Then & Now

If we look back on the days when the fresh faced Gemma Ward started her modeling career; walking down the runway, shooting multiple magazine covers and generaly making her mark. She was young, blonde, skinny and had a face that is hard to forget.

 "Gemma is one of the very, very few models who look as though they come from another dimension." - British photographer Nick Wright"

Going back to the point of Gemma being so young; most models start when they are young , around 16 which is not always the wisest thing. They are still young girls who are developing into woman, yet they are put on a stage representing WOMAN. When these young women finish going through puberty it is alway a shock that they end up having breasts, hips and have likely lost their boyish figures.

 If we look at photos of Geema Ward when she started and to how she looks today, this information will definately be able to be interpreted a little better.

Now

Before

The industry uses such young girl, not woman, who are ment to be selling to woman around the world. Is this a bad image or should people be looking at the clothes rather than who is wearing it. Though in todays modeling world there ahs been new laws which ensure all models are 16 years or older if they are walking on the runways and they are also trying to ban too skinny models from the runways. this is something that will most likely take time, but we have time and we soon see the change from these new regulationts.

Now

Before

                              

    

      

A Comparison

 The fact is a majority of our Supermodels are tall and slim, but to what degree? If you see a photo of one of these models it is without a doubt that the image you see has been retouched to a degree of almost perfection. Or rather an unrealistic look. Comparing these few models to almost any female, you would be able to see just how many imperfections someone may have. Miranda Kerr, Chanel Iman, Adriana Lima and Alessadra Ambrosio are just a few of our new group of Supermodels. It would be no surprise to see them on the cover of an ad campaign or magazine. If you wanted to truly know what these woman actually measured up to in real life than on a magazine here are a few measurements and info which may help you understand why they are so big in the fashion industry.







Alessandra Ambrosio

           

Miranda kerr

Age: 27

Ethnicity: Serbian, Persian, Filipino, Turkish, Australian ancestry

Height: 177cm

Weight: 55Kg
Measurements: 85-60-85 cm

Chanel Iman

Age: 21

Ethnicity: Korean and African American

Height: 178cm

Weight:49kg

Measurements: 81-58-84 cm

Adriana Lima

Age: 29

Ethnicity: Native-Brazilian, African-Brazilian, Portuguese, French, and Caribbean

Height: 177cm

Weight: 51kg

Measurements: 84-61-86 cm

Alessandra Ambrosio

Age: 29

Ethnicity: Italian and Polish

Height: 178cm

Weight: 52kg

Measurements: 86-61-86 cm



Is this really Perfection.

It has been a little while since I last posted, though now something that I believe is interesting came to mind. We know that Supermodels look thin or skinny and also in most cases quite tall. But what is there height and weight? How do they compare to the average female body size?


Twiggy is a great example of a Supermodel who is rather small. She stood at 5”6” (168cm) when she was 17 years old, not the typical standard of the ‘Amazon’ type Supermodels that sprung up in later years. Twiggy is able to be seen in photos as being on the skinny side and this is true. She weight approximately 41kg or 90pounds when she was at her peak and measured in at 81-58-81 cm. Twiggy had a BMI of only 15.

“She was anorexic-thin without being anorexic”

Another quote which I believed was effective with the intents to describe Twiggy’s waif figure, “Twiggy is an X-ray not a picture”, this was said by Marshal McLuhan.

Another British model who is on the short and thin side is Kate Moss. She measures at a height considered too short for the catwalk, yet Kate Moss was able to overcome that obstacle to become one of the best know Models around the world. Kate Moss is 170cm or 5 feet 6 inches. Along with her short height she had a very low weight, she only weighed 48kg.



Supermodels such as Naomi Campbell seem to be what most would consider the height of a supermodel. Naomi is known to be 177cm or 5 feet 10 inches tall; this is a height that is seen more often on today’s catwalks. Her weight was not as precise as she did have times when her weight varied minimally. Naomi’s weight was estimated to be around 48-54 kg.

Gisele Bundchen is a name known worldwide; this has helped her become the number one earning Supermodel as I pointed out before. She is 179cm or 5 feet 10 inches and weighs approximately 57kg. I know supermodel like Gisele have set a standard of almost perfection that most girls would idolise.

Everyone is different, even Supermodels vary and change overtime. Girls need to know about the different standards of ideal perfection and what is attainable. Gisele has a standard that would be hard for a lot of women to achieve but at least it is not as unrealistic as Twiggy and Kate Moss's image.

In my Dreams.

"We don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day." - Linda Evangelista, 1991.

 Well for starter i would like to point out supermodels, some more than others, would be waking up to this amount of money along with free clothing, make, cars and what many other things that there face and body are able to sell.

 Over the past couple of years one model has stayed at the top of the Top Earning supermodels. I believe this is a quite obvious model, but for those who are not so familiar with her work it is non other than. Gisele Bundchen.

 She not only modeled as a Victoria's Secret Angel, but also has major endorsements for labels such as Ralph Lauren. There is also the fact that she has a line of sandals which are the most-sold Brazilian flip-flops in the world.

 Just to rub it in a bit more, last year Giselse raked in an amazing $35 million through all the many products and labels her face is signed to. This brings her total fortune to an astounding $150 million.

The leading ladies who earned an amount far from Gisele's, but still very impressive are:
Hiedi Klum who earned $14 million last year. Impressive for this hard working mother of four, who also is the presenter of the hit show Project Runway.

Finally it would not be a recognised list if Kate Moss wasn't on it. Though Kate Moss may not be every ones favourite she has still left her mark.She made $7.5 million.

I believe the work done by these women is impressive and too most is nothing but a dream.

We'll Still Buy it.

We all know the work of a Supermodel involves promoting and selling whatever they are being used for to advertise. The advertisements they are in can be seen around most of the world; on billboards, magazine covers and editorials, television, books, clothes and a variety of different products. The models are used in advertisements as they are meant to be of a high standard of beauty which will draw our attention. When a Supermodel is being used it is not just the way they look that sells the product but the models name.

This is something that I feel I do myself. I know if I was to see a supermodel, such as Abbey-Lee Kershaw or Gemma Ward, on the cover of a magazine I would be more inclined to buy it, rather than a magazine that uses a model or person that is not well known.
On the righ Vogue magazine : Gemma Ward

                        

There is also the fact that not all advertising campaigns are appropriate for people of all ages or cultures to view. Sometimes the quote ‘Sex Sells’ is taken too far, becoming a little too controversial, and yet it can be seen by many as classy or beautiful when the face or body of a supermodel is being used.

The cover to the left would definately be looked at differently if it was on the cover of a racy magazine. 

Our own Perception

 There is this saying Supermodel syndrome, have you heard of it before? I didn’t, not until today actually.
   I feel that even though I don’t know it very well there are certain people who would have crossed it before. It may be recognised more by a certain type of person, but one thing that it most likely obvious, yes it does have to do with body image and perfection .

  Peggy C. Founder of the Montreux Clinic made a good point which I came across while reading her book,

‘Supermodel syndrome is not the cause of eating disorders, it is best to think of it as a possible trigger’.

Still some people will hang on to the belief that the reason people have eating disorders is due to the fact there are young, thin, beautiful women being used to advertise many products around the world.

  We view modelling as an area where perfection seems unattainable; this type of body image will affect many women in different ways.

  Peggy touched on an important point that can many young women will be able to relate to,

‘...that media and advertising images that glorify perfection and beauty contribute too many women’s sense of un-happiness about their imperfect human bodies.’

As I continued reading I was positive that she would bash supermodels, stating that they are the major cause for women’s body dysmorphic views and eating disorders. Though she actually contradicted this by saying she is not convinced the rate of eating disorders would fall with a movement to vanish the supermodel syndrome (unrealistic looks). She believed people with eating disorders would just find another source of perfection to emulate.

 I know there are supermodels that have sent the wrong message; this message was then spread widely by the media and our culture. My view is that women shouldn’t have to feel the need tolook like something so unattainable that is displayed in many ways almost unrealistic. Preferably women should feel perfect in their own skin, even with these supermodels being around. You need to have diversity to attain true beauty.