*This picture is a very popular one of Twiggy during her modeling years. Her stick-like figure, 'boyshort'
haircut, big eyes and long eyelashes is the look Twiggy is most famous for.
Twiggy, born Leslie Hornby, is most famous for being a supermodel in the 1960's.
She recieved the nickname 'Twiggy' for her sticklike figure.
London's Daily Express named her the Face of '66 which gave her international fame.
Twiggy is given credit for the high fashion mod look she created.
Twiggy is also a notable actress and singer.
The world of super models and fashion can be a difficult one to break into. This
was not the case for Leslie Hornsby, the British born model that would come to be known simply as ‘Twiggy’. Nevertheless, the fashion industry can be quite unforgiving. With the discrimination by means of lack of work, loss of contracts, etc. against those who do not meet
the set beauty standards in this harsh world, it is understandable why those in the industry, particularly the models, resort
to such extreme and unhealthy behaviors.
Some may say “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” but this is definitely not the case in the modeling
industry. Although there are exceptions to every rule, the general requirements
for a supermodel depend on her height, weight, body type and face. When a designer
first makes a garment, it is only made in one size (usually a dress size four) and since tall and lean bodies are considered
to look and move the best on the runway by those in the industry, a model’s body is of great importance. While it is required for a model to be at least 5’8” if she would like to do runway work, the
average model is 5’9” (Times Colonist). Also, models are usually
not taller than 6’. Weight plays an important role in a models life. They are generally “10-15 pounds less than the generic height/weight table”
(O’Connor and Williams, 34). Weight can look different on every model because
of her individual body type so many are judged by their body measurements. It
is a general rule that a model’s hips should not be wider than 35 inches. The
waist measurement is ideal if it is 10 inches less the hip measurement. So, if
a model’s hips are 33 inches, her waist should be 23 inches (O’Connor and Williams, 35). Bust size also follows this strict standard as it should be 10 inches more than the waist and the same
measurement of the hips. A perfect body type for example, would be 34(bust)-24(waist)-34(hip)
measurement. Not one type of face has been set for the standard of beauty but
symmetry is very important. Models must also keep their skin in great shape by
keeping it smooth and blemish free. A model’s face is considered a ‘blank
canvas’ for a designer and must always be "fresh" and youthful-like.
Models feel extreme pressures to fit this body type requirement and go to extreme lengths to keep their bodies within
the industry's standards of beauty. Since only a small percentage of women fit
this mold, it is comprehensible why models pick up unhealthy and potentially life-threatening practices. It has become publicly known that models, especially supermodels live an unhealthy life through anorexia
nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, drug and alcohol abuse, and much more just to keep off weight that is deemed
unacceptable by the fashion industry (Becker, Grinspoon, Klibanski, Herzog). This
“distress or excessive concern about body shape or body weight” has many health risks associated with it. In the case of 22 year old Luisel Ramos, who died of heart failure on a fashion runway,
she was said to have dieted only on lettuce leaves and water for the three months prior to her death. She was on this extreme diet to get down to the ideal weight considered for her by the designers. A working model’s schedule is also very hectic with many different appointments,
photo-shoots, and runway shows leaving very little time to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
This can and usually does add to the extra weight loss. It is far too
common that the average lifestyle of the typical model can lead to irregular menstrual cycles, liver and kidney failure, osteoporosis
in later life, and even death.
Twiggy, during her rise to fame in the mid-1960’s, was by far a rare exception to the world of fashion. She undoubtedly did not experience many of the pressures on today’s models. Although she naturally had the waif-life body structure of a typical model of today
(her nickname given to her because of her stick-like appearance) she would be considered much too short to become a supermodel
by current standards at only 5’6”. It must be stated that Twiggy
shot to fame during a time when models and ‘supermodels’ (the term had not been coined yet) were only beginning
to be seen by the industry and marketing world as commodities. During this time,
there were not too many models in her age group (late teens) and she did not have a lot of competition for work. This is quite the opposite of current times as most categories for models are over-saturated. These two conditions helped Twiggy to not be influenced too much by the need to be competitive through
her body. Even though she never had a disturbingly unhealthy lifestyle, one similarity
that Twiggy could relate to with the models of today was she led the incredibly busy life that most supermodels lead today. With many different projects including a clothing line, Twiggy dolls and games and
the usual day-to-day modeling work stress overtook her life forcing her to go into retirement for three years in 1968. Twiggy had only modeled for two years but returned to modeling after her hiatus to
start acting.
It is safe to say, if Twiggy had been born just decades later, she would not have been the celebrity she is today. If she was even taken on by a modeling agency it would not be likely that she would
have been considered for runway work which is what catapults an average model to supermodel status. With the heavy pressures on body image models experience it is frightful what her already tiny frame would
have looked like today. In her peak of fame, Twiggy was seen as the model that
helped fuse the Mod style and high fashion together. She was the face of Mod. Her then trendy look would not be evaluated today as trendy by most designers and
agents. While she is considered one of the first ever top models or supermodels
of her time there is no doubt she would have struggled under the stiff competition and pressures of the current fashion industry.
Bibliography
Becker, Anne E., Steven Grinspoon, Anne Klibanski, and David B. Herzog. “Eating
Disorders”. Vol. 340: 1092-1098.
1999. 24 Oct. 2006
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/340/14/1092.
O’Connor, Anne Marie and Roshumba Williams. The Complete
Idiot’s Guide to Being a
Model. Indianapolis.1999. 23 Oct. 2006 http://books.google.com/books?id=abCDKQaLtcoC&pg=PP1&lpg=PR2&dq=twiggy+modeling+pressures&psp=9&sig=UKncOkeH95E8ahkAeiY3btjL82E.
“Waif-thin Models and Fatal Fashion.” Times Colonist. 2006. Victoria
Times
Colonists. 24 Oct. 2006 <http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=e6adad8e-fc0c-4459-b155-98dd232fad59>.
Created By: Alana W.
