Model's Age - How Young Is Too Young?

[Mabufu]

I think these girls should at least finish highschool first. Once they're in their mid-twenties and their careers are over, they've got nothing to look forward to because they don't even have a highschool level education. Very sad.

 

[Plato's_Cave]

I think 18 would be good. But to be realistic, 16 seems like a good rule of thumb. I noticed several 14-year-olds in Paris this past season. Too young!!

 

[FrenchCactus]

Women need to identify to the models who wear the clothes to want to buy it. In my case, if I see a model looking too much like a child or teenager modeling something, however beautiful it may be, I just find it ridiculous (even if I'm only 22). We need real women back on the runway. 16-year old models on the runway just look out of place.

 

[sasseestefanie]

I think over 18... even mid 20's is good because... 1.)women buying the clothes are NOT under 18.... who has that kind of money as a teenager (unless you're a child tv star)??
2.)prepubescent (spelling?) bodies just aren't realistic. I couldn't imagine a child walking for Versace! To me... 17+ is good.

 

[Dadum]

I think some models are way to young. I think anything under 15 is to young

 

[luna1576]

i definately agree with stefanie

 

[OMIFAN9]

I say 14 and under, b/c there is nudity involved and the lifestyle.

 

[Bellissima]

As I said once before.....


So many times I heard that sometimes models should start young because that will get them a head-start on modeling and exposure. The reasons given are often times that if they start young that they will have more experience/tear-pictures, a more developed portfolio, and exposure/reputation so they are sent to "practice markets" (most of the time) ie. Barcelona, Milano, London, Paris (but only if their 16, because they have a law that doesn’t permit anyone under 16 to model there...but like in any business, if you have the right connections and some powerful people on your side you can work around that little "hindrance," as they call it). In the markets they are supposed to acquire as many tear-sheets, portfolio pics, and build a reputation as a model for themselves. As one of my good friends says "You are a Fresh Face only once, and you have to use it." I'm am not trying to criticize any young models, or people who might have different viewpoint than me. In the end everything depends on the situation. Nikki Taylor started young but in the end she was sign with IMG and became famous. On the other hand there are numerous young girls who tried and did not make it, and probably never will. Situation, and the type of girl is KEY.........one can, and should, never generalize, because there are ALWAYS exceptions.

There are some girls who are beautiful and have a model figure at a young age like 12 and 13, but 99% of the time when these girls get older to 17, and 18 they change. Their face might still be stunning, but they might develop 37in. hips, with a C/D bust. The times I talked to agents that is one of the reasons they give me for not wanting to sign girls who are to young or immature. Also sex is involved in modeling. It might be used to sell the product, as an image, prop, in the pictures, or as an activity. Young girls are not always ready for the environment which is involved in the business (I'm not saying every young girl couldn't handle it, but the majority couldn't).This is a business which is adult oriented, and made towards. In my opinion models should start to get involved the earliest at 16, or 17 (I understand that there could be some exceptions).Even though we want to believe that the world isn’t to bad, and that there are good people, there’s always those bad seeds out there who want to use, abuse, and destroy lives, dreams, and hopes especially in a high profiled business such as modeling and fashion.

There are countless things that can go wrong with a young girl such as her body changing, her not possessing maturity, her getting pregnant, rapped, hooked on drugs and then becoming to scared to continue, and many others. But there are those exceptions where everything can fall into place at an younger age and a new star can be made!!!!!

Sorry so long,
just my two cents

 

[xxOceanEyesxx]

I'm 15, and the thought of someone my age being on the catwalk makes me feel a bit odd. I know that if it were me up there, I wouldn't know what to do! It's frightening to think of- so many older models with so much more experience, kicking *** on the runway, with me looking like a deer caught in the headlights.

Camilla Finn will be an even better model when she gets a few years older. Why put her into an industry that most 20 year olds aren't prepared for?! Even though 16 seems strange to me, and I'd almost prefer for the age limit to be 18, I'm for this law. It's better than letting 13 year olds on the damn catwalk.

The thought of putting someone the age of my cousin Catherine (13) on the runway for hundreds, thousands, even millions of people to see- and in what could be a very revealing outfit, I might add- makes me sick.

 

[writergal28]

I like the 16 rule, but I'd prefer 18. In North America, you're usually finished high school by then, so you won't have to worry about studying or getting a GED. Anyone younger CAN model, but they should stick to juniors and other things that cater to the teen set. In other words, it's perfectly fine for a 15 year old to model for Seventeen, but she shouldn't be in Vogue.

 

[xxOceanEyesxx]

I like the 16 rule, but I'd prefer 18. In North America, you're usually finished high school by then, so you won't have to worry about studying or getting a GED. Anyone younger CAN model, but they should stick to juniors and other things that cater to the teen set. In other words, it's perfectly fine for a 15 year old to model for Seventeen, but she shouldn't be in Vogue.

^^ My thoughts exactly.

 

[yourbestfriend]

I like the 16 rule, but I'd prefer 18. In North America, you're usually finished high school by then, so you won't have to worry about studying or getting a GED. Anyone younger CAN model, but they should stick to juniors and other things that cater to the teen set. In other words, it's perfectly fine for a 15 year old to model for Seventeen, but she shouldn't be in Vogue.

But if the whole point is for the model to be done their high school education by 18, how would modelling for younger things such as Seventeen make much difference? Through looking through US Vogue, or other international magazines, there is hardly a time where you will find a 15 year old doing topless and nude shots. The photographers know how old these girls are and I rarely ever come across elusive or shots baring young girls exposed.

To me, seeing it this way, when a model is not done school, even if they are doing work for magazines such as Seventeen, they are still going to be out of school and missing assignments. They will still need to go out and miss school for castings and shoots. By 16, many teenagers are mature enough to make their own decisions when thinking of what they will or will not do. The way I see it, if the modelling world isnt going to expose them to the "bad" things, they are still going to see it and become familiar with it through friends and people they meet in high school. Its just the environment in to which they are exposed to that is different.

 

[xxOceanEyesxx]

But if the whole point is for the model to be done their high school education by 18, how would modelling for younger things such as Seventeen make much difference? Through looking through US Vogue, or other international magazines, there is hardly a time where you will find a 15 year old doing topless and nude shots. The photographers know how old these girls are and I rarely ever come across elusive or shots baring young girls exposed.

To me, seeing it this way, when a model is not done school, even if they are doing work for magazines such as Seventeen, they are still going to be out of school and missing assignments. They will still need to go out and miss school for castings and shoots. By 16, many teenagers are mature enough to make their own decisions when thinking of what they will or will not do. The way I see it, if the modelling world isnt going to expose them to the "bad" things, they are still going to see it and become familiar with it through friends and people they meet in high school. Its just the environment in to which they are exposed to that is different.

You can't honestly tell me that modeling for Seventeen is the same as doing the catwalk (which is what this was originally about) the catwalk is completely different than doing a young girl's magazine.

 

[Atelier]

I think 13 and up is fine for legitimate fashion/runway.

 

[model_mom]

Another point that hasn't been addressed is the self esteem issue. Say you take a beautiful young 14 year old. You promise her the moon....big things start happening for her and for a period of a year or two she does the best catwalk,beautiful editorials and even lands a campign or two. Then bingo...the next big thing shows up,you get shoved to the back pages and pretty soon you're yesterdays news. What do you think that sort of experience does to a young girls sense of self worth? She starts to wonder "What? I'm not pretty anymore?" "They don't like me now?" "I've spent the past few years neglecting my education,blown most of the money I've made because I thought it was endless....now what do I do?" This is the story of what happens to 85% of models who get a big break and thats not even counting the ones that stick around who never even got that chance.
Take a look at the back pages of this thread and you will see that I speak the truth. It takes a strong young lady/man to be able to handle that sort of rejection at such a young age.

Stay in school...take a year off before college if you have to give it a chance but don't count on it as a ticket to stardom.

and to all you models out there that made it big and are still on top....my hat is off to you.

 

[yourbestfriend]

You can't honestly tell me that modeling for Seventeen is the same as doing the catwalk (which is what this was originally about) the catwalk is completely different than doing a young girl's magazine.

But then again, how can we say modelling for Seventeen is so innocent? There are still going to be perved photographers and harsh clients. Girls with eating problems as well as girls with drug problems will still co-exist with these girls. They will still be in New York with other teenage girls and run into similar problems.

I know what you mean in terms of runway though, and understand but the two co-incide with eachother. If you are to be on the runway you need to be in the magazines. But if you are modelling for Seventeen, you will almost likely never be on the runway, at most you will be in a Delia's catalogue.

I was just originally replying to the person who said it's fine for a girl to be in Seventeen not Vogue.

 

[yourbestfriend]

Another point that hasn't been addressed is the self esteem issue. Say you take a beautiful thin young 14 year old. You promise her the moon....big things start happening for her and for a period of a year or two she does the best catwalk,beautiful editorials and even lands a campign or two. Then bingo...the next big thing shows up,you get shoved to the back pages and pretty soon your yesterdays news. What do you think that sort of expierence does to a young girls sense of self worth? She starts to wonder "What I'm not pretty anymore?" "They don't like me now?" "I've spent the past few years neglecting my education,blown most of the money I've made because I thought it was endless....now what do I do?" This is the story of what happens to 85% of models who get a big break and thats not even counting the ones that stick around who never even got that chance.
Take a look at the back pages of this thread and you will see that I speak the truth. It takes a strong young lady/man to be able to handle that sort of rejection at such a young age.

Stay in school...take a year off before college if you have to give it a chance but don't count on it as a ticket to stardom.

and to all you models out there that made it big and are still on top....my hat is off to you.

This is why its important to have a good family base , or at least someone watching over you to help guide you away from spending all your hard earned money away too quickly. Wise investments can take a little bit of money a long way

 

[bagsnthings]

any body under the age of 17

 

[adi]

i'd say 13 is way too young.. if i think myself in that age, i would have not been prepared to anything like fashionworld. my life was surrounded by barbies i could have not travelled without my mom or even survived alone in the harsh modelling world. it is too cruel for young girls. i would say 17+ is a good age to enter to the modellingbusiness

 

[model_mom]

Part 1 The Age.co.uk.

Little women

August 19, 2006
Page 1 of 2 |

Younger, thinner, more baby-faced every year - the future of fashion's archetype seems inevitable, writes Janice Breen Burns.
Another decade in Frockland and by rights and all things logical, Kate Moss will be a Botoxed, liposucked has-been in rehab, Naomi Campbell should be banged up for a fair stretch on GBH, Megan Gale will be barefoot and pregnant with multo multo bambini, and the world's most gorgeous supermodel will be - I'm guessing - about eight.
Years old, that is.
And, um, yes, joking. Sort of. But such is the domino nature of history that, had France not moved to legislate against the use of models younger than 16 and countries including Australia not developed a kind-of not-really approach to self-regulation against using models under 13, then the preposterous could become the inevitable. Easy-peasey.
Those heart-pumpingly pretty, tall-as-a-building, breast-less, hip-less 13 and 14-year-old fashion icons of today could logically metamorphose into a generation of lanky, bird-boned eight-year-old supermodels tomorrow. By 2016, we'd be accustomed enough to womanhood being idealised by pre-pubescent girls not to bat an eyelid anyway.
The future does appear written already on the runways of the west. They bristle with teens "discovered" at 13, stomping along international catwalks by 14 and bona fide supermodels by 15, who increasingly resemble slightly older, negligibly bigger versions of the mythical Girl Child.
Younger, thinner, flatter, bonier, more baby-faced every year. And, a squizz at one Miss Liu Duo, China's entrant in the Miss World pageant when it's telecast from Poland next month, should also confirm for anyone who doubts it, that the global wave of love for elongated children has also broken there.
Everybody loves a little girl. It's perfectly understandable. They are cheerful and peachy sweet with swimming pool eyes and soft cupid lips. They're full of promise and blind faith and by about the age of eight when their little bubby-tummies shrink and their limbs and button-noses lengthen, they are, hands-down, the consummate clothes-models. The freshest, prettiest fantasy fashion archetypes (if a tad short). None of those inconvenient, bumpy bits the Lagerfelds and Pradas of the world avoid in their models because they can ruin the line of a nice frock. None of those pinging, fly-in-a-bottle hormones to mess up the dreamy-eyed persona of compliant innocence. (Of course, they would have to retire by age 10 - that's a given.)

In fact, there's only that icky socio/political palaver about fashion's "sexualisation of children", to jeopardise a real future eight year old's supermodelling career when you think about it. And, what's that all about anyway? The primeval childish impulse to dress "grown up" is really all about S-E-X? As any eight year old would squeal to set such ick-meisters straight: "E-yeeew!"
Idolising little girls as the perfect fashion racks - provided all that icky stuff is kept well out of the equation - might not be such a bad future. It would point up, plain and simple, that fashion's idols and archetypes are just that: inspirational not prescriptive, ideas not blueprints meant to be replicated by mere mortals.
As fashion is now, its teen queens and supermodels present an ideal that appears perfectly reasonable and achievable to the 94.7 per cent of women born normal. With some paint and pricey frocks, a touch of liposucking and Botox, an eating disorder perhaps, manic exercise regimen, and regular cosmetic surgical updates, we are convinced we can achieve and maintain a reasonably close approximation of our idols' perfection.
Now, if our idols' average age were eight, the game would be up before it started. Wouldn't it? We just wouldn't bother.