By Sarahi Hernandez, Guest writer
The modeling industry plunged into a controversy recently when a few models made public stories of the injustice they’ve experienced in the industry to give people an inside look at the real struggle that goes into the work.
In 1982, only 8 percent of female models weighed less than the average woman. In 2012, the number took a drastic jump to 23 percent, according to a 2013 PBS report on modeling. And the number would keep growing as companies look for models who are thin and only getting thinner.
But to reach that goal weight, many models have said they undergo unhealthy eating disorders.
“Society can judge models and they might starve themselves to maintain the perfect image,” says Zudi Vasquez, a student from Texas who lived in Kenosha last year. “But models shouldn’t have to meet any body standard because, big or small, everyone is beautiful and unique.”
Recently, the industry in France has become more cautious of models’ weights and banned models from being underweight.
A lot of models have also spoken on the need for diversity. Worldwide about 78 percent of the time models are white, according to a May 2016 CNN report. That excludes models that come from other backgrounds or models with differences.
“Model Winnie Harlow stood out to me because she has Vitiligo and rather than letting the hate get to her, she embraces her differences,” said Stephanie Franco, a Kenosha student from Bradford High School.
With all the requirements the modeling industry puts on models entering the field, once a part of it they may still face still more problems, a big one being pay. Twenty percent fees drastically reduce earnings for models, according to the CNN report. Many models have admitted to getting promised a certain amount and then receiving less.
“I think it’s unfair for models to not get their promised pay,” said Deanette Moreno, another former Kenosha student. “Because models go through a lot of work to get to where they’re at.”
“As the future evolves, the industry will be open to more opportunities for all people,” says Yeimi Garcia, an Indian Trail High School & Academy student. “Only time will tell.”