Posts Tagged ‘Girls’

Excited and honored to launch the new Teen Program with the Compass Personal Development Network! Through their unique MAPS programs, a teen can coach with me for a few minutes a day, and for only $19 a month! We’ve developed three powerful month-long programs, you can check it out by visiting www.mylifecompass.com/debragano and click on the TEEN tab in the upper right hand corner. Be sure to watch my video! Give the lasting gift of self-esteem to a teen this Valentine’s Day!

This past fall, I’ve been blogging, as well as commenting on my Twitter and Facebook pages, about the dangerously skinny photoshopped ads by designer Ralph Lauren and the firing of his loyal size 4 model for being "too fat." (see earlier posts). Maybe I’m sensitive to all of this due to my years of modeling in that crazy industry, because, even then, it would madden me as to the pressure the models faced to be ultra thin. Everyone wants to blame "those skinny models," yet in their defense, it’s really the designers and advertisers who are to blame. Models aren’t known for their sense of self or high self-esteem, especially the younger ones, and will often "do what it takes" to be accepted, seek approval, or get a job. They will often be cruel physically, mentally, and emotionally to themselves – and to each other!

Unfortunately this behavior filters down into our schools with the increasing popularity of "mean girls," and that’s why I am so passionate about getting out there and reaching these girls. It was challenging to handle all this as an adult as a model, but it breaks my heart to see it happen with our young girls today!

More on that at a later time…for now, here is a call to action to help stop a contributing factor to our girls’ obsession with thinness. Filmmaker Darryl Roberts has become an advocate for body acceptance since making the fabulous documentary AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL.  Now he’s spearheading a boycott against Ralph Lauren that’s really intended to get the attention and wise up the whole fashion industry. He needs us all to join the boycott! Here’s the link to sign up for the boycott and learn more about Roberts’ campaign: join the boycott

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Debra Gano conducts her "It’s What’s Inside That Counts!" Self-Esteem Workshop for Girls, Women, & Parents of Girls (Dads welcome to!) this Sunday, Nov. 1, in Scottsdale, AZ. Click here for all the details, and be sure to tell your friends in the Phoenix-area about this great opportunity!

 Debra Gano comes to Arizona to deliver this empowering and interactive workshop, teaching self-esteem principles "from the inside out." Adults & girls appreciate Debra’s open and amusing style as she discusses unhealthy media, critical peers,  inner beauty, and the importance of connecting to your true essence. You will walk away with a greater sense of self-worth and confidence, feeling more empowered and resilient to withstand life’s challenges.

WHERE: New Vision Center

www.HeartlightGirls.com & www.DebraGano.com

As a former model, I cannot resist commenting on the recent Ralph Lauren ad portraying an ultra-ultra-thin model that is causing some uproar. Advertisers using models who look like they’re starving (they probably are) teamed with Photoshop-crazy designers are sending out such an unhealthy message to our girls…it’s no wonder cases of eating disorders are what they are.

One thing I never quite understood in the modeling industry was the way top designers "demanded" they have super skinny models. Yes, I know they create their designs in "sample" size and clothes photograph better on a more lean figure, but lean and healthy is one thing…emaciated and skeletal is another. When working in the bigger markets, it was constantly chirped in my ear from my agents to "lose weight" (I was a size 6)…there were designers I just could not work for because I was "too big" and refused to starve myself. I made many sacrifices to work in that industry, but my health and life was not something I was willing to jeopardize.

The ironic thing is that consumers do not appreciate the super skinny the way the designers do. So often after a fashion show I would hear women in the audience commenting how they simply cannot relate to the bone-thin models and therefore had no interest in the clothes. By designers pushing the envelope they way they did with this Ralph Lauren ad, they lose our respect, especially as we as women become more empowered in our true beauty, and concerned for our girls as they face dangerous pressures we never even imagined facing in our vulnerable years. I guess that’s why after years and years of being in that industry I felt compelled to do something proactive and founded Heartlight Girls, teaching girls that "it’s what’s inside that counts!"

This is a great excerpt from: http://shine.yahoo.com/event/fallbeauty/image-of-ultra-thin-ralph-lauren-model-sparks-outrage-521480/): The U.S. isn’t the only place where advertisers are feeling the public backlash over retouching claims. Overseas, a recent Olay ad featuring a virtually wrinkle-free 59-year-old Twiggy caused such an uproar in the UK that the British Parliament recently proposed outlawing retouching in advertisements aimed at teenagers. The movement was initiated by the nation’s Liberal Democrats, whose leader on the issue, Jo Swinson, said:

"Today’s unrealistic idea of what is beautiful means that young girls are under more pressure now than they were even five years ago. Airbrushing means that adverts contain completely unattainable images that no one can live up to in real life. We need to help protect children from these pressures and we need to make a start by banning airbrushing in adverts aimed at them. The focus on women’s appearance has got out of hand – no one really has perfect skin, perfect hair and a perfect figure, but women and young girls increasingly feel that nothing less than thin and perfect will do."