Are Models Lying About Their Ages?

[Prettyphile]

Are Models Lying About Their Ages? The CFDA and Michael Kors Seem to Think So

The underage model saga continues. Given the recent controversies regarding underage models, including one that involved CFDA president Diane Von Furstenberg discovering that one of her models, Hailey Clauson (yes, the same one involved in that Urban Outfitters lawsuit), was only 15 at the time of her runway show, the CFDA is introducing new measures to ensure the safety and legality of models in the fashion industry.

According to WWD, Furstenberg and CFDA CEO Steven Kolb sent out a letter to members yesterday recommending that they start carding models on the day of the show (before they hit the runway) to make sure they meet the 16 year age minimum. That seems like something they should do earlier, like in the casting stages, or before their agencies send them out, but I guess better late than never?

Michael Kors recently spoke to Lauren Hutton in the new Interview (so awesome) and hinted that models started lying to him about their ages as soon as he said he wouldn’t use models under 16:

Yeah, and the 14-year-olds are really tricky. I mean, they’re children. I said two years ago, “No models under 16.” Well, of course, right after I said that, we started seeing all of these girls from Eastern Europe, and every girl who’d walk in, you’d say, “Hi. What’s your name?” And she’d be like, “I’m Svetlana.” I’m like, “Svetlana, where are you from?” “Ukraine.” “Svetlana, how old are you?” “16.” Next girl walks in—she’s from Eastern Europe and 16. Next one? Eastern European and 16. I was like, “Was there a bus?”

However, Kors’ problem with super young models is not the just legal and moral ramifications–he goes on to say,

But I still think it’s a tricky thing because no matter how beautiful you might be at 15 or 16, the simple truth is that you haven’t lived enough to really know how to project anything in a photograph. It’s like a kind of blank beauty.

Also, the idea of a 14-year-old wearing Michael Kors is just weird, no?

The CFDA is also launching the “CFDA Ambassador Program,” which sounds like some sort of mentorship program for the fashion world’s incoming freshmen. Apparently, relative modeling veterans Sara Ziff​ and Lily Aldridge have signed on as ambassadors to give support and advice to new models at their respective agencies. We just hope there’s no hazing involved.

[Prettyphile]

Another step in the right direction for fashion (Y)

[COP11]

It is about damn time

[Ana Beatriz Barros Fan]

Sounds good

[modelknowledge]

Models always lie about their ages. That's why so many change their names. Usually models say they are younger rather than older but there is an epidemic of super young models from these eastern european countries flooding new york , paris, and milan in the hopes of becoming the next big thing. The earlier they start the more time they have to make it. After all, the average runway models career ends at 21. You also have to consider that so many girls in development don't pan out. Thats why I argue about posting a model who only had polaroids in her book.

These young girls can be very impressionable. Some of them wind up hating the industry or suffer the stresses of staying thin, constant rejection, and worse substance abuse. Most commercial models don't have these problems because they are expected to look healthy rather than edgy. As a commercial model, it doesn't matter if you are a size 0 or a size 6. Being a commercial model may not pay initially but its something you can do your whole life without being a big name. the only fashion models who stay in HF after 25 are top models. That's why these young girls are forced to lie and agencies are recruiting girls younger and younger.

People want to blame agencies but honestly the agencies are just giving the clients what they want. Honestly, they should ban anyone under 18 from the runway. This way it gives models more of a chance to develop as a person and a model.

[Layla90]

Sit DOWN Michael Kors. Michael Kors, who, a few years ago, had a 15-year-old model in his campaign (Tanya D.)

Of course, it would be better if agencies wouldn't be able to work with models younger than 16-18 but To be honest, I don't get why model's age should be important-I mean, in a different situation, when agencies lie their models are younger than they really are. I remember when I started Anna Selezneva's thread, I found out that she was 18 at the time I started this thread, and later read that in fact she's 5 years older than claimed and already finished university