I don't know if I posted this in the right category, but here goes:

Models and age, is it a big deal? There has been plenty of discussion about when young is too young. But I just started to think about the other way around: what if you're in you're early twenties and want to start out? Honestly, I think that's a much better age because you're more grounded and you (hopefully) have an education to fall back on. On the other hand there are lots of young models to compete with and when you take the Elite Model Look competition for example, where the ages range from 14 till 22, it's always the really young ones (15) that get picked.

So what do you think? Is it possible or wishful thinking? Do you have to lie about your age if you want to model in this situation?

What are your thoughts?

It the seems younger the better is the thing for the last 8-9 some odd years of the industry. And the fashion industry isn't like film, food, tv, music ect. industries where they're going to lose sleep over what the general public wants or thinks. When they decide on something they want to do, they go all out and don't care what anyone thinks and figure the old fans will just adjust, get over it, learn to love it or complain but still stick around and the new generation, that's what they know so they'll of course go a long with it or tolerate it or even think that's the way it ought to be. Since that's always been the case, they have no reason to change (from doing whatever they want). I saw an interview with Hana Soukupova where she was saying she's 'old' and she was 23 I think and the standard has gotten younger since she started and she started persuing at 13 but signed a contract at 15 but much younger girls have been doing more erotic work since then and there was an article in the New York Times in 07 about models getting younger and younger. There are even some lesser known magazines now with 13-14 year olds in sexual poses on the cover . I personally would prefer a requirement of 18 minimum for nudity and eroticism of any kind and I find sexual and erotic editorials with 12-14 especially really strange in general 0.0 .

between 14 and 24 is a good age in my opinion.

Girls under 16 shouldn't do any topless pictures. And in general nudity should look expensive and not cheap.

I don't like if a 13 years old girl will send in the world, because she's too young, she'll change herself a lot in the next years.

I would start a development in an age of 14 very slowly and then with 15 and half I agree for fashion shows etc

I think there's no such thing as the best age to start. It really depends on girl's psychique and other factors. But I agree with you about the certain rule that should be introduced, like not putting a model in a see-through clothing on the runway if she's under 16 (if not 18). I found it weird that Tanya D. had to walk the Dior runway at age 15 in a see-through dress Anyway, I guess if I had to choose the best age to start.... it's probably 15-16 (to do modelling as a part-time job, during weekends, holidays etc.) and then do it full-time when you're done with high school. Then again, some of my favourite models didn't go to high school, they just would have to pass subjects every few months without going to school regularly.... I somehow admire that as I can't imagine I could handle modelling and school with GOOD grades.

You know, I have fairly strong views on this subject, but rather then share them, as it will more then likely get me banned, or a permanent warning level I'm just going to just walk away.. Because if I speak my mind there will be flames, bashing and general 'bad karma'.

Thanks for your insights everyone. I agree the fashion world (and in it the modeling business) is a strange one. I was asking because a classmate of mine wants to start now she has a college degree but fears she's too old. Then again, Anna Selezneva is actually 22 but is advertised as being 18....It got me thinking about the weird thing about models and age.

@phenobarbie: you have made me curious.

Surely your view cannot be that bad? Unless you're openly advertising child pornography with an addition of a lot of foul words, I don't see what harm it could do to share your thoughts. There's no ban against sharing an opinion, as long as it's not some random hurtful statement.

I don't condone child pornography in the slightest, however I do have fairly strong views against those that do, and that includes the industry and the fans. The bashing and flaming would be not only against the designers and photographers who consider it alright, but also to the fans, and people on this forum who consider it alright. I'm just about over anyone who thinks it's ok to view a girl who is 17 and under in any type of transparent/opaque clothing, or in any type of nudity.

I believe that age should not play a role other than dividing the adults and/or older teens from the children and/or young teens. There are certainly 40- and even 50-somethings (hell, maybe 60-somethings), that take exceptional care of themselves combined with genes to look youthful and overall attractive enough to compete in the same realm as models decades younger. Just use the typical digital alterations to any signs of aging, which should already be vastly minor compared to your average "older" woman, as they are used for anything else for a young woman.

Great topic, Expreso

My opinion is simple - if it was me making the rules, girls under 18 would be banned from modeling I mean it seriously. I like new faces, and there are may girls who are wonderful and look older than they really are, but frankly, I feel like a pedo looking at them.

The other reason is, that I like women - I mean, WOMEN. Women that have powers in them because they are grown up and know their body well. I´ve never liked Gisele more than now, in her thirties. I like Karolina (Kurkova) more as she´s getting older, because she´s not so skinny now.

I can look up to women. But I can´t look up to girls, which are twice younger than me and I don´t even want to think about people working with such young girls

I agree with Jennka, i think girls younger than 18 should be banned from modeling.

While i have a big crush on Barbara Palvin atm, sometimes i feel like a pedo 'cuz she's so young >.<

It seems at the rate of the last few years, they don't seem to be showing signs of letting up. What's next 12 year olds in Maybelline commercials? lol.

"Maybe she was born with it. Just 12 years ago"

Yeah, I mean sometimes I see girls prancing around half naked for some kind of perfume and they're not even fully grown yet. I find those ads to be distasteful, to be honest. Also, since the majority of the consumers aren't even the age of these girls, how are we supposed to identify with them and be convinced to buy what they're selling?

The fashion industry seems like a self indulgent entity that functions on it's own. My question is who sets all these strange standards and why would people want to keep it that way?

@phenobarbie: I haven't seen any flaming so far towards your opinion. As a matter of fact, I agree with it.

It seems at the rate of the last few years, they don't seem to be showing signs of letting up. What's next 12 year olds in Maybelline commercials? lol.

"Maybe she was born with it. Just 12 years ago"

Joe

Expresso - fashion is a whole world itself. It spinns around. Everything happens again. Round and round. They always search for something "different" so they can shock - this "younger the better" thing will end as soon as it stops to be shocking and starts to be boring.

^When it stops being shocking and starts being boring then I pity mankind and their morality. When looking at young girls on the runway in various stages of undress is no longer shocking then we as humans should be reevaluating ourselves and our beliefs... There's a thin line between being a man and a monster, that's crossing the line in my opinion.

^When it stops being shocking and starts being boring then I pity mankind and their morality. When looking at young girls on the runway in various stages of undress is no longer shocking then we as humans should be reevaluating ourselves and our beliefs... There's a thin line between being a man and a monster, that's crossing the line in my opinion.

TRUER WORDS HAVE NEVER BEEN SPOKEN!

Maybe it's a European thing to like children... but in my country that shit doesn't fly.

It's ok for teens to be nude or topless in the name of fashion? Oh hell no! If your average person had as many pics of topless underage girls on their computer in America, the FBI would be looking into it... and jail time would be inevitable.

If your average person had as many pics of topless underage girls on their computer in America, the FBI would be looking into it... and jail time would be inevitable.

And not just in America. I saw a discussion on TFS about this as well and some people there said that in Europe "we're used to that sort of thing" and that nudity at 16 isn't shocking. I guess sex at that age is normal for some of people, but messing around with your bf somewhere noone knows about it at that age is (to me) very different than being topless or nude on an ad at that age which thousands if not millions of people will get to see.

Aside from that there is another issue to consider. I am not specifically targeting the ED stuff (any model at any age can fall into that pit and I don't want to open that can of worms) but at 14 many girls look like thin mosquito's, perfect for the 'clothing hanger' modeling. Then they get 17/18 or older and they start filling out and suddenly they're not wanted anymore. It can do a lot to a girl's self worth when you were first booked all the time and suddenly struggling with jobs and struggling with your body because of it. Why not pick adult girls who are naturally thin and are done wrestling with puberty?

I guess my main question here is:

Why does the fashion industry prefer underage (and with that, underdeveloped) models over adult ones? I am not talking about established girls like Adriana Lima who has made a name for herself and continues to thrive because of that. I mean the relatively unknowns who are only recognized by the up-to-date fashion/model fans.

I'm not talking about career durability either. Being a fulltime model is hard work and puts a strain on your body. Doing that from a young age could actually age you quicker than if you'd gone to school like every other normal kid. I mean, I think it's weird that models at my age (which is 22) consider themselves "old" and past their prime.

^When it stops being shocking and starts being boring then I pity mankind and their morality. When looking at young girls on the runway in various stages of undress is no longer shocking then we as humans should be reevaluating ourselves and our beliefs... There's a thin line between being a man and a monster, that's crossing the line in my opinion.

OMG!!!!! THE END OF THE WORLD HAS HAPPENED, I SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO AGREE WITH YOUR STATEMENT PHENO, SOO SOO TRUE, KUDOS

I don't know if any of you remember Tara D'Ambrosio from the late 80's, early 90's. She did Revlon ads shoy by Scavullo at 8 then was on the cover of Vogue shortly after. And also did runway shows before she hit 10.

^^That's....just....

if one of the most influential fashion magazines chooses to be represented by an 8 year old, than what does that say about themselves?

^When it stops being shocking and starts being boring then I pity mankind and their morality. When looking at young girls on the runway in various stages of undress is no longer shocking then we as humans should be reevaluating ourselves and our beliefs... There's a thin line between being a man and a monster, that's crossing the line in my opinion.

perfectly said

(Y) (Y) (Y) (Y)