I’ve written in this space before about the model industry being what one insider referred to as “The Wild West”. Models as young as 14 are taken out of their schools, away from their homes, and sent to live in “model apartments” in big cities like New York, often with little or no chaperoning and no policies in place to protect them from predators or others who may take advantage of them.
In an appearance on Anderson Cooper, Canadian model Coco Rocha speaks out against the practice of using underage models and explains how the physical changes of adolescence might add to the trauma some of these girls experience. I think raising the minimum age for models will not only protect the girls but will help with the problem of child models (that’s what they are!) being held up as a beauty ideal for women.
16 is still too young! What say you?
I say high school graduation should be a requirement. So not necessarily an age cap, but pulling them out of school is what worries me the most? because what happens when you age out of the modeling industry?
I agree that would be a great minimum requirement and ensure the girls get at least that level of education before pursuing a profession.
I tend to agree that model ages either need to be mandated or there needs to be restrictions like in the entertainment industry, like tutors or chaperones, etc…
This interview is great – I’ve always loved Coco Rocha because she’s so successful despite the fact that she’s Canadian (not that being Canadian should be a hinderance in the first place, but I digress *rolling eyes*), and that she supports and organizes charitable events, and on top of that she’s now speaking out against another important problem in the modelling industry? Go Coco!
I think that any bit of age-raising is good, even if it’s only to 16 years old, but I think even that is a bit young. I feel like putting an age limit on it is weird because it’s possible for a 16 year old to be more prepared and independent than a 20 year old, so maybe a limit such as at least graduating high school would be good, since that would mean that if modelling didn’t work out, the model would still have some kind of degree to get her either into college or into some other job in the modelling, media, or fashion industry.
Thanks for sharing this,
Laura
I’m so impressed with her here and the way she spoke out on her own terms. You don’t need a megaphone to get a point across.