HEALTHY MODELS PORTRAY POSITIVE BODY IMAGE

Healthy-sized women should be strutting down Queensland’s catwalks, not super-thin models, says Minister for Women Margaret Keech.

Mrs Keech said emaciated models did not reflect the true beauty of Queensland women and promoted an unhealthy image.

She applauded recent moves to discourage the use of super-thin models in fashion shows interstate and overseas.

“I applaud Victorian Health Minister Bronwyn Pike’s calls for super-thin models to be dropped from the Mercedes Fashion Festival,” said Mrs Keech.

“Here in Queensland, we are making ground.

“I was pleased to learn that conditions for designers entering the National Retailers Association Fashion Design Awards required them to ensure their garments were a standard size 10 using a specific set of measurements.

“I was even more pleased when organisers this week announced they would soon release their policy relating to under-weight models.

“I’m glad to see this fantastic Queensland event aiming to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. But I believe we need to do more.

“Queensland women are among the most beautiful in the world.

“Our active, outdoor lifestyle means our state is filled with stunning women in a healthy weight range.

“These are the types of women we want to see showcasing the wares of Queensland’s talented fashion designers.

“Ensuring fashion models are within the healthy weight range sends positive messages about body image to teenagers and young girls.”

Mrs Keech said super-thin models sent the wrong message about good eating and exercise habits.

She said the kind of dieting involved in attaining such a radical body shape did not promote healthy lifestyle practices.

“We need to send young women the message that the key to good health is eating well and exercising regularly, not obsessively,” said Mrs Keech.

“They should be aiming for a Body Mass Index within a healthy range for their height and frame, not to look waif-thin and emaciated.

“Encouraging extreme thinness can have potentially deadly consequences for young women.

“We need to promote positive body image with an emphasis on healthy eating and lifestyle habits.

“Discouraging the use of waif-thin models at fashion shows is a great step forward.”

Media contact: Jo Gibbons 3224 2007/ David Smith 3225 1005