Where have all the curves gone? Waif like teen wins Elite Model Look contest

Is this the model world's idea of a beautiful woman? Waif-like teen wins industry's most prestigious contest

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 10:40 PM on 6th December 2011

It is one of the world's most prestigious modelling competitions. So when Julia Schneider won the Elite Model Look contest in Shanghai today, she was understandably thrilled.

But, though an undeniably attractive girl, the fact that the 15-year-old, from Gävle, Sweden has an extremely slight frame raises questions about ideals of beauty in the modelling industry.

While Julia's age, genetics and passion for ice hockey are most likely the reason for her waif-like build, the concern for many is that if she were to appear in a fashion campaign, impressionable young girls might learn to consider her an example of a physical ideal - and go to dangerous extremes to attain the same look.

Model example: Julia Schneider, 15, won the Elite Model Look contest in Shanghai today. But the fact that the Swedish teen has an extremely slight frame raises questions about ideals of beauty in the industry

In fashion: Julia's age, genes and passion for ice hockey are most likely the reason for her waif-like build, but the concern for many is that impressionable young girls could go to dangerous lengths to attain the same look

Already commentators have taken issue with Elite's decision to award the prize to such a thin girl.

The Montreal Gazette's Lens blog this afternoon read: 'Sweden’s Julia Schneider looks more like a "model" of anorexia than anything stylish that the fashion industry should be putting on a pedestal as a standard for emulation...

'Skeletons are meant jump out of closets not on to fashion runways. Why are only male models generally allowed to have an adult’s body shape?'

Controversy: Commentators have taken issue with Elite's decision to award the prize to such a thin girl

Concern: A Canadian blogger has pointed out that even by the industry's extreme standards, Julia (far right) is thin. Her peers, though slender themselves, all look 'healthier' than her

The writer goes on to point out that even by the industry's extreme standards, Julia is thin. Her peers, though slender themselves, all look 'healthier' than her.

While it is only fair to point out that as some women are naturally larger and others are naturally slim, the fashion industry's long-held favour for the very thin is a major concern for psychiatrists.

Nada Stotland, professor of psychiatry at Rush Medical College in Chicago and vice president of the American Psychiatric Association says that the prevalence of extremely slim women in the media helps convince those with eating disorders, like anorexia, that their emaciated frames are normal.

Prestigious: The Elite Model Look competition is one of the industry's most important events

All-star cast: The competition finale included a high-octane performance from Kylie Minogue

'We know seeing super-thin models can play a role in causing anorexia,' she told USA Today.

For Julia, however, winning the Elite contest promises to catapult her to modelling superstardom.

A keen horse rider and ice hockey player, she says she is passionate about modelling.

'The catwalk really gives me a shot of adrenaline and I want to do it over and over again,' she says in her biography on the Elite Model Look website.

'My favourite song is the one they played when I first walked the catwalk - Chris Brown's Beautiful People.'


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