Colin R wrote:
while I can see the fuss I can't help thinking....child actors?

There is a difference. A 14 year actor is likely to be hired to portray a young teen, not a adult in evening gowns.

Colin R wrote:
while I can see the fuss I can't help thinking....child actors?

Basically.

I have yet to hear a good reason why they shouldn't be doing it...

Garry k wrote:
I find that interesting given that Australian super Model Gemma Ward started out at 14

A lot of fashion models start at 14 but very few are called upon to be the face of an entire show.

PYPI wrote:
14 is pushing the envelope.
When they are used, they are used in a limited capacity.

Is the capacity measured by the street light?

Shon D Photography wrote:
Basically.

I have yet to hear a good reason why they shouldn't be doing it...

Personally I think they should, but we always invite their parents to come for the whole event if they wish

MYS Britt wrote:
I flat do not agree with it

then again, I think 16 is too young
18 is young enough to start a job like that IMHO

sorry!

One of the youngest runway models lately was 12 years old, she's 5'11"

Vector 38 wrote:
show a show once that had a couple of amazing models who were only 14 & 15 at the time; striking looks at 5'9 and 5'11,..., but they weren't old enough to attend the after-party. go figure.

~ fr

This is a common occurrance ..Underage models wanting to both drink and party afterwards ..Having parents there helps with whisking them away once the show is done

Shon D Photography wrote:

Basically.

I have yet to hear a good reason why they shouldn't be doing it...

agreed!

PYPI wrote:

There is a difference. A 14 year actor is likely to be hired to portray a young teen, not a adult in evening gowns.

Society has been teaching girls to prance around in dresses since we were 2 years old.
Its not like shes doing a lingerie show.

Who cares.
ugh.

Swank Photography wrote:
This past weekend I did a 2 day photo shoot with several models, one was only 15 years old. Coming into this profession as a former victims advocate, I had seen more than my fair share of child sexual assault cases.

I normally do not work with any model younger than 18 (my preference is to work mwith only 18+), and if on the rare occasion that I should, I always request that the mother/father/legal guardian of the minor is always present. I also make sure that those working with me are fully aware that a minor is around us and to conduct themselves in a professional manner or I will handle the situation myself (after 10 years of working those types of cases, it is kinda hard to not be "jaded").

I guess to wrap this up, while I frown on using models at this age (eating disorders appear high at this age and seem to be blooming at a faster rate as the child enters modeling, as well), as long as everyone conducts themselves as professionals and are fully aware that a minor is on the set, then all should go well.

How does sexual assault relate to runway modeling?

As for the age question, there are other businesses where children are accepted and commonly found. Sports (think gymnastics) and entertainment are probably the biggest two in the Western world.

As long as the parents are involved in a positive way and the child is mature enough to handle the situation, why not?

Holden wrote:
Being 14 instead of 23 does not make a young woman more likely to be abused.

End.

Ohhhhh yes it does. Yes it does. I was molested at 14 by my teacher...I never told anyone until I got older because as a little girl, I didn't want anyone to dislike me. Now imagine if that was a high powered professional in the modeling world, who made her feel like she is lucky to even be involved with him, and her career would die if she told anyone?

At 21, I carry pepperspray and would not hesitate to seriously injure someone that tried to mess with me. I wasn't that girl at 14 however.

Holden wrote:
Age is not a barrier to molestation/sexual abuse/rape.

14 year old tennis players, nerdy science geeks, high school newspaper journalists, etc. are victims too.

Rape is not about sex, it's about violence.

Being a runway model does not make a young woman more likely to be abused.

Being 14 instead of 23 does not make a young woman more likely to be abused.

End.

I fully understand there is no age limit on sexual assault. It is about violence and control.

You don't need to educate me on this topic

Garry k wrote:
We hired a couple for our Vancouver Fashion Week a few weeks ago ( including one i found here )

All done up (hair and makeup ) they looked very much like young adult women - course they both stood 5'10 plus

So it was funny after one of our Shows to watch some of the Independent Photogs trying to chat up one of the girls

Afterwards I dropped the bombshell to them  ... "She's only 14 "

( response ) Silence

"And thats her mom over there checking you out "

Try being a cook at a nudist came and guessing ages

I was and I gave up

Cris Ashley wrote:

Society has been teaching girls to prance around in dresses since we were 2 years old.
Its not like shes doing a lingerie show.

Who cares.
ugh.

Who cares? Apparently the fashion week organizers in Brazil, London, Paris, Milan, and Australia along with the editors of Vogue and Elle magazine.

Sabrina Maree wrote:
The parents are not always present. They have jobs, relationships, and lives of their own. It would be basically impossible for a parent to accompany a budding young runway model on all her pursuits.

I just don't see the necessity. There are thousands of appropriate models over 16, it's not like there is a shortage of girls tall or thin enough. Why even bother with the *possible* problem? Maybe I'm missing something, but I'm sure none of them are SO unique there isn't a model over 16 that could replace them.

So 14 is too young, but by 16 she's magically mature enough?

Does not compute.

Shon D Photography wrote:

So 14 is too young, but by 16 she's magically mature enough?

Does not compute.

There is a big difference in maturity between 14 and 16. And I realize asking all models to be 18+ is a little too big of a jump at this point. But 16 is far better than 14; the holes in your brain are filling (though your brain is still swiss cheese until about 25), your reasoning is improving (probably not enough to choose not to sleep with your boyfriend, but enough to realize that you shouldn't be).
I don't think 16 year olds are great either. Just trying not to be one of those "all models should be over 18!" people.
Honestly, 18 year old aren't the best either. Huh. Maybe like...20?

Hermesz Fine Art wrote:
What scares me is things like this:

I posted a listing on Craigslist for a "Classic Nude: model and got this response,

Hey,

     I'm a 14-year-old female so not very developed but might work.  I've never modeled before but am looking to start now.  5'7", blonde, fairly skinny and will do whatever.  Email me back at .

This is simply brazen. I would rather give up the camera than shoot under these conditions. (and from my images, maybe I should anyway!)

However, 14 on the runway, I have not issues with if that is what th
e cleint wants.

John

That was clearly a sting operation in progress. No doubt about it.

Shon D Photography wrote:

That was clearly a sting operation in progress. No doubt about it.

My response!

Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately due to the nature of the images, I am only accepting models over the age of 18. I would strongly suggest that you wait until that time before thinking about modeling in this genre.

jukebox jenny wrote:
the only thing that bugs me about it is when there's a show that requires nudity (or even partial) and these girls are way underage.
there was a lingerie show recently that was going to have the girls in panties and topless with body paint.  well, for whatever reason there was no paint and these girls all had to go out topless with make up at most on their breasts and it was in a bar with nothing but disgusting drunks watching.
a) wrong spot for a show but
b) they're children still...walking topless or even in a sheer top...i think it's wrong.  but that's just my two cents.  model or not their still underage.

-JJ

Wait--SO, THE MODELS WERE UNDER AGE, TOPLESS, AND IN A DRINKING ESTABLISHMENT? This was in the United States? That bar should be closed down immediately and the police involved. I rarely take a fashion show at a bar, seriously. Rarely are these venues good ones for legitimate designers unless you are LA, NY, SF, or Miami and even many of those aren't going anywhere. Of course, this might be an exception for a private event rented out by a professional fashion organization.

Point is--there should not have been minors there in the first place. Second, who let them be topless, under age, and in a bar? Where were their Parents or the Agency?