Translated material
Beauty requires help
Models will have to prove the absence of dangerous diseases
The fashion industry seems to be facing new standards. A model's easily identifiable appearance may soon have to be accompanied by a mandatory medical examination certificate, guaranteeing the absence of "occupational" diseases - in particular, anorexia nervosa. Conversations about the need to reconsider the approach to the selection of models who carry on their fragile shoulders not only the latest collections from leading couturiers, but also the high idea of glamor to the fragile masses of girls, were held in Europe throughout 2006. But they were the first to think of making a certificate stamped by a medical institution in Brazil, where last week two representatives of the world of high fashion died from exhaustion, as a pass to the podium. According to ITAR-TASS, all leading modeling agencies in this country intend to review their personnel policies so that this does not happen again. “I serve the needs of the market. But at the same time, I will not work with sick people,” Eli Hadid, director of the Mega Model agency, told the Globe newspaper. According to him, this will be the response of professionals to society outraged by the death of the girls.The outburst of public outrage, which forced Mr. Hadid's colleagues to take a closer look at the girls under his charge, followed the death of two models, one of whom was already quite famous in Sao Paulo. Fashion model Anna Carolina Reston Makan died the year she came of age - with a height of 174 centimeters, her weight was 40 kg. Doctors fought for her life for two weeks, but a whole bunch of diseases, provoked by many years of struggle for the “ideal” shape, did not allow saving the girl. And almost immediately it became known about the death of her peer, who also became a victim of anorexia nervosa, Carla Sobrada Casale. In addition, two November tragedies in Brazil became a kind of echo of the August events in Montevideo, where the famous Uruguayan fashion model Luisel Ramos died right on the catwalk.
The death of the girls clearly confirmed that the struggle for beauty is becoming a medical problem that goes beyond the world of high fashion. Actually, this slogan was imported to Latin America from Spain, where the Socialist government led by Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatera is trying to legislatively influence leading fashion houses and ready-to-wear manufacturers. Administrative pressure and negotiations have already forced some companies to refuse to use girls in advertising who have a critical body mass index and have not been examined by a nutritionist. They were not allowed on the catwalk during the autumn fashion shows in Madrid and London, and they planned to refuse the services of overly emaciated models during Milan Fashion Week.
However, this turn of events, naturally, did not suit the modeling agencies, which for years had been investing money in selecting and training girls according to the standards set by famous couturiers. A global reshaping of these templates, of course, is unlikely to threaten them with serious personnel problems, but agency owners admit that it will be difficult for some promoted models to meet the new requirements.