The other day I blogged about the Ralph Lauren ad that was getting some attention that showed a skeletal-sized model (see my October 8 post) because I was so triggered by what I had experienced in my years in the modeling industry. This morning on the Today Show, that model, Filippa Hamilton, a size 4, announced she was fired from her 8 year career with Ralph Lauren because she was "too fat." Her termination actually took place last April, but she decided to come forward with it when this photoshopped ad appeared of her - it’s been recently exposed that her head was used on another model’s (very skinny) body.

( To see Filippa’s appearance on the Today Show and to read more, click here )

In speaking to young girls about the current and harmful trend of "mean girls" and bullying, I often admit  how well I can identify with what is going on due to my years in the very competitive modeling industry and some of the experiences I had with mean girls. Just like the girls who bully other girls today in our schools, the bullies of the modeling industry did so due to low feeling of self-worth. The modeling industry is brutal on a girl’s/woman’s self-esteem…can you imagine being a size 4 or 6 and constantly told you are too fat? As models, we would get criticized on a daily basis for one physical "flaw" or another. I learned from the bottom up how to build my self-esteem, and that’s why I’m so passionate about teaching it to others through my speaking and books at Heartlight Girls!

I believe the fault lies with the designers and advertisers who put tremendous, unrealistic pressures on the models, which in turn, filters down to the young girls who want to emulate these models. Thank you, Filippa, for speaking up. If enough of us speak up, the world will pay attention! Would love to hear your comments too, please leave one below!

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