Flack over too skinny models at Australia Fashion Week

Australian designer Wayne Cooper says that the whole too-skinny model issue is "ridiculous". He further spurns:

"You've got to look at these girls as athletes. Basketballers are eight feet tall. They're athletes. Models are the same, they are supposed to be skinny and tall - basketballers are supposed to be eight foot, weightlifters are supposed to be short and muscly and models are supposed to be tall and thin."

He goes on further about genetics. Okay, fashionista Cooper, here's the thing, athletes, real athletes have muscles, eat, and are in general specimens of health and fitness. Something else to remember, has there ever been an issue around athletes having eating disorders? Absolutely. Athletes are not immune from eating disorders. They do have to eat though as it is much harder for them to perform without sustenance because they need fuel to perform which in most cases requires more energy than strutting down a catwalk.

An example are gymnasts who are brow beaten into maintaining teeny, tiny frames so that they always look prepubescent and boobless even if they are 16 or 19 years old. For men, an example are wrestlers who have to strictly keep their weights within a "fighting" range. Have you ever been around a wrestler in training? They are always spitting as even that is a way to drop weight. Anytime weight is a factor in someone's "career" there is plenty of potential for eating disorders and body dysmorphia.

At the end of fashion week in Australia which ended this weekend, the big stories that made it here to the U.S. were about how the models looked way too skinny. This is a snap shot from a video from the Azzollini swimwear show. The ironic thing is that the designers used the song "Physical" by Olivia Newton John as a theme for a video for their show. Sorry, but I had to let out an "OMG!" Someone has some serious reality distortion glasses on as these models do not look healthy at all, and how can anyone even remember the beautiful fashions when we are so obviously shocked by the models' body.

Visit News.com.au "Fashion Week" for more pictures and videos from the Australia Fashion Week 2007, and let me know what you think.