Scrawny Broads On The World's Fashion Catwalks

“What becomes alarming is when you see bones and start counting ribs.”
Linda Wells, Editor Allure a beauty magazine




Frankly, I don't understand why it's taken so long, but the fashion folks in Spain, and hopefully now in Brittan, have finally noticed that there ain't a hell of lot a meat on some of those gaunt babes strutt'in down the fashion catwalks in the world's big cities. With that in mind, the Spanish fashion organization, the Pasarela Cibeles, decided to ban those with a BMI (body mass index) of less than 18 from competition. In brief, “ Organizers of the Spanish event said they wanted models to project ‘an image of beauty and health’ and shun a gaunt, emaciated look” (AP news, 16 September 2006).

Spurred into action by the Spanish example, the British Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell, asked the British fashion world to follow the Spanish example. Damn, it actually looked like reason might just win the day, but no! Spurred on, I’m sure, by monetary considerations, the British elected not to do so. The bony babes were everywhere in evidence at the English “fashion walk.” (New York Times, 21 September 006)

To be honest about it, I don't make a regular habit outta watchin' those pretty spectacles; but when I have taken notice, I couldn't really tell if the distorted sashin' and swayin' they did as they traversed the fashion runway was some perverted scarecrow like attempt at a sexy walk; or if in fact, they were on the verge of passin' out and about to fall, bony ass over tea kettle, into the crowd of fashion onlookers--who didn't always look a hell of a lot healthier either, the onlookers that is.

Gotta be somethin' wrong with people who sit and oooh and ahhh over that kinda stuff. The psychedelic people, the shrinks, probably got some fancy name for it, but I'll be damned if I know what it is. In terms of the factors motivating the fashion world, I don’t think we have to wonder, and I do have a word for it; it’s greed, not altruism driving their decisions.

Now if you think my concern about one or more of them passin’ out is a little over the top, just you remember that skinny little babe who did pass out after being crowned pretty miss whatever at one of your major international beauty pageants a little less than a couple months ago. When that newly crowned beauty dropped over--fainted right there on international prime time TV--some timid souls from the journalistic community wondered if maybe she hadn’t been getting enough to eat, but she promptly assured everybody that she had; she said it was just the excitement of the moment that knocked her over. Ya, sure it was! The anorexic little shit probably hadn’t had a decent Big Mac in a month of Sundays. Fact is she’d probably been loadin’ up on carrot juice and celery sticks dipped in ice water, and there just isn’t enough octane in that stuff to keep a body goin.’

Only a society with a badly distorted, warped set of values holds up an unhealthy standard of female beauty for all to admire; and, in the case of highly impressionable young girls, a standard they foolishly try to emulate. Many of them sacrificing their health, as they get caught up in the destructive grip of anorexia nervosa. The concern briefly reelected in the Madrid/London fashion news has dissipated like an early morning haze. The scrawny, bony, broads continue to flounce up and down those fashion catwalks and to hell with the rib counters.

What the hell, chill out! If you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em. Porked up Americans will continue to put their big and getting bigger fat assess on the old couch; fire up that talking plasma HDTV wall; all the while grabbing ever bigger fists full of chips & brats to be washed down with cold beer sucked right outta the can. Heaven!