Rosie Nelson is a model and health advocate who is campaigning for a healthier modelling industry. She recently started a petition asking to create a law to protect models from becoming dangerously skinny, which now stands at 118,694 signatures. During her time as a model, her agency pushed her to lose weight, saying they wanted her “down to the bone”; a story which is no surprise given the size of most runway models. Her petition tapped into a widespread sentiment that something needs to be done about the fashion industry’s weight problem, and has led to a Parliamentary inquiry. Nelson has become a spokesperson for defending models’ rights – we catch up with her to discuss the state of the industry, solutions, and barriers to change.
Whilst working in the modelling industry, how often do you come across models experiencing health issues due to the pressure to lose weight? “In the five years that I’ve been modelling, I’ve only witnessed a handful of models who were clearly struggling with the pressure to lose weight. One of the biggest problems with the industry is that so much happens behind closed doors – people try to shy away from issues surrounding weight because of how competitive modelling is. Showing any sign of weakness can affect your chances of getting work, so many girls choose to suffer in silence. Since I started the petition, I’ve had countless messages from models and aspiring models saying they’ve been treated in a similar way to me and that agencies have told them to lose weight. I’m happy to have provided an opportunity for people to share their experiences and show their support through signing and commenting on the petition.”
I understand the campaign has resulted in a Parliamentary inquiry, what results are you hoping for from this process? “I’m looking forward to the report coming out following the Parliamentary inquiry that happened in December, although there is no way of knowing for certain what the outcome will be. I think the issue is so complex that it will require gradual changes to be made over a period of time before we start to see real results. Ultimately I want a safer and happier work environment for models, and to promote body positivity and healthy eating.”
How do you feel about the recent developments in French law surrounding the health of models – do you feel their proposed solution will be effective? “I’m really interested to see whether the new laws will improve the industry in France. France have introduced a minimum BMI – something that is widely regarded as a rough estimation of a person’s health. Although it may not be ideal, it is a step forward from having no regulations to protect young models. The effectiveness of the new laws will really depend on how heavily they are enforced and whether fashion designers and modelling agencies are willing to cooperate.”
Is there anything that you would urge people to do who wish to support your proposed changes? “I would urge anyone who supports the proposed changes to simply keep the discussion going. The more people are talking about the issue of health within the modelling industry, the more we can expect changes to be made.”
Have you experienced people from the industry, or others, trying to push against changes taking place? “I know that a lot of agencies will push against the changes, including those that spoke at the inquiry. I also spoke to the British Fashion Council, who said that they tried legislation before and it just didn’t work. I was a bit shocked that – in their eyes – the solution was to just simply give up.
Why do you think it is that the fashion industry is so obsessed with models being thin? “It would be speculative to try and answer this question, although I believe the industry is heavily influenced by the high fashion labels and designers – whatever they are doing seems to have a long-lasting ripple effect that runs through the rest of the industry. For example, if the big names decided to use size 8-10 models on the runway at fashion week, you could be sure that others would follow suit.”
It is not only models who feel pressure surrounding their weight and image; do you think that by creating more healthy models it is possible to change people’s conceptions and aspirations regarding weight more generally? “It’s evident that a lot of the public want to see healthier models being used all across the industry; it would definitely have a positive effect on how people view themselves and compare themselves to others. A lot of young women feel pressure to lose weight just because of how thin the models are in magazines and on social media. Some people are potentially damaging their bodies by having extreme diets just to look ‘runway thin’.”
How do you see the modelling industry in an ideal world? “To me, beauty comes from happiness and being comfortable with yourself. In an ideal world, the modelling industry would be more focused on healthiness and happiness rather than a specific body shape or size”
