Joining Israel, Spain and Italy, France is the next country considering legislation that would ban models who are deemed “too thin”; from hitting the runways and editorial spreads.
Following the 2007 controversy surrounding French fashion model Isabelle Caro (seen in the photo above), who posed for a shocking anti-anorexia campaign before succumbing to the disease at the age of 28, the bill is a welcome change in the fashion industry.
The French government will begin debating the bill Tuesday, with Reuters reporting it is “likely”; to pass. The bill would see fashion houses fined 75,000 euros ($80,000) with staffers who hire models deemed “too thin”; potentially facing six month jail sentences. The bill would also penalize pro-anorexia websites.
“It’s important for fashion models to say that they need to eat well and take care of their health, especially for young women who look to the models as an aesthetic ideal,” Health Minister Marisol Touraine says.
So what qualifies a model as “too thin”;? If the bill was to pass, potential cat walkers would require medical certificates that prove they have a BMI of 18, approximately 121 pounds for a person who is 5 foot 7.
As we mentioned, France would be joining Israel, Span and Italy in legislating health in the fashion industry. Joining in the regulation of underweight models, the couture capital has made steps in the right direction in the last year – abiding by the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s various health guidelines and embracing full-figured models.