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Fab Flash: Coco Rocha Speaks Up At The CFDA Model Health Discussion

Thu, 06/12/2008 - 10:02am by FabSugar
3,063 Views - 25 comments

"She wakes up in the morning, goes to the bathroom to take a shower and runs by the full-length mirror because she can't bare to look at herself naked. She only weighs 104 pounds, but all she can think is, I need to be thinner. She hurries to her first show, where she promises herself she'll eat a few grapes. But when she gets there, there's nothing but pastries. First looks are called, she puts on her dress and it takes three people to zip her up. The dresser makes a joke, 'We almost had to call the agency and tell them you didn't fit.' All the girl can think is, I better not eat until tomorrow." Those were the words of model Coco Rocha as she described a day in a model's life at the CFDA discussion on "The Beauty of Health: How the Fashion Industry Can Make a Difference."

To read more about the discussion and what Coco had to say, read more

In conjunction with CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg and Michael Kors, the model and her colleagues spoke up about the imminent health dangers of modeling in an industry where the pressure to stay thin is heavier than ever. Rocha told the audience: "They said, 'You need to lose more weight — the look this year is anorexia, and although we don't want you to be anorexic, we want you to look it,'" she recalled. "My question is, how do you look anorexic unless you actually are?"

The discussion aimed to shed light, knowledge, and understanding on the pressures models experience with the rest of the fashion industry. Along with encouraging agencies to work with nutritionists and trainers, Kors suggested for people to treat the models not at mannequins, but as actual people. The meeting was very necessary and hopefully made more of a step in the direction towards healthier models.

Source

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25 Comments Add a Comment

  • missyd's picture
    missyd
    1

    WOW
    'You need to lose more weight — the look this year is anorexia, and although we don't want you to be anorexic, we want you to look it,'"

    I cant believe they would actually say that to someone.
    It's like saying, "we dont WANT you to ahve cancer, but if you could just look like you do and display every symptom and side effect, that would be great".

    HOW SICK

    23 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • uniko509's picture
    uniko509
    3

    The modeling industry is nuts. It's true that a lot of clothes look better on longer and leaner people, but what we should focus on more are clothes that actually fit real people and look gorgeous at the same time.

    23 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • MartiniLush's picture
    MartiniLush
    4

    Ummm....how can you LOOK anorexic if you AREN'T anorexic? Sheesh - this is crazy!

    23 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • lawchick's picture
    lawchick
    5

    wow, 104 lbs and you know she's tall -- that is a size 0 for sure! how can these women get any smaller?

    23 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • MartiniLush's picture
    MartiniLush
    6

    I read a comment somewhere where a designer supposedly said that models were supposed to be like hangers for the clothes - that he didn't want people looking at the models, he wanted them looking at his designs. What warped thinking!

    23 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • tepiza's picture
    tepiza
    8

    I would die to look like her and it's so unfair how they make her feel so imperfect. Coco Rocha is one of my favorite models and I would never ever want to see her any thinner than she is now.

    23 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • WiCkeD_LaDy's picture
    WiCkeD_LaDy
    9

    how brave, of her
    to say something
    public like that,
    yes we all hope
    they hear her....

    23 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • Francoisehardly's picture
    Francoisehardly
    11

    Good for Coco for saying something. I don't like the idea of alienating naturally thinner models (even though some of them are younger anyway therefore have a different weight range anyway) but designers need to stop with the ridiculous weight expectations.

    23 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • inoia's picture
    inoia
    12

    she is one of the most grounded models. she always comes across as so mature and aware in her interviews

    23 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • Taadie's picture
    Taadie
    13

    Its kinda crazy to think that all they have to do is make the sample size larger. Just make the clothes in a size 4 or 6 for the runway and they would be able to eat.

    23 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • JessNess's picture
    JessNess
    14

    I really commend her for speaking out and understand the issues that models face in the fashion world. It is horrible how the business places so many young girls health on the back burner to make clothing look good. Things definitely need to change

    However I also have to think that these girls do not have to be models. If they do not like feeling this horrible pressure to be anorexic that designers and agencies place then why stay in the business? To me it would make more of a stand to boycott or quit modeling instead of just talking about it. There is a lot more these girls can do in life than modeling and they can be healthy too. Just playing devils advocate

    23 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • Danz's picture
    Danz
    15

    So messed up. Resizing human beings to fit into clothes when it should be the other way around.

    23 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • fleurfairy's picture
    fleurfairy
    16

    The anorexic quote is like something you would hear in The Devil Wears Prada or something. But they are serious. So ridiculous. Bravo to Coco for taking a stand.

    23 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • neonbee's picture
    neonbee
    17

    I'm just shocked right now. But Coco made a very smart move. It's great that a model is speaking out about this.

    23 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • shayela's picture
    shayela
    18

    Coco Rocha is wonderful, not only when it comes to the weight issue. I was reading something a couple months ago about her teaching dance to children? Something along those lines...anyways, wow, 104 lbs. is crazy. Kudos to her for taking a stand. Body image is one of the things that makes fashion so difficult to handle sometimes.

    23 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • ranksubjugation's picture
    ranksubjugation
    19

    Um, if designers want "hangers," then why don't they just use hangers?? It is so sick to even think that a human being might aspire to be a quarter-inch-thick piece of plastic.

    Maybe the models could form a union and frickin' strike the hell out of the next big fashion show -- in the hopes of raising the standard sample size and stuff.

    23 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • crazygal1488's picture
    crazygal1488
    21

    just saw coco yesterday..she looked a lot healthier (but still so tiny!) than many of the other models at the event who were taller and even skinnier. she is definitely a great role model for the industry, and my favorite for sure!

    23 weeks 10 hours ago Report Comment
  • schmexy's picture
    schmexy
    22

    kudos to Coco for speaking out! she's one of my fave models and I really appreciate how down-to-earth she is. kudos to DVF and MK too for supporting this movement.

    23 weeks 3 hours ago Report Comment
  • Karitas's picture
    Karitas
    24

    This is so disturbing I dont even have the right words to actually convey how I feel about the subject...

    22 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • FlyyGirl's picture
    FlyyGirl
    25

    i cant imagine someone telling me im fat at 104 lbs. i'd kick their butt if they said that to me now and im a very normal 133 lbs... nowhere near model size! I'd say, how bout YOU get in this dress if you think Im too big! insanity. these girls are beautiful as they are and to think theyre being told otherwise is so sad..

    20 weeks 4 days ago Report Comment

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