As fantastic and glamorous as modelling may seem, the fashion industry is as wild and dangerous as the African savannah where lions are designers, rhinos the equivalent of photographers and wildebeest being the rest of the media empire.
Models are often featured as though they are the icon, the star, in campaigns. However, a conversation with a former model that will not be named in this piece revealed that this is not the truth. She mentioned that models are often young and in over their heads, which industry professionals use to their advantage – photographers being the main culprits, preying on the young, beautiful beings. She said that those who speak out commit modelling suicide, therefore most choose to stay silent.
Model Alliance is a new initiative created by Sara Ziff to bring issues surrounding modelling to the forefront of fashion media. The initiative, thus far, has already contributed to the latest Health Initiative Guidelines that was written by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and is fully supported by Diane Von Furstenberg - CFDA President.