Fashion Forum

* Maddison is just 12 years old
* Fashion world divided over youngster
* Mature for her age, says Mum

A QUEENSLAND fashion festival has been accused of child exploitation after choosing a 12-year-old girl as the face of the event.

The selection of Year 8 student Maddison Gabriel, pictured, as ambassador of the first Gold Coast Fashion Week has sparked condemnation from within and outside the modelling industry.

It comes as world fashion show organisers - including those of Australia's premier events - have moved to ban girls under 16 from adult catwalks.

While Maddison's mother and organisers of the Gold Coast show have defended the move, modelling industry doyen Margo Mott and academic Karen Brooks were appalled.

"Oh my god, that's outrageous," Dr Brooks said yesterday after learning of Maddison's appointment.

"When is society going to let kids be kids instead of catapulting them into the adult world? It's exploitation. We're talking about a girl who hasn't long stopped playing with dolls."

Director of the recent Brisbane Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Lindsay Bennett, said he would not consider a 12-year-old for any role in his shows.

"It is the role of the parent to protect the child in an industry where we market towards adults," he said.

"I think she is too young and it is wrong to have someone still growing as a face of the festival.

"I don't know if the judges were looking for controversy when they selected someone so young but, as for whether it adds value to the festival, that is questionable."

He said girls under 16 were turned away during casting for Brisbane Fashion Week.

Last month, a 15-year-old model was dumped as the face of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week amid concerns about her age.

Maddison, a student at Hillcrest Christian College on the Gold Coast, was selected ahead of women, some 15 years her senior.

She was awarded the prize - which includes a modelling contract - at a Surfers Paradise bar on Wednesday night with her supportive parents, Michelle and Brian, in the crowd.

"I'm stoked that I won - modelling is all I've wanted to do since I was six," Maddison said yesterday.

"I don't think I'm too young - 12-year-olds should be able to model.

"The people there (at Fashion Week) thought I was a bit older, like their age. I'd really like to be an international model."

Mrs Gabriel said her daughter was mature for her age.

She said Maddison, who turns 13 this weekend, had wanted to model for years but had been forced to wait until she was considered old enough.

"I'm very proud and excited for her," she said.

"Some 12-year-olds are very young but I think Maddison is a woman in her own right.

"The judges themselves didn't know how old she was. They just saw her as a model against other women."

Ms Mott, a former Australian model of the year and modelling agency boss, said a 12-year-old girl was too young to be modelling adult fashion and to be the face of a fashion week.

"She is still a 12-year-old girl and she should be allowed to be a 12-year-old girl," Ms Mott said yesterday.

"Children this age are not equipped to handle the exposure they receive in the modelling industry."
Gold Coast Fashion Week spokeswoman Kelly Weiler denied Maddison was too young. She said Maddison would only be doing photographic modelling initially and would not be parading swimwear or lingerie.

"Maddy got in because she was the best contestant - the judges saw that she was fit to do the job," Ms Weiler said.

"There were older girls there but Maddison did win it at the end of the day and she's a beautiful girl.

"We're grateful to be able to give her the opportunity." Maddison was chosen by five judges: a media representative, a fashion photographer, a fashion design academy representative, a designer and Gold Coast Titans rugby league player Clint Amos. The organisers said the judges were not made aware of the contestants' ages.

Maddison's fashion week engagements include an appearance at a Surfers Paradise nightclub tomorrow night.

Source: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22414348-2,00.html

Andrew Bolt picked up on this this morning.

Nice for the girl, maybe, but a lot of men will of course be watching, and some not so tenderly:

Do 12-year-olds really need to be hurried like this into highly sexualised adulthood?

My response; should 12-year-olds equally be banned from television programs where a lot of men will of course be watching, and some not so tenderly?