Models and your self-esteem

Flipping through the pages of a magazine or turning on the television can do a measure to one’s self-esteem these days. The way-too tiny models that have existed since Twiggy took front and center stage in the 1970s are plentiful in runway shows, in the movies, on TV, and in magazine ads. In recent years, people have been shocked by the deaths of successful models due to eating disorders, and a skeleton-like model who upset the audience at a runway show, her prominent ribs sticking out for all to see. These incidents illustrated one of the problems that exists in the modeling world and in the rest of society as well. Unfortunately, despite the clear dangers of trying to stay so thin, this is not the message that gets through to most American women. Instead, the models who survive and carry on their jobs day after day have done a huge part in the creation of what most call an “Ugly” day. You know, those days when you feel like the fattest, most unattractive person on the planet?

Thankfully, there are steps being taken to at least reduce feelings of “Fatness” in comparison to the stick thin models, the majority of whom spend all their time just trying to stay that thin. Spain for one has introduced a rule on the runway in Madrid where all models must meet a certain Body Mass Index (BMI) requirement; no model may have a BMI of less than 18. The Body Mass Index is calculated with a formula using a person’s height and weight. To calculate your own BMI, you can visit the Department of Health and Human Services at http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/index.htm.

In the United States, plus-sized models have begun to take some major contracts. Crystal Renn, a size 12 model who made an appearance on Oprah November 7th, 2006, took a highly desired contract with Dolce & Gabbana and has been featured in Vogue multiple times. It is models like Crystal Renn that make the average American women, who we all can see is larger than a size 0, dream that they too could be on the front cover of a major fashion magazine. Her story brings hope as well, since she started modeling in her teens and went to drastic measures to stay thin. Once she changed her mind, and allowed her body to return to its natural state, she still managed to obtain modeling contracts.

A campaign run by Dove called Campaign for Real Beauty has also brought the idea of larger models to the forefront. With a website that offers a mother-daughter kit from improving self-esteem and a forum for people to discuss their problems with self-esteem and body image, Dove has shown itself as compassionate to the pressure put on women to look a certain way. The models in the Campaign for Real Beauty reflect the variety of body types that exist; short, tall, small hips, big hips, small chest, big chest, long legs, short legs, etc. You can visit Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty website at http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/.

Fortunately, there is at least a shred of hope for our “ugly” days to come to an official end. In the meantime, when you are feeling substandard, close the fashion and celebrity magazines, shut off the celebrity news channel. Sometimes a good book or coffee and conversation with friends or even a good night out dancing is all we need to feel our best.