Dear President Francois Hollande,
I want to start by thanking you for caring enough about women's well-being to make changes in France's policies. Banishing pro-anorexia websites and not allowing dangerously thin models to walk your nation's runways could help minimize the epidemic of body-hate and responsive self-harm that runs so rampant. I'm also grateful for the conversations your campaign to stop anorexia has spurred, and feel compelled to offer my own thoughts.
I realize I'm one voice amid countless, and it's likely this won't even reach you. For this reason, I'm sharing this letter publicly, with hopes its message might make a positive difference -- if not for a country or industry, then for someone.
These issues are dear to my heart. I modeled for years, and nearly died of anorexia while working in Paris. I've since fully recovered, and spent over eight years as a nutritionist, offering dietary therapy for people struggling with eating disorders and related issues. Now, as an experienced health writer, radio host and public speaker, I routinely interview experts in psychology and medicine, as well as women who've overcome severe self and body shame. As someone who can speak from multiple sides of the body-shaming epidemic, I thought my insight might prove helpful.
On BMI as the Determining Factor
Others have expressed concerns about your new law, prohibiting anyone from hiring a model with a below healthy BMI. I share those concerns. (For those who aren't familiar, Body Mass Index is a tool used to determine body fat content based on weight and height.) BMI is sadly inaccurate as a measure of health for many people, and I imagine many models will find ways to falsify their results.
Secondly, I've known models who were tall and lanky naturally, to the point of being bullied in their youth. Modeling gave them a sense of empowerment; finally, they weren't being ridiculed for their atypical thinness, but celebrated. These women would undoubtedly fail the "healthy" BMI test. Ostracizing naturally thin women isn't right.
Many women with eating disorders, including models, partake in dangerous tactics to maintain a slimmer physique -- yet aren't underweight by BMI standards.
In some ways, focusing on "the numbers" perpetuates the damaging notion that they matter most.
It's understandable why you and your associates have taken this route, given the fact that anorexia diagnostics are based on such numbers. (They shouldn't be, in my opinion.) But I side with others who've suggested alternate means of determining models' wellness, such as thorough health exams. While helpful, however, I don't think such measures would suffice.
More Effective Steps Toward Positive Change
Attempting to regulate the health of models, but still allowing the standards of thinness over all to carry on, won't solve this epidemic. The standards need to change. While this is a huge task, it's doable, in my opinion. Here are some powerful steps that would help:
- Require fashion shows and magazines to depict a broad range of body shapes and sizes, as well as ages.
Encourage fashion designers to create clothing for those shapes, sizes and ages. Don't merely show women seducing cameras in editorial shoots. Show them working, creating art, raising kids, being human. Require medics and other health/safety measures at fashion shows and photo shoots. (Show models that their safety and wellness matters as much as that of Hollywood actors'.) Discourage modeling agents from making harsh comments about models' weight.Placing the pressure on those who hire models actually puts more pressure on the models themselves. If someone had landed in jail for hiring me when I was anorexic, I'm not sure I would have forgiven myself -- and most women with anorexia are already crippled with shame.
One of the most important ways we can all contribute to a world that empowers, rather than shuns, women is by embracing ourselves.
I've personally boycotted fashion shows, publications and work I find de-powering. (The narrow definitions of "beauty" were a major reason I quit modeling, even though I had an ongoing career after healing.) I've stopped saying anything negative about my body, which has cultivated more positive thoughts. I've embraced my sexuality -- a lack of which is another issue underlying many women's body hate. And I've learned to pursue my passions, to stop living up to anyone else's standards, knowing that in doing so, I can live a happier and more meaningful, impactful life.
Here's hoping that no matter what efforts you and your administration prioritize moving forward, more women will start questioning whether those "extra" pounds are worth the time, tumult and energy making ourselves smaller requires -- and that living largely means recognizing the existing real-beauty inherent in ourselves.
This post originally appeared on August McLaughlin's blog.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.