meat on their bones as possible, to have clothes “hang correctly.” On this note, the winner of the prestigious Elite Model Competition is so slender she's getting various media outlets all riled up.Julia Schneider, 15, from Sweden, was among the many girls who traveled to Shanghai this week, to take part in the biggest model competition out there, the Elite Competition.
Unlike the other girls, she actually won, but she's now seeing her big day marred by controversy as to her figure and whether it's not sending the wrong message to other girls.
Granted, Julia is just 15 so she still has some growing to do. She's also very passionate about physically challenging roles and she was probably blessed with good genes as well.
All these could explain her tiny frame, which makes her appear thin and “frail” even in comparison to other models; she doesn't necessarily have an eating disorder or anything along those lines.
Nevertheless, by naming her as the best Elite model this year and then having her face and body plastered all over in the media could send the wrong message to girls, namely that hers is a figure they should aspire to, concerned voices are saying.
“Schneider is an extremely gaunt and frail looking girl, even when compared to fellow skinny contestants. […] The worry is that impressionable young girls might learn to consider her an example of a physical ideal,”
LimeLife writes.
Montreal Gazette's Lens blog agrees: Julia is too thin and having her win the much coveted title of an Elite model will make other girls her age hate their looks and possibly launch into destructive behaviors to look like her.
“Sweden’s Julia Schneider looks more like a 'model' of anorexia than anything stylish that the fashion industry should be putting on a pedestal as a standard for emulation...” the Lens blog says.
“Skeletons are meant jump out of closets not on to fashion runways. Why are only male models generally allowed to have an adult’s body shape?” it asks.
The Huffington Post is probably one of the few outlets to actually come to Julia's defense: just because we have a problem with girls developing eating disorders doesn't mean we should vilify this model in particular, it argues.
“Ease off. Julia's 15 and still growing. Yes, she's thin, but (sadly?) the modeling industry has historically praised models who are on the reedier side. That's the larger issue that should continue to be confronted, so we don't unnecessarily vilify one teen girl for a grander problem,” the Post writes.
As of now, the debate is still raging on.
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