Social Change Project- Rough Draft

To all modeling agencies and fashion brands that it may concern:

        I am an ex- magazine reader. I barely pick up a magazine now day. I've experienced the self-esteem issues and longing to be skinny like the models on the covers too many times. To pick up a magazine, see these amazingly skinny girls, and feel like I could never even compare. Call me jealous, envious, whatever you want. But, I can’t help it. No young woman can when she sees these skinny models. Everyone wants to be beautiful, especially in their adolescence. And when I see these models, just as I’m sure many young women also do, honestly, I envy them. And I despise the fact that modeling agencies and fashion brands do this on purpose. It's intentional in their part making readers feel envy and seek to be like the models in these pictures. They think that envy will make us want to buy their clothes, shoes, jewelry. But, you've got it all wrong.
        I’m sure there are many who have given up reading magazines because they've become so intimidated by the images and the demands that those women are what is truly beautiful. I may only be one "ex" magazine reader, but I know I am not the only who has had my conscience weighed down, calling myself fat, finding all the imperfections in myself because these models intimidated me into looking PERFECT all the time-which is impossible. These skinny models haunt young women everywhere they go, they've become a normal part of everyday life. And, who recruits these models to taunt us with their perfectly toned, bony bodies? You do: all of you modeling agencies and fashion brands.
        A significant number of young women from the ages of 15 to 25 are becoming intimidated by skinny, anorexic, and unnaturally fit models featured in magazines. Because it is causing underlying mental and physical harm to young women, and because it is encouraging models to become "skinny enough" to fit into modeling agencies’ standards, to the point where it is extremely harmful, modeling agencies should being using “normal sized” models: curvaceous, plus sized, pear shaped, apple shaped, whatever shaped, to promote a healthy body, healthy lifestyle, and a healthy mentality towards appearance. It has been proven to not only benefit young women in being more confident, but also the popularity of brands, and sales.
Most young women see these extremely skinny, fit models and naturally, and their self-esteem usually drops down. Who doesn't want to fit in with these body type standards? Most young women think the only major problem in with themselves is their weight. It is human to feel the need to be better than your present self, to want to look like what people are saying is “beautiful” and “healthy”. As stated on "Eating Disorders and the Role of the Media," a survey was conducted with teenage girls who were given three magic wishes. It concluded that their number one wish was to “lose weight and keep it off.” In another survey, most women said that what they most wanted to change about themselves was their weight. “This pervasive body dissatisfaction and preoccupation with weight has become part of the female experience in North America” (Eating Disorders”, Spettigue).
        Although it is underlying, and no one may notice it, this skinny epidemic is causing harm to young women. The media plays a major role in developing some of the most well-known eating disorders, which are the predominant effect of these anorexic models being all over the media. Studies looking at the role of media in eating disorders revealed that over the time, the average weight is decreasing among models, who are “held up as ideals of beauty”( “Eating Disorders”, Spettigue ). What is ironic, that appears in the same study, is that over the same period, the weight of American women is increasing. This increases the discrepancy of the actual body size, and the ideal body size in America. Because young women are trying so hard to come into this “ideal,” most of the time, they begin developing eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia.
        Not only is this anorexic-like “ideal” body type doing damage to young women, it is also affecting models. As time passes, according to "Eating Disorders and the Role of the Media," the weight is constantly decreasing among models. This is another important issue to look at, because these models are competing to be the skinniest, to have the extreme ideal skinny body. Models are obsessing more and more about their bodies, trying everything and anything to become the skinniest. Not only does this add to the plenitude of eating disorder cases, it also becomes a bad example for young women. Models are displayed on social media but it is also apparent as always obsessing over their weight. And the media does not censor out when these models show evidence of eating disorders. Obvious or not, it does encourage young women to do the same so that they become just like these models. In an article on Medical News Today, a study on increasing cases of eating disorders among models estimated that about 20% to 40% of fashion models are currently experiencing an eating disorder. These could be models in your own agencies; struggling to stay “skinny,” and harming themselves in the process to meet your “skinny” standards.
        It has been proven that curvaceous models are more appealing to the public. Many modeling agencies and famous brands are now doing specials on “shape,” including designer Jean-Paul Gaultier. Many women were emotionally thankful for this revolution in fashion, claiming it made them feel confident, sexy, and more likely to go out of the box when picking out an outfit. The benefits of using curvaceous models are plenty. Sometimes, skinny can be appealing, but in these decades, curvaceous is the new sexy, it is the new allure to both men and women. It makes women more confident about their bodies, and more willing to go on shopping sprees and purchase things to showcase it proudly.as proof of this spreading trend, Famous designers such as Mark Fast and Jean- Paul Gaultier have featured larger models in their shows, and magazines such as French Elle, American Glamour, and V Magazine, have photographed larger models in special editions. Look Magazine’s Editor Ali Hall stated, "There have been so many novelty things around larger women. I think if you're going to do it, you have to say this is going to be the norm for us, which is why we've decided to do it every week." Hall also stated that “the traditional image of a model to show women what they should look like has become redundant.”
        It was also discovered that sales have increased since these agencies and brands began using curvaceous models. In Germany, a leading magazine stopped using professional models altogether in January, and now uses a diverse range of readers in its fashion pages. Sales have gone up 4%. The use of more diverse models could also help to set a magazine or modeling agency apart from others. Ben Barry, a PhD student at Cambridge University, thinks eventually there will be a change for the better and that more curvaceous and diverse body types will be featured. In his research, he theorizes female consumers are more likely to buy something when an advertisement (and by extension, a glossy magazine fashion spread) features a model who is more reflective of them.
        For the sake of the young women of America, Modeling agencies should begin using normal sized, curvaceous, and plus sized models, who promote healthy body types instead of the present “too skinny” ideal promoted by most models. This problem is causing underlying mental and physical harm to young women. It is also encouraging models to become "skinny enough" to fit into modeling agencies’ standards, to the point where it is extremely harmful. Although many agencies as well as brands are making the switch to the curves, it is still presented as a problem, because of the steady numbers of eating disorders still linked with the media. How long is it going to take for everyone to open up their eyes and see? Curvy is the new beautiful, and its taking over.
        Think about my proposal. Think about the multitude of young women it affects, and how it would affect yourselves. Think of the benefits, for yourselves, and for these young women, and lastly, and think of others, and not only yourselves. I call you into considering this change. It is a change for the better.

-Brisa Dos Santos