Article re-posted from: https://www.marketingweek.co.uk/sectors/retail/topshop-pulls-model-images-in-size-zero-row/3028373.article
Topshop has pulled images of a waif thin model from its online advertising following concerns that it could encourage eating disorders.
The 18-year-old model Codie Young appeared on Topshop’s latest online lookbook modelling a range of fashions and accessories.
A spokesperson from eating disorder charity Beat says: “We wouldn’t comment on an individual but we want to see diversity in images from the fashion industry to reflect the modern world and people’s different shapes an sizes. Images such as these can be a trigger for people suffering with eating disorders.”
The model, who is a UK size 8, denies suffering anorexia and defended the images on her personal blog.
A Topshop spokesperson says in a statement: “Topshop is confident that Codie is a healthy young woman and we do not feel it necessary to remove her from our imagery based on your feature. However we do recognise regretfully that the angle this image has been shot at may accentuate Codie’s proportions making her head look bigger and neck longer in proportion to her body.
“Topshop is proud of it’s heritage of celebrating individual-looking girls who offer an alternative more unusual beauty, however we take your comments very seriously. As you may have noticed we have taken down that specific image at the earliest opportunity.”
It has replaced the images in question with different shots of the model.
