Models Direct Reflect on Changes to Modelling Age Restrictions

The news that Heather Locklear and Richie Sambora’s daughter appeared in a catwalk show wearing a skimpy leather dress at the tender age of 12 will no doubt appal lots of people, especially those with children of their own! It begs the question, how young is too young? Models Direct elaborate on possible changes in regulation coming to the high fashion world.

There are lots of pressures put on fashion models, age and weight being two major examples. Editor-in-chief of American Vogue Anna Wintour and designer Michael Kors spoke recently at the 13th Annual Public Forum on the subject, in a piece called "Health Matters: Weight and Wellness in the World of Fashion".

Wintour and Kors commented on the changes that are slowly being made in the high fashion industry, including minimum age requirements, the ban of cigarettes and alcohol backstage at shows and shorter working hours for younger models. She also commented on the importance of recognising models’ problems.

"I think super-young girls used to be the exception," Michael Kors, who has promised not to use models under 16 in his shows, announced. "There’s always been a Twiggy, or a model who is very young. But they were few and far between. Now, they’re completely common. That’s something I see as a huge problem."

Fashion models or agencies may lie about a model’s age to make sure they’re booked for assignments, either claiming to be younger or older than they actually are. Problems may arise if models feel obliged to do things they are not comfortable with, or even feel pressured into starving themselves to increase their chances of being booked. There are even more concerns when it comes to professionals, such as the recent allegations made against photographer Terry Richardson.

In Paris there are already some age restrictions in place, such as models under 16 not being allowed to work on Sundays or after 9pm; now it looks like changes will be made in other cities.

While the world of high fashion is very different to the work that Models Direct does, the commercial modelling agency of course thinks that it’s great that changes may be made to help protect young models.



About Models Direct

Models Direct (http://www.modelsdirect.com) is a talent and model agency for female models, male models, teen models, child models and baby models for advertising, fashion, film, TV, promotional and photographic modelling work. We are a Government-regulated Model Employment Agency... not an online showcase, we're the real thing!

If you think you, or perhaps your partner, child, baby or pet, might be a suitable model for us to put forward for selection to appear in films, TV, fashion, promotions, advertisements and photographic modelling, please visit the website (http://www.modelsdirect.com/become-a-model) or call us on +44 (0)871 224 6000. Modelling can be great fun & often rewarding as a part time hobby.

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