Ali Michael on the Today Show

posted by SarahF

May 14, 2008 11:30AM

here's a link to the clip:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/24614666/

posted by trentnyc

May 14, 2008 11:45AM

i mean, come on, really. of course since she's become the poster child for plus-size models she's going to push everything to the extreme. i wish you could see that's she's not noble but rather just prostituting herself out ON THE TODAY SHOW NO LESS to capitalize on the uproar of all these flabby enemy-to-pinpoint-seeking women, who can't stay on a diet or learn to take the stairs, for perhaps an even more shallow promotion.

posted by syako

May 14, 2008 11:49AM

Wow, she's impressively eloquent. My favorite part was the last minute or so. It's so true that these disorders do have lifelong effects - which, infertility might not mean much to a 16 year old, but 15 years down the road when they're married and ready to start a family, it could mean a whole lot. I'm proud of her for speaking out and doing it so well.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 11:50AM

happy birthday ali!

it really bothered me how anne kept grabbing her arm.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 11:59AM

Ali is incredible. I wish Anne Curry would have let her say more without cutting her off and directing her responses, because this girl is clearly one of the most level headed and well-spoken in the industry.

posted by veritas

May 14, 2008 12:04PM

i think ali is one of the best looking models out there.........

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 12:07PM

she came across so well. i'm impressed. it seems like most models who give interviews try to cover up the eating disorders of themselves and others by saying it's natural.

agreed on how they didn't address that statistic they provided. 5'4" and 165 lbs isn't healthy either. weighing that much at 5'10" is hardly healthy.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 12:09PM

honestly, she's just upset because she was too fat for the runways. if she wants to be a model, she needs to be a certain weight. end of story.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 12:13PM

I thought her mother accompanied her to shows and shoots. Doesn't it say something that she didn't do more to prevent her daughters eating disorder. I'm sorry but no one told her to stop eating. She chose to starve herself. There are healthy ways to lose weight. If you cant do it by healthy means perhaps you should be the one to step down from the profession. Sounds harsh but it's true.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 12:15PM

WHAT is with everyone saying she is plus-sized or fat. you know she is neither of these things.
she's not demanding that the industry changes so she can get a job, she's saying it needs to change because it has gotten ridiculous. to the point of people calling a 120 lb girl fat.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 12:16PM

guest @ 12:09 -- the problem IS that this certain weight for a girl who is 5'9" is less than 105 lbs, which is still grossly underweight. In no culture should that ever be considered "fat".

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 12:21PM

if you guys really supported what she was saying why do you keep bowing down and worshipping the magazines (carine et al) & designers (karl et al) that continue the demand for and perpetuate the image of unhealthily skinny girls as models?

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 12:28PM

I think she is one of those girls whose face is so great there will always be campaigns that will bend the "rules" for her.

Guest @ 12:07...I fear you are going to get slammed in these posts for saying 165 is hardly healthy for a 5'10'' girl. I am really bad with gauging people's weight myself (as far as what is a lot or not), so it was probably just a mistake on your part, but my 5'10 best friend is about 165 and she wears a comfortable 4/6/38/40 whatever you want to call it. Not saying that should be model-size, but it is def. not unhealthily big!

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 12:43PM

guest @ 11:59, I agree. Anne needs to shut up and let her speak. Maybe a producer was in her ear telling her to move it along, but still.

To me, Ali does not look fat at all. But what do I know?

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 12:49PM

Ok...so all the people saying no one told her to starve herself, she should have did it the healthy way (Guest 12:13)...there is no healthy way! For a girl to be 5'9" and up, but 100 pounds is severely underweight. That is in no way normal or healthy. So unhealthy habits is the only way to achieve this. The point is nowadays success is hard to come by without being underweight. Its a catch 22. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 12:51PM

i enjoyed seeing ali this morning, but i have to say she does look much thinner than she did when i saw her on the ny runways in february :(

posted by Softel

May 14, 2008 12:56PM

Ali doesn't look at all fat. Having said that, even on the runway you can tell she has naturally thick legs. I'm a slender but curvy girl at 115 lbs (5"3). I know that even if I was tall enough, my calves and hips would never pass the test. All this talk about pounds means so little and is so, so relative. I was smaller and more toned at 120 than I am now. It has to do with muscle mass etc, etc...
I do think it's great she spoke out. I really hope she gets more shoots but I totally understand why designers wouldn't jump at the chance to have her legs walk their runways (they're beautiful, feminine legs, and designers are looking for twigs)

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 1:01PM

Good for Ali for speaking up about something so personal in order to help other models and impressionable young women. She is not fat or overweight by any stretch of the imagination, trentnyc, and naturally skinny models, too, are told to lose inches so that they can fit the clothes. If all designers started making sample sizes just one inch larger around the hips (at 36"), models would have less pressure to starve themselves because they would be more likely to fit the clothes. Modeling agencies should also encourage their models to be healthy, and if a girl is struggling with an eating disorder, she shouldn't work.

And thinking that since fashion is aspirational and therefore models should be a size that is seemingly unattainable is ludicrous. Who aspires to look like they're dying?!?! Ali now looks healthy and strong (which is truly aspirational), and I am glad she is willing to share her story.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 1:03PM

she's one of those people who's pissed because she got rejected at 17 and going on air to rant. typical. like every mother-daughter mentality I see at every beauty pagent and modelling agencies. yawn.

fashion doesn't like stubby legs.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 1:26PM

Guest at 12:49 responding to my post. If you watch the interview you will see that no one told her to drop from 130 to 100. I meant there are healthy ways to tone up, which is what she was told to do. She was NOT told to stop eating and drop 30 lbs. She chose to. She cant blame the fashion industry for a choice she made. I dont know about you but I would freak out over losing my period for one or two months. It took her a whole year? Ridiculous.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 1:27PM

Good for Ali. If no one spoke out about the reality of the situation, then the fashion industry could continue to act as though nothing was wrong, and claim that the majority of the emaciated models on the runway today are naturally than thin. The truth of the matter is that many models are suffering greatly in order to remain successful and in order to book jobs. Realistically, I don't think that Ali speaking out will be enough. However, hopefully the industry will eventually realize that models are not just tools which can be used in order to profit financially. Models are real people who will face real consequences from having malnourished bodies.
It's sickens me that anyone could pretend that her speaking out is simply sour grapes or claim that she's merely attempting to get some TV time. The reality is that Ali Michael is an incredibly brave and intelligent girl who should be applauded for finally speaking out when so many models have been suffering in silent.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 1:30PM

5'10 and 165 pounds would be a pretty healthy weight, not fat or even chubby by any means. 5'4 and 165 lbs could actually be a healthy weight for some people... I have known top athletes who are this size. You have such distorted perceptions of what is healthy.

Some of these commenters make me sick, and make me want to stay far, far away from the world of "fashion" as these people see it... which has nothing to do with style or creativity, and everything to do with exclusivity and status. Ick.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 1:31PM

Its scary that some people commenting are calling Ali "fat." That girl is far, far, far from it. I don't know how much weight she's gained now but she did say that in Paris she gained a whopping five pounds! Five pounds?!!! Five pounds will make you face a little rounder or your boobs a little bigger. Five pounds? Twenty pounds is understandable but five? That really says something about fashion and societal values today.
Its disturbing that this waif ideal has become aspirational ... I mean, wanting to look like Cindy Crawford or Naomi in their prime I can get (thin yet healthy and curvy) but wanting to look emancipated?
I also think that fashion people/designers need to stop playing stupid. How do you expect someone, who wasn't fat to begin with to lose twenty pounds and maintain that weight without starving themselves? How do you expect someone to look emancipated without actually being emancipated?

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 1:35PM

Having stubby legs when you're 5'9" is pretty much impossible unless you're like a size 20.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 1:41PM

Obese people typically are aware that they are obese, how could they not be? They are often tormented by peers, medically warned about the health risks of their weight, and bombarded with media images (like those on this program) which exclusively feature the very thin. I can't believe it upsets you that just once a statistic was presented without yet another "your fat" message attached.

posted by poseur

May 14, 2008 1:41PM

i hated the fact that instead of showing ali talking, they kept showing her runway photos. a couple is ok, but that went on too long.

she seems to be articulate, well rounded. the interview was too short and didn't adress anything, except ali's words.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 1:42PM

I don't understand why people are praising her eloquence and/or intelligence... she spoke like 3 sentences, none of which were especially groundbreaking. I'm not saying that she's NOT eloquent or intelligent, but this interview doesn't show either. That said, its an important issue, so at least she's bringing attention to it... and it does seem like she's speaking out with honest intentions, as opposed to the Teen Vogue woman who's obviously just there to promote the next issue.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 1:58PM

It is disturbing to read the comments and see that people are "blaming" Ali and making her seem bitter about not getting a job. For a girl that tall to be only around 100 lbs is seriously sick. I'm 5' and 100 lbs and I am already on the slender size. There is no healthy way for her to loose that weight to get down to that size. She's very brave for speaking out about this issue.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 2:02PM

The presenter is the most annoying person ever, telling Ali's story for her and obviously knowing nothing about the fashion world.

It bugs me that people seem to care sooo much about the weight of runway models when there are millions of over weight people. Models may strive to be thin but there are some that are naturally lithe, e.g. Lily Cole, Agyness Deyn, Gemma Ward, bodies come in all shapes and sizes!

I also believe that the average person doesn't see catwalk images ever. Seriously, take a look around, ask the nearest girl about the latest runway show they looked at. Most girls and women care about celebrities and fashion in the sense of the clothes they can wear themselves, not looking at the art of fashion straight from the catwalk. Magazines are full of celebrities, not runway images. The pages of Vogue and Elle are read by people who understand models will be thin, not an impressionable teen girl. I think it is great for Ali to send her message out to aspiring or existing runway models as girls shouldn't have to go through what she has in order to work, or feel they have to, but the show is implying that it gives a message out to society, when most people could barely name a designer.

Adverts wouldn't sell clothes if the models were emanciated. I totally believe models shouldn't risk their health and it seems that is a problem, but all their other points are invalid when you consider the amount of obese people and the 100x larger effect that has. Why aren't they talking about that too? Maybe I'm just biased because I've read so many stories from models who do eat and don't need to starve themselves to become iconic. They used pictures of Twiggy- surely if she starved herself she might have mentioned it during her life long career? Some girls can be naturally thin!

Selina

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 2:08PM

Responding back to Guest 1:26

Yeah, if you didn't get your period for a year you would freak...but are you a model? Your career doesn't depend on it. That's the norm for them, which makes it so ridiculous. For many models they see it as a necessary sacrifice for success. Are you really that naive to think Ali Michael is the only model who was starving herself to that point? She just decided to the sacrifice wasn't worth it, and look where it got her. Also Ali was 130 pounds modeling in DALLAS. It was when she started to lose weight that she began to model in New York and then Paris. To quote Guest 1:31 "How do you expect someone, who wasn't fat to begin with to lose twenty pounds and maintain that weight without starving themselves? How do you expect someone to look emaciated without actually being emaciated?" Designers want models to have the bodies of prepubescent boys. As a growing girl/woman you don't achieve that by simply "toning up." Toning up is a nice way for agents to say you need to lose weight. And they also told her she needed to lose inches.

posted by syako

May 14, 2008 2:14PM

"I totally believe models shouldn't risk their health and it seems that is a problem, but all their other points are invalid when you consider the amount of obese people and the 100x larger effect that has."

If we were to use that logic in all areas of our lives, very little would get done. Starving children is a larger problem than children with cancer, so let's fix the starving part before we help the cancer kids?

I agree with you that obesity is a BIGGER problem (pun sort of intended) but I think eating disorders is equally important to be brought to the attention and forefront. We can't ignore one problem because another has a larger effect.

I also don't think anyone is arguing that people can't be naturally thin, it's the whole not having a period and hair falling out that alarms me.

And having an eating disorder is not a pretty story, so just because we're not hearing it from models/people/actors from the past or present doesn't mean it's not going on.

(selina I'm not trying to attack you, I just think you brought up a lot of great points and I wanted to engage you!) :)

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 2:14PM

Just to state:
Compare Gemma Ward now with Gemma Ward then.
Obviously she isnt the same, and I highly doubt that she was naturally as 'lithe' as she was when in the midst of her full force modeling career.The same goes for comparisons between Daria Werbowy. And their appearances in fashion decreased notably from what they used to be. Probably better for them since they arent under such pressure and probably have a better and healthier outlook now about themselves.

In the opposite direction there are Agyness and Lily Donaldson who noticeably slimmed down to get to and remain where they are.

Naturally slim models seem to be a extreme rarity now, under the standards of current fashion trends in model bodies and physiques!

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 2:17PM

the industry will turn their back on ali for this i feel.
if she would have been cast at a healthy weight this would not have been a problem.
despite how sad it is, this is the reality of modeling and it isn't about to change any time soon.
if one girl doesn;t want to get her wieght to where it needs to be they will toss her aside and find one who does.
what these girls don't realise is that they're disposible in the industry. with the amount of girls and agencies, it takes a crazy will to succeed.
this is why models get paid what they do. crab fisherman nearly kill themselves every shift but this is why they make 60 000 a week. it is terrible, yes, but it is a reality and it isn't about to change anytime soon.

but good for ali for getting people talking, as for amy, when she stops casting chanel iman and karlie kloss then i'll listen to her "hope to change the industry".

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 2:24PM

guest @ 1:31: it's emaciated, not emancipated : )

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 2:37PM

I am naturally thin. And when I used to have an eating disorder and be desperately thin, I used that excuse all the time. I think you can make a good argument for 5'10'' and 115lbs being natural for that ectomorhpic body type. I do not think you can make a very good argument for 5'10'' and 100lbs being natural. I also think that people talking about the models making choices for their work--most of them are 16 years old! They are children and deserve to be protected as such, even from their own poor choices.

posted by valenlb

May 14, 2008 3:05PM

Ali spoke quite eloquently, despite Anne Curry's annoying overbearingness and arm grabs, on a quite personal subject that is bound to bring her both plenty of criticism and praise. I'm glad to see her speaking out about this; she is an absolutely beautiful young woman, and the idea that she is "fat" is completely absurd.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 3:15PM

all i could think was "she is SOOO INCREDIBLY gorgeous" but beyond that, she's very well spoken too.

but anne curry made me cringe. "is it something about the form fitting styles that people are wearing today?" she sounded like maw kettle. and she kept snatching ali's arm into that crazed death grip.

way to go ali!
young girls are going to listen to her, shes the perfect role model.

posted by Ali

May 14, 2008 3:19PM

Totally irrelevant, but her name is Alexandra AND Ali just like me!! I've never met another one!

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 3:32PM

i'm totally going to make team ali michael shirts.
she rocks.

posted by madmaddie

May 14, 2008 3:34PM

LOVE HER!

posted by mmr421

May 14, 2008 4:02PM

hmph.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 4:07PM

Ali was incredibly articulate, poised, and honest (perhaps beyond the call of duty - in a good way!) despite Ann* Curry's cluelessness on the industry. Bravo! Mazel Tov! And perhaps most importantly, a sincere thank you from someone in a very similar situation.
*So not a big deal... but it's ANN >> not ANNE.

posted by hipstersdontlie

May 14, 2008 4:16PM

Did anyone watch The Agency?

Less than attractive people deciding what models should look like and criticizing girls for being "fat."

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 4:39PM

I think all of us are hypocrites. Fashionista gives props to Ali for intelligent and well spoken, but you guys constantly worship these size 00 models! You know nothing about them, and you worship them for their looks and svelte bodies. They were chosen by agencies, editors, or designers to be the embodiment of beauty, and we accept that without any questioning. The fashion industry is shallow, and it always will be as long as we accept what the industry feeds us. It's a joke that Amy wants things to change, when she is one of the main perpetrators of the problem. How shitty to blame "the designers" when editors are the ones choosing the skinny models to be in the magazines. Obviously, there is a problem, because obesity and anorexia rates are both climbing at an alarming rate. I think all of us need to re-evaluate our conceptions of beauty.

posted by Jac

May 14, 2008 4:39PM

I have to say--I dont necessarily buy that runway models are the ones contributing to the eating disorder epidemic. Every single person I know thinks that runway models are too skinny--genuinely. And aside from people interested in fashion (true, designer fashion) who knows about these girls? People see actresses, VS models and pop stars and more or less are inspired by that aesthetic which is less skinny, but still ridiculously unattainable. I'm not saying these girls should be as skinny as they are, it's terrible, but I think this is kind of a misfocus of energy regarding the larger problem. Everyday men and women also play a part in making others feel like crap--it's like a big game to society.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 4:45PM

where was Ali's rant when Nataliya Gotsii and Olga Sherer were the poster childs of anorexia controversy in the fashion industry not too long ago? the answer is she was basking in the glory of getting bookings and campaigns during which she was supposedly be starving herself at 16, isn't that the age of what she said in her interviews on the Today Show? Since getting canned in Paris both her and her mother went to the media to rant and "address" the same controversy not too long ago. The whole thing is just all about ranting and complaining being still young and no longer the darling she was once revered for one year. Sorry, toots, but there are far too many new girls to replace poor Ali. NEXT!

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 6:05PM

So she doesn't do runway because she's not thin enough.. so go do something else.. There's catalog, tv, product.. etc etc modeling.. There are naturally thin girls out there and by saying everyone has eating disorders to be that thin is generalizing. Plus, like Karl says, let's stop analyzing the thin girls, let's look at all the FAT ppl out there that have much bigger health issues and image issues.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 6:11PM

i hate to admit it, but i kind of agree with guest @ 4:45. i do feel bad for ali, but at the same time feel as though if she were still getting booked and headlining major magazine editorials and getting runway spots, this, nor her eating disorder, would be on the today show. she said herself that she is a perfectionist, and always strives to do whatever pleases others. clearly, she has problems and they needed to be addressed. she just chose now because she isn't getting booked anymore.

and though most models do either starve themselves or restrict their caloric intake severely, some are still naturally thin: caroline trentini, coco, etc.

oh, and another thing! didn't she basically get "booted" because her thighs were "too big"? this is incomprehensible. there are other models who are getting work with MUCH bigger thighs: doutzen and sasha, for example. none of these girls are by any means "fat" or have "large thighs" compared to the most, even the skinniest, of women, so i don't understand why only ali had to leave paris.

oh well.

posted by Cortege

May 14, 2008 6:40PM

Thank you, guest @ 4.45.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 6:44PM

ali sounded really articulate and knowledgeable on the subject, too bad ann barely let her talk with her nervous babbling and random, inaccurate "facts."

and for everyone arguing about weight and whatnot, i'd just like to say that i'm sixteen, around 5'9" and 120 lbs, and totally healthy (period and all) with normal "teenage" diet and exercise habits. that being said, it would take some serious effort on my part to get myself down to runway ready weight. (which is definitely lower than 110-125 lbs like the clip showed)

and when you consider the facts that i'm on the shorter side of the height range, you gain about ten pounds per each inch you grow, the length of models careers are shrinking rapidly, and the industry has too many aspiring models for not enough jobs, i think its safe to say that yes, while today's top models are naturally thin, they'll go to any means necessary to ensure that they're skinnier than the next bitch trying to dethrone them. also weight is probably one of the few things you can control about yourself and your career while in that profession. (think zoolander, "dance monkey, dance!")

that doesn't mean i in anyway support eating disorders, however. i really think body image in the fashion industry needs change, and soon. it's great that ali's getting so much support, but change isn't going to come from one article in teen vogue. it needs to be a collective effort of editors, photographers, art directors, and most importantly designers. the fashion industry has an incredible amount of impact on society, whether directly or in more of a trickling down effect, and the industry as a whole needs to say no to emaciated and celebrate bodies of all shapes and sizes. no one WANTS to starve themselves to be rail thin unless they're constantly sent the message that anything but is ugly.

now this doesn't mean i'm supporting obesity either. i believe that everyone's body is "happy" at a certain weight, and that we should all live a healthy lifestyle and embrace our bodies as they naturally are. yes, i know i have it easier because i just happen to have a more "fashionable" body type as of right now, but then again i'm always just not thin/tall enough to model but still had to endure endearing nicknames such as "beast" and don't feel comfortable enough with myself to wear heels and date guys shorter than me. no matter what, we all have our body issues, so we all just need to learn acceptance.

sorry if that was rambling and made no sense but i just wanted to put my two cents in.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 7:29PM

It's happened so many times, an already thin model loses more weight to the point where she's emaciated, and suddenly she's more wanted than ever before. It doesn't seem that hard to believe that Ali was shunned because she put on weight. In fact, it almost seems harder for me to believe that anyone could attribute the fact that she went from opening Lanvin to walking in essentially no shows in Paris a mere season later to anything other than weight gain.
I have no doubt that if Ali had lost 5 pounds as opposed to gained 5 pounds, she would still be the fashion industry's darling.
To say that Ali should have to find take a different route in the modeling world (i.e. print, catalog, etc) is sort of missing the point. Ali shouldn't have to change her path because the industry refuses to change their unrealistic idea of what is an acceptable weight, it's the unrealistic standards set forth by the industry that should change.

posted by marybelle

May 14, 2008 7:45PM

Today I was looking at Style.com at the Fall '08 ready-to-wear campaigns, and I was shocked by how hideously unattractive the models have become. Ali is pretty and she is probably the technical ideal weight for runway modeling before this insanity for malnutrition emerged among fashion - it is certainly not chic to be advocating for the concentration camp look which is what many models are dangerously close to acheiving. Gemma Ward is not emaciated and she is beautiful, sucessful, and looks great in clothing. I also thought it was ironic that the NBC opening clips to the story showed Kate Moss as an example of extremely skinny - she looks normal or even large by today's runway standards!

I am all for models being slim - they have to be, but I think it has gone too far when we can tell by looking at them that they are severaly unhealthy, massively underweight, and can only look lovely if they are photoshopped. And Carine does not often feature the skinniest models, just so you know. :-)

posted by skint and mint

May 14, 2008 8:17PM

wow ann curry, please stop grabbing ali's arm, ya damn creeper! :P

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 8:23PM

"I am all for models being slim - they have to be"

Actually, no they don't. A designer can decide s/he wants runway models that are size 16. Nothing HAS to be any way. There are choices and free will involved in all decisions, including what kind of body types are considered "ideal" and "attractive."

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 8:24PM

As someone who battled an eating disorder, I think it's excellent that Ali is coming forward. I don't think it's so much as she's blaming the fashion industry — this happens to any girl (I am not involved in it at all, obviously). But I think it's important to show that a girl who can look normal and happy is actually really ill.

And as for the whole business about her mother not noticing, well, those who aren't eating often hide it in excellent ways.

Also, she hit on something that is very important: it was her drive to be perfect. I think she could have very well become anorexic even without becoming a model. Simple as that.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 8:34PM

I am truly appalled with the people who are saying "she did it to herself" or "she chose to lose the weight". I don't think any of you know what a serious psychological disorder anorexia is. It is incredibly detrimental, not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally. Those of you who are making ridiculous and uniformed comments need to do some research.

As for Ali, I applaud her. She is awesome.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 9:27PM

ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS THAT WE HAVE TO STOP THE OBSESSION ABOUT WEIGHT...GET IT TOGETHER-OBESITY AND ANOREXIA/BULIMIA ARE BOTH EATING DISORDERS THAT ARE CONTROLLING EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES NOW. PEOPLE NEED TO LOVE THEIR BODIES MORE (THAT MEANS EXERCISING AND EATING HEALTHY, BUT NOT STARVING YOURSELF EITHER) IM SOOO GLAD THIS CAME UP B/C I WAS REALLY ABOUT TO START TAKING MY MODELING CAREER SERIOUSLY, AND IT IS FORCING ME (EVEN MORE THAN BEFORE TO THINK ABOUT THIS DECISION) IM NATURALLY A SIZE ZERO AND 116 LBS AND NOW IM AFRAID SOME1 WILL CALL ME FAT! ITS CRAZY! NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO GIVE UP THEIR PASSION B/C THEY DONT LOOK A CERTAIN WAY...ALL PEOPLE LOVE FASHION, WHY CANT THEY BE DIFFERENT SIZES? (AND THIS IS EVEN GREATER TIMING B/C ANTM JUST HAD ITS FURST FULL FIGURED WINNER!!!!!!

posted by Holly

May 14, 2008 10:08PM

I appreciate that Ali came forth with her experience. I think that so many girls are emulating the emaciated look without understanding the cost to them and their health.
At most of the runway shows I've seen over the past few seasons, I've been shocked at how frighteningly skinny and sickly the girls look. To me, this does not make the clothes look any better.If designers want their clothes to be displayed with no form underneath, they should just use revolving hangers, which is what some of the girls are starting to resemble, actually.
It makes me feel very sad that fashion standards have come to this.
In a perfect world,I believe,fashion should be about empowering women by affording them the luxury of being able to choose what is best for their own style and body type.
It shouldn't be about being 'one stomach flu away from my goal weight'. That's really sick.

posted by guest

May 14, 2008 10:34PM

earlier today i was looking at style.com's slideshow for dior's resort show and saw a picture of sasha. i would never have thought it was her is her name hadn't been posted beside the pic. her face is sooo skinny it looks haunted. i agree with the guest that commented about gemma. these girls are not naturally this skinny and the runway looks should show more women with curves, i think the clothing would actually look better on a more womenly body because as people are watching the show they're not thinking "god she's so skinny, i wish i had ______ like her. i could never wear something like that my ______ is too big" etc, etc.

posted by guest

May 15, 2008 12:27AM

I hate how ann is always grabbing ali's arm as she talks about it. uncomfortable!

posted by guest

May 15, 2008 12:27AM

again, why didn't Ali and her mother speak out in 2006 when Natalia Gotsii and Olga Sherer were the focused of Anorexia? It was the same year Ali was basking in the glory of many bookings, editorials and campaigns, the same year she admitted on Today Show she was starving herself. where was the support against hyper skinny, against the industry?

it's about complaining and losing a gig. Ali is bitter. The mother is bitter. It's your typical Southern Beauty Pagent mentality. rollseyes.

posted by textile_queen

May 15, 2008 2:12AM

To everyone who claims girls like Gemma, Coco, Agyness, etc. are just naturally thin and don't have an eating disorder, how are you so sure? I'm not saying they aren't, but I don't think you can know for sure unless you are them. You're mad at people making generalized statements about fashion models, but you are also doing a huge lot of assuming yourself. Let's just talk about what we do know. Ali was sick and now she's getting herself help. Bravo to her.

Also, to the guest from 2:02, "The pages of Vogue and Elle are read by people who understand models will be thin, not an impressionable teen girl." I have a good number of friends who were impressionable teen girls reading magazines and finding themselves falling into the lure of an eating disorder. And the pro-anna sites all over the web are obsessed with emaciated fashion models from magazines and runways. Of course the fashion industry isn't the sole instigator towards disorders, but it sure is a pretty big catalyst.

posted by guest

May 15, 2008 2:55AM

some people are "naturally" skeletal, but there aren't enough of those in the world to populate the runways. that means that designers/booking agents know that they are telling girls to stop eating when they tell them to lose inches. if they know that they are telling girls to abuse their bodies, then that is not just a bad message, but an abhorrent labor practice. starving oneself might make a girl more competitive in the modeling profession. a child working for 25 cents a day in a factory also makes herself more competitive -- it doesn't make it acceptable. similarly, a designer might say they are not forcing any one girl to do anything, but their policies are in fact forcing anyone who wants to be competitive to do so. unacceptable.

posted by guest

May 15, 2008 5:44AM

i love ali and she looks great. Healthy. Her eyes look kind of tired though..

posted by guest

May 15, 2008 9:40AM

Let's pretend that Ali is simply a bitter 18 year old with a stage mom who is pushing her to seek her revenge on the fashion industry and in the process get some air time.
Even if all of that were true, it wouldn't change the message. It wouldn't change the fact that the fashion industry pushes girls to reach and maintain incredibly unhealthy weights which will likely jeopardize their health in the future.
Whatever Ali's motives for going public with her experience were, we should realize that a change needs to be made for the sake of these young girls who are being seen as money makers before human beings. Whether or not Ali's motives were selfish (which I strongly believe they were not), the simple fact that a change needs to be made, remains.

posted by guest

May 15, 2008 10:16AM

i was just happy to hear an actual model say "yes, i starved myself. yes, i've compromised my health, and yes, lots of the other girls are doing this too, regardless of what they tell the media".
also, no one has mentioned this yet, but i think its important to understand. starvation has really rapid effects on brain chemistry. you get addicted to it. the body releases endorphans at first to maintain its energy level, which is why so many anorexics report feeling almost high when they first start restricting. i'm a recovering anorexic and i'll vouch for it. you're just buzzing with a manic energy and you feel SO in control of everything and so much BETTER because you have this POWER that every around you does not. Read any article that involves a non-anorexic following a restricted diet and they'll comment on it, like the juice fast article in last month's Elle or the CR article in nymag.
Ali is probably not anorexic. She probably wont have chronic relapses or hospitalizations or go to other deliberately abusive weight loss behavoirs now. She probably got caught up everything around her. The fact that she acknowledged her hair loss and ammenorhea as negative shows that she wasnt intending to really do harm. I, for an example of contrast, still get a sick pleasure from seeing my body fall apart the week i decide that i am superhuman and do not need food, water, or sleep like everyone else.
The danger is that the fashion industry doesnt create eating disorders (you cant really create mental illness), the industry says that being extremely underweight is normal and attractive, that restrictive diets are fine, and a little restriction here and there is good for your image.
it isnt. being underweight is not healthy and natural for anyone that isnt, well, naturally underweight. and yes, obesity is also an issue, but so many studies are showing that being a little overweight is acutally BETTER for you as long as you are active. overweight and active people have the lowest death rates than both obesity and normal weight people.
ugh END RANT!

posted by guest

May 15, 2008 10:40AM

If you must spoil the winner of ANTM, guest 9.27, could you at least mark spoiler in your comment? I don't appreciate reading this and having the show ruined for me. I was working late last night and was looking forward to catching up today. There's spoiler etiquette and you should follow it.

Otherwise, I have to say that this weight thing has gotten ridiculous. These weights are impossible for anyone to achieve healthily after their mid-teens which may account for the quick turn-over of so many models.

posted by guest

May 15, 2008 10:55AM

i think it's not about the weight or anything. it's about how it is all distributed throughout the girls' bodies. it just so happens that ali's fats went to her thighs. and she shouldn't starve herself anyway. she just went down the wrong route. look at catherine m. she WORKS OUT. Raquel WORKS OUT.

so all in all, it's just whether the girls are meant for modelling or not.

posted by guest

May 15, 2008 12:02PM

i'm so sick of people defending ali. no one put a gun to her head. her dallas agency already had the redflag waving when she was asked to lose weight and the one who pushed her to new york. her mother agency, her mother and ali wanted fame , tried to do whatever it takes to get that fame. when they got it , it was short lived. now they are raging mad and got the media involved. and wants change?!? hilarious. high fashion is the creme de la creme. Ali camp thinks like a small town hick.

posted by guest

May 15, 2008 5:20PM

To everyone who is implying that Ali is simply bitter - that may be true, BUT: How is it acceptable to say just because something is ELITIST it is delegated the right to be demeaning and insatiably selfish? It is not ok for VOGUE, Marc Jacobs or any other member of the fashion community to advocate illness or malnutrition as a form of fashion. By choosing models who look like walking skeletans that is what they are, conciously or not, advocating. I mean, fashion runways is becoming like one of those performance art peices in which people injure themselves or mistreat themselves to prove points. That is how awful the models look. Of course they make the choice to starve and they make the choice to be models, but most of them are A) children and B) working based on extremely cut-throat stipulations. It is not about being attractive anymore, but instead being the opposite of such.

Have any of you ever seen any of the current top models in real life? You would most likely be unimpressed. It is NOT the pretty sight you see in magazines. end of story. They look HORRIBLE and scary.

They say fashion is an indicator of the society and the economy - I don't know what to think...

posted by guest

May 15, 2008 7:00PM

High Fashion isn't exclusive for nothing. If you impose the same guidelines as commercial modeling , than why bother having Couture? Every tall girl and boy can model. whats the point? the thing is, it's pointless. High Fashion isn't for everyone. Not every aspiring model can be high fashion.

WAKE THE HELL UP!!!!

Ali IS bitter. You can hear it in her voice. Does she really think the world revolves around her? GTFO.

posted by guest

May 16, 2008 1:03AM

Yes, Ali probably is bitter. And no, she probably wouldn't be speaking out had she not been sent home from Paris. BUT I don't feel like thats the issue. Its not just about Ali. And to blame her and say well she obviously has an eating disorder and this would've have came out anyways is ridiculous. I model and, just like most models, have on occassion heard that I should lose a few inches. I find myself restricing myself to unhealthy measures. I've always been a thin girl. I've tried working out and eating healthy, but you simply won't get the results that are popular in fashion nowadays. I don't think I have an eating disorder. If I didn't want to model, I'd probably want to gain a few pounds actually. I know its unhealthy. It not just me, I talk about it with my fellow models all the time. It takes over your brain and you know its wrong, but like people said fashion is a competitive business, so if you don't play along another will. But that doesn't make it okay. And everyone keeps mentioning these models who are naturally thin and they work out. First of all, have you even thought that some of them may be lying? I mean people see Ali as turning her back on the industry. Why would those girls do that if they're doing well? Also, a lot of these models are very well established. They're not under as much pressure because of their name, they will likely get booked anyways. This is possibly what happened to Ali. She did very well in previous seasons, and maybe she thought because she was getting popular it wouldn't matter is she gained a few pounds.

posted by guest

May 16, 2008 2:46AM

Unfortunately it seems a lot of people commenting don't realize that she is admitting to Anorexia. Anorexia is an eating disorder (no really?) An eating disorder is in your head, like depression, anxiety or a bad headache. You can't get rid of it just because that's the sane thing to do.. I only read about 20 or so of the comments and I'm very disheartened by what I saw. I'm 20 years old and have been dealing with an eating disorder for 3 years. I know what she's been through. Even with help and treatment every single day I wake up and have to deal with it. Every time I open my mouth to eat or drink there is a voice at the back of my mind telling me "drink water instead, no calories" or when I'm out at dinner with my fiance saying "don't eat pizza you fat cow, go for the salad".. Today I'm 5'6" and barely 110lbs. Even with my bones visible on every single part of my body I would hardly call myself fat, but everytime I look in the mirror, that voice tells me "god look at those chunky arms, or that flab on your stomach" You can count my ribs from the other side of the room. Obviously I don't need to diet, right? Yea it's obvious but that not what my mind tells me. That's what an eating disorder really is. Not you people thinking "just eat a sandwich, no one is telling you to lose weight, or if you can't handle the job don't do it"

I was 130 at 5'5" when this whole thing started, did people tell me I was fat? My own family did. By any standards known to actual rationalizing human beings was I? No. My grandma got me a subscription to Vogue and told me start working. Did she ever say to starve myself or force myself to throw up? She'd never think to. But in reality she did. The stresses in people's lives that lead them to this are great and varied, but they're all little seeds building up in the back of someone's mind that take on a life of it's own. Eventually your body gets so sick and stressed out from this lifestyle that you end up fainting in a hospital (myself) or you lose your period and your hair (Ali)... or in the worst cases, possibly your life(any number of the 10 million Americans suffering)..

I wish it was as easy as just telling myself to eat, just flipping a switch and it'd be over, but if you've paid any attention to what I've written, you've realized by now that it's a whole lot more complicated. I congratulate Ali for coming forward and talking about it on a National broadcast, as for myself I'm still living in a semi-denial. My family is kinda like the other readers, and you can see by their comments how receptive they would be, and I wonder how much better I would do if I had more support, but until people are better educated sufferers like myself will stay in the closet.

-rjt

posted by guest

May 16, 2008 9:22AM

yeah Ali Michael did come forward. But how spiteful is she to come out and bash the industry on the week of all the models in town for the Resort Shows?!

posted by guest

May 16, 2008 1:54PM

Ali is very brave. She carefully gained 5 pounds and found that all the people who "loved" her and told her she was "fabulous" were calling her legs "fat".

Her point is that many, many models are also not having periods. She wasn't the thinnest, there are lots thinner.

Most people think it looks creepy actually. Some runway models have the bones in their chests sticking out, you can see it on the runway, but not in still photos, because they photoshop it.

It makes all girls wonder if they are too fat, even if they are 5'9 and 130 pounds, which is pretty thin.

posted by guest

May 16, 2008 7:40PM

Ali Michael need to get a backbone. if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen!

To come forward after she was told you she no longer has a couture body which means she's through with high fashion she goes on national tv and Teen Vogue to bash the industry. It's smart because it's a revenge outlet from her or should i say the mother and father or her Dallas Agency and probably her DNA agent was in on it too but that's a shot in the dark. There's a strong suspicion the mother contacted Wall St. Journal that started the controvery. Publicity stunt in the making. Because I'm sure the reporter didn't get the information out ofher @ss.

It is brave of Ali Michael to tell her personal battle of ED and to make direct and veiled bashing at the Industry, plus, to say there are other girls with eating disorders and loss of periods because she's got nothing to lose. She amass good enough money , campaigns and great editorials and cover in her one year of modeling high fashion she doesn't give an effing fly about the girls who are still trying to make a name for herself.

Read between the lines, Ali Michael-If- I-can-no-longer-be-a-high-fashion-model-then-no-up-and-coming-models-will-be-one! Destroy the reputation of the industry. I am going to tell , exaggerate and bash on the week of Resort Shows!

posted by guest

May 19, 2008 6:54PM

The designers that are instigating this ridiculously ematiated trend arent women- they are GAY MEN. Just an observation.

posted by guest

May 20, 2008 11:59PM

Whether Ali is bitter or not is irrelevant.
Her point is valid, and that's not something that anyone denies. Last year there was all sorts of talk in the industry about the dangerous lows that models are getting to and about how they wanted to institute BMI requirements for models.

I wonder if we would be questioning her intent if she were saying this from a hospital bed, after her kidneys failed. Or if Ana Carolina Reston were saying this right before her death.

The reality is that she had an unsuccessful season, but she could have just lost the weight and gone back to being everyone's darling but she chose to basically annihilate her career by talking openly about problems in the industry - problems, which, again, no one denies.

She chose her health over a very glamorous, well-paying, elite career.
Girl has BRASS BALLS.

Although I don't think the fashion industry deserves ALL the flack it gets. Anorexia is very complicated and I think the fashion industry only provides the content for the manifestation of a number of underlying problems, like perfectionism, obsessiveness, need for control, etc. However, I think things do need to change, and it needs to start with these ridiculous adults at these shows standing before teenaged girls telling them they have fat legs/don't have models hips/need to lose weight. That's just out and out abusive and contributes to the strain and the development of eating disorders. We wouldn't tolerate that treatment of children in any other arena.

Also, I think that the industry should become more elitist in a way. I think they're very liberal about who they take these days, and you can't tell me that no one knew that Ali Michaels had stocky legs when she went into modeling. You could see it on the runways even when she was ultra thin. Maybe they should have said no, knowing full well what this girl would have to do to get down to the weight they require.

They should start taking more of the healthy looking, athletic models like Coco Rocha and Amanda Laine who ALREADY MEET the the ideal size (the ones who play uber-sports/dance and who are healthy like oxen). Ones who you can clearly see are healthy and already at an appropriate weight for modeling. They shouldn't take girls who need to lose weight, and they should avoid taking girls who look like they're not eating (and you can tell a healthy skinny girl vs. a starving girl a mile away).

posted by guest

May 21, 2008 1:09AM

well, ali was bumped up from new faces to women on the dna site, so it seems as if they're not gonna get rid of her anytime soon

posted by guest

May 22, 2008 12:34PM

I was a dress for Fashion at the Park in Dallas, TX a year ago and personally dressed Ali for one of the shows. If I had known she was going through that I'd have forced an apple down her throat before she went down the runway. Sweet as pie and very patient despite all. I hope she takes her health in a more serious light now.

posted by guest

May 22, 2008 8:35PM

@ guest 1:09AM , that's because Louis Chaban and 2 other super agents high tailed out of DNA. No stars left. They don't want to be associated with the agency who represents Ali Michael who trash talked the industry. Quite telling!

posted by guest

May 23, 2008 3:52PM

umm to the writer of the article, if you listen to what anne said when she quoted from nina garcia, the quote fits appropriately with the topic of modeling and eating disorders. anne is focusing on nina garcia's quote, not the editor herself.

posted by guest

May 25, 2008 5:24AM

some girls just can't model because of their proportions, no matter how they starve themselves. I've always though Alli is too stumpy anyway, even in her best weight.. And not all girls have to change their healthy weight to model. Look at the editorials of Catherine McNeil when she was 14.. she's just naturally thin and have great proportions

posted by guest

May 25, 2008 10:51AM

I really respect Ali for taking control of her health and admitting she had a problem, and she did seem very knowledgable on the topic but....to all who deemed her "eloquent"-- did you notice the number of times she used the phrase "you know"? At least she didn't pepper her speech with "like" also....talk about another epidemic inflicting teenage girls

posted by guest

May 26, 2008 9:32AM

Someone mentioned that we shouldn't be commending magazines and designers who feature skinny models. That's ridiculous! Not everyone has an eating disorder, some people are naturally skinny!

posted by guest

May 27, 2008 4:01PM

For those who say that some girls are naturally skinny — I agree. But the percentage of girls who are naturally skinny on the runway is probably very small. And even those girls who are considered to be naturally skinny by most are sometimes pressured to lose even more weight.

So, honestly, it's the fashion industry. Isn't the entire thing about motives? So what if that's what is happening with Ali Michael and her coming forward. The point is, EDs are a problem for anyone, no matter their occupation. It's just that Ali is in a position to talk about it. Should she be a hero for it? Not necessarily, but it's just one more voice to those who may be struggling with this problem to see, "Yeah, that girl who has this wonderful life (supposedly) has this problem, too. And she doesn't feel ashamed, and she looks like she's trying to get better. And maybe I can do that, too."

Trust me, I'm one to know.

posted by guest

Jun 01, 2008 7:13PM

WHY did Anne keep cluthing Ali's arm?! If I were Ali, I would have been very weirded out and might not have been able to maintain the level eloquency that she had.

Also, as many people have already said, Ali is not a plus-sized girl BY NO MEANS. If fashion designers want their models to resemble hangers on the runway, then then should just parade a bunch of mannequins on a conveyor line at their next shows.

As someone who has been 100 pounds at 5'8" and had her period stop as well, I absolutely despise the persistenc of the "pin-thin" trend. Of course, this is not to say that the American average of 164 lbs for a 5'4" woman is one to be revered. Both the Milan runway and American averages are unhealthy polar opposites.

posted by guest

Jun 02, 2008 7:06PM

All this pity-party.

DON'T YOU KNOW MODELLING IS NOT LONG TERM?!?!?!

Ali got competition with many other models and she tried to keep up with them but failed because it got too competitive with the new breed of models. Stop pointing fingers and try to change the industry! There are new models waiting by the door as we speak!

People who criticized skinny models are flabby, chubby , stocky, out of shape and wannabe models who can't get steady jobs. It's SOOOOOO OBVIOUS.

posted by guest

Jun 03, 2008 12:29PM

"People who criticized skinny models are flabby, chubby , stocky, out of shape and wannabe models who can't get steady jobs. It's SOOOOOO OBVIOUS."

That argument is pretty poor. I for one am neither flabby, nor am I a 'wannabe model'. Instead, I am one of the many people here who are genuinely concerned that these girls are being seen as money makers, rather than human-beings. These girls, many of whom are much younger than 18, could be destroying their health, for a job which for most, won't last beyond their 21st birthday - if even that long. Most of these models hardly amass enough money to warrant such self destruction.
I really can't understand how anyone could criticize those who are hoping to one day see runways filled with thin, but not emaciated girls, who are not compromising their ability to have babies in the future.

posted by guest

Jun 05, 2008 7:07PM

Fashion Week Daily fires back!

MODELS DO EAT HEALTHY and not all starve themselves.

Lessons from Lonneke: Want a Model Body?

you can read all about it at Fashion Week Daily

http://blogs.fashionweekdaily.com/?p=4269

Ali would've been fine by just admitting she had an eating disorder but to blame the industry and wants change for it makes her look more like a whiner than anything else.

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2008 10:13AM

i do notice the models' legs getting skinnier and skinnier on the runway. it is a rather terrifying.
but i also have to say you are either meant for modeling or you aren't. there are many tall girls out there but of course not all of them can do high fashion.
i agree with some of the comments up there about how it has a lot to do with weight distribution on the body. some are lucky to have the weight evenly distributed.

on a more personal note, i dont find ali's look (not her body) to be that intriguing or in vogue with the industry right now anyways.

posted by guest

Jun 16, 2008 8:38PM

Ali's body is not a high fashion material. she's more boxier than your long, lean and leggy catwalkers.

when you look at it she looks so much likw a kid doing children's wear than that of Chanel doing couture. that's the difference.

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 12:47PM

A sixteen year old is still a child. The fact that she succumbed to the pressures of an absolutely ridiculous industry should not surprise anyone. Teenage girls do not have the life experience to fully understand the physical and mental consequences of such severe weight loss. I feel nothing but sympathy for her and those like her.

posted by guest

Jun 29, 2008 3:13PM

shes a good speaker, but personally, i dont think her trying to boycott herself from the anorexic modeling industry will effect the industry much. there are enough desperate people aspiring to be models, and it doesnt really matter if they have to do that. bc the reward if money, fame, and everything great--almost

posted by hollygolightly

Jul 08, 2008 1:15PM

she is definately not fat.

posted by guest

Jul 10, 2008 12:39PM

Casting directors are selecting runway models who are too thin. They must have 35" hips at the maximum, and some of them are over 6' tall.

If Ali, who looked pretty normal and healthy compared to many other young models on the runway, was having to starve herself to get down to 105 pounds at around 5'9", imagine what the other girls are doing.

Why is an entire industry allowed to do this? The movie industry looks after kids? Why is the fashion industry allowed to start girls on the runway at 14, and then make them starve themselves to keep that 14-year-old figure? For shame!