- Victoria Beckham is being criticized for using a model in an eyeglasses ad who some people believe looks "emaciated."
- Some people think she's promoting unhealthy body image by using a thin model.
- Others think it's problematic to body-shame the model in general.
- This comes several months after two major fashion groups announced that they will no longer send models smaller than a size 2 down the runway.
Victoria Beckham and her fashion brand are being criticized over a recent eyewear advertisement that shows a model who some people believe to be too thin.
Back to work! Start the year with new frames from the Spring Summer 2018 #VBEyewear collection inspired by 1970s retro classics and updated for a feathery-light, fresh and modern look. Available at https://t.co/z8jKj9nMGH and #VBDoverSt. #VBSS18pic.twitter.com/SDq0onL2EJ
— Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham) January 11, 2018
People on Twitter immediately criticized the ad, claiming that the model, Giedre Dukauskaite, looked unhealthy.
Wall Street Journal columnist Amanda Foreman weighed in, and said that the model "looks like a teenager with severe anorexia." She suggested that the image could be damaging to young girls.
A model who looks like a teenager with severe anorexia is the face for the #VBEyeware 2018 summer collection. This is the reason why every study done on social media and advertising calls the threat to young girls’ mental health “dire”. @victoriabeckhampic.twitter.com/xS6hC2SwlW
— Amanda Foreman (@DrAmandaForeman) January 14, 2018
Journalist and TV personality Piers Morgan also slammed the designer for featuring "an emaciated model" on Twitter and penned a column about the ad for the Daily Mail.
Despite the global outrage, @victoriabeckham STILL using an emaciated model to sell her merchandise. Appalling. https://t.co/yfDgsDMnKD
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 16, 2018
Twitter user @sallyhelston raised concerns about the unrealistic expectations of body image that the pictures could set for young girls.
This model may be naturally slim and she is beautiful! However using models that are this thin creates an unrealistic goal for most girls and is highly irresponsible!
— sally anne (@sallyhelston) January 14, 2018
Twitter user @Yoby echoed those concerns, and argued for using "healthy, normal women" instead.
Why not use healthy, normal women? What point are you trying to make? Please stop making our girls feel like starving is normal.
— Yoby Alexander (@yoby) January 15, 2018
Many people, like @jonofracklincs, wondered what message Beckham and her brand were trying to promote, and said that the "model looks ill."
This model looks ill. What exactly are you promoting? The fashion industry is truly a killer
— CountrywantsCorbyn (@jonofracklincs) January 17, 2018
Others, like Twitter user @karynleigh, tried to shift the conversation away from body-shaming Dukauskaite, suggesting that she may or may not be naturally very thin.
This is an irresponsible way to promote your product. This model may be naturally this thin. She may not be. But the young girls who watch you will try to emulate the look, and it is not natural for most of them. Shame on you.
— Karyn Cleavely (@karynleigh) January 16, 2018
Some people defended Dukauskaite, like users @LucyFazza and @Queenofmylife80.
Shame on you all for assuming that this woman has an eating disorder and for not accepting that really women come in all shapes and sizes and that they are all bloody beautiful 💖
— Lucy Alcock (@LucyFazza) January 14, 2018
This woman is beautiful and human and maybe has feelings. Can we just appreciate all bodies 💁🏼
— Lady Rebecca Nicholls (@Queenofmylife80) January 17, 2018
Representatives for Beckham and Dukauskaite didn't immediately respond to INSIDER's requests for comment.
But, as The New York Times pointed out, this isn't the first time Beckham's company has been involved in a controversy like this one.
In 2015, the designer came under fire for sending models who appeared to be very thin down the runway during a September New York Fashion Week presentation.
At the time, Beckham didn't address the critiques. But, before her runway show began, Beckham told ABC News that she wanted her clothes to send a positive message to women.
"I want to make women feel empowered and like the best version of themselves," she said. "I want to make them look beautiful. I want to make them feel sexy and confident and that's exciting for me, when people say, 'I feel so great in your clothes.'"
However, the fashion industry has changed quite a bit since Beckham first set out to "make women feel empowered."
The body positivity movement has helped models who are traditionally considered "plus-size" make major strides, and there have been increased regulations for "straight-size" models, too.
Starting in September 2017, Kering and LVMH, the design houses behind Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Dior, and Stella McCartney, committed to banning models below size 2 from their runways.
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