Interested on people's opinions on this one.

Melbourne City Council have done a back flip in regards to the 'face of Melbourne Fashion Week' dumping her less than two months from the week because at 15 she is too young.

Is 15 really too young to model? At 15 she can legally work anywhere, but modelling is some no no. Frankly I think this is politically correct namby pamby rubbish.

Post Last Updated:17.07.2007 at 01.15

The model in concern is Claire Quirk.

Councillor Fiona Snedden says it was the wrong decision and someone else will be chosen.

"I think that a young person of 15 years of age is too young to be the face of Melbourne and the Melbourne Fashion Festival," she said.

"As a local government, I believe that we need to be very mindful of the message that we are sending to the community as well."

In the UK the interim report commisioned by the BFC is to rule out thank goodness any BMI bar but has illogically suggested a 16yr limit, but only for major shows like BFW. It makes no sense at all. It is rubbish- see my last post on "Modelling Advice". What matters is how mentally and physically healthy a model is, what support she/he has and the type of modelling. I think someone said it is too hard physically on young bodies to do runway work??!! What! most girls walk more shopping everyday!

Don't paint all 16yrs olds into a cupboard and deny them a wonderful time and career.

As for also the PC brigade who are up in arms at any Lolita shots, this has been with us and will always be with us from pre Kate and will be post Kate. This is the real world. Fashion/photography/advertising/film and literature will always have Lotita's and I for one am happy to be based here in France where artistic and expressive freedom is a delight to work within.

Alicia
x

I think a lot of young girls in their early teens have a sort of beauty that they can't ever get back again - youthful and gorgeous but not yet fully aware of it, and at a stage where their metabolism is so good they can eat anything and stay bean-pole thin (oh to be able to go back to those days! :P ) Anyway, point is I can understand why they do so well as models and for many it's the time to get their big break. I can't really see how modelling would damage them. Working at McDonalds when you're 14 is pretty darn scary too ;)

Also I feel sorry for the girl who was meant to be the face of MMSFW - to build up that excitement only to be let down, it's pretty unfair.

Photos from the re-casting

ok, i think they r right, she is a bit too young. BUT i think it was horrible how they acted upon this first they give u a great, once in a life time job, then they take it away from u. they should have discussed this before they decided givin her this possition

On what grounds do you think she is too young emo_kid?

The problem, I have noticed, with the very young models (here) is that they are not mature enough and tend to drop out of the business fast. Still, the agencies insist on representing them and they snob anyone above 20, saying that the career of a teenaged model can be much longuer than the career of a 20-something one. That's pretty ridiculous, considering that most have a shelf-life on the agencies' roster of less than two years. Also, I'm getting quite frustrated by the local magazines, that tend fairly often to show 14-16 years old models (that look like teens and not a day older) in their 'how to look good at the office' spread. For the life of me, why don't they pick girls that look at least 20? A 14 years old is a suit that is chosen to fit a lawyer looks like a little girl playing in her mom's wardrobe. Don't get me started on the 15 years old girl in the wedding dresses advertisement (RI-DI-CU-LOUS).

I don't know how it is in Europe, though. I hope it's better. Still, I don't mind underaged models (especially if their mother agency is in the city were their family lives) as long as they don't look *too* young. Why would anybody want to advertise anti-aging stuff with a 16 years old is beyond me.

Sorry for the rant, it's a touchy issue. The agencies here are pretty messed up.

i believe that 15 is far too young to be the face of a fashion show. to model - no not necessarily but to be the 'face' yes. i do think it was disgusting the fact they gave it to her and then took it away... no child can cope with that disapointment... terrible.

p.s i want that chloe t-shirt anyone know where i can get one??