Former model and judge on Australia’s Next Top Model Charlotte Dawson has revealed she doesn’t think “young girls should pursue modelling” careers.
Dawson, 47, who started her career at age 16, took to Twitter last night with a message for young girls who are aspiring to be the next Miranda Kerr or Jessica Gomes.
“I truly adored my time on ANTM but my heart tells me I don’t think young girls should pursue the modelling world,” Dawson tweeted to her 52,000 followers.
When quizzed about her change of heart, Dawson responded by saying she can longer be a part of the industry, calling it a “brutal game.”
“Bring it! Hypocrisy since I was a 16 year old that began my career but I can no longer be a part of this machine.”
Dawson also confirmed over Twitter she would not return as a judge on the ninth season (or cycle to fans) of Australia’s Next Top Model. “I will not be part of ANTM again but it has been the greatest show/experience I’ve had in my broadcasting career. #grateful”
Publisher Mia Freedman has spoken out about underage models many times before, below she reveals why she axed the Dolly modelling contest when she was the Editor-In-Chief in 2005.
Mia writes:
One of the first things I did when I became Editor-In-Chief of Dolly in 2005 was axe their annual Model Contest. I knew this would not lead to an increase in circulation (as the Great Lisa Wilkinson once taught me: you don’t gain readers by taking something away, you gain them by adding something new to the mix) but I did it anyway and I’ll tell you why in a second.
The Dolly model contest has always been pretty iconic. Miranda Kerr won it when she was 13 and you’ll hear this a lot whenever the subject comes up, as a justification for why it’s OK and even a good thing. ‘Miranda Kerr won it at 13 and look at her now!’ etc.
But for every Miranda Kerr, there are thousands of teenage models who don’t go on to become Victoria’s Secret Angels and marry Hollywood stars (side note: is becoming a Victoria’s Secret Angel something we want to encourage girls to aspire to anyway? If that’s the pinnacle of your career, what does that say about the values of the modelling industry?).
So why did I axe it? Because I thought the message it sent to girls – that the most important thing about you is how you look – was an appalling one. A negative one. A damaging one.
It’s not just Dolly. Girlfriend is the same. A 13 year old won their model contest last year too.
Top Comments
How is little Thylane Blondeau's styling in the photos above considered okay to put in a magazine? She LOOKS ten! It's just a bit creepy. I don't really approve of the others because of how young they are, but at least most of them look like teenagers.
Ick. I don't understand why female customers who are all probably in their 20s-50s want to buy clothing modelled by pre-teens. Would a 25 year old model really look that egregiously old?
I was 'discovered' around the age of 15 and eventually went on to teach modelling to children. I left the industry to study at 21. I now have two girls (11 & 13) and I would never let them do modelling. In fact, I have kept my modelling secret from them. It is a seedy world based entirely on how you look. The only thing I can take away from it is knowing how not to raise my girls.