'Ban under-16s from the catwalk'

KATE Moss and Lily Cole may have made their first appearance on the catwalk at the age of 14, but future supermodels may have to wait until they turn 16 to hit the fashion circuit.

A new report commissioned by the fashion industry has recommended banning under-age models from London Fashion Week.

It also expressed concern at the way girls below the age of consent are "sexualised" and about the prevalence of eating disorders and drug abuse among models. The report calls for more protection for models, including health checks.

Outlining the panel's interim findings, Baroness Kingsmill, who chairs the Model Health Inquiry, described the "dark side" of the modelling industry. "It seems that there has been a blind eye turned in the past. They look glamorous, they look gorgeous, they are OK. But they are not OK. They are ill, many of them," she said.

Baroness Kingsmill said the inquiry had highlighted the need for greater protection for models. "The working conditions of models are pretty appalling. They are young and vulnerable and they have very short careers.

"There was strongly expressed concern that it is profoundly inappropriate that girls under 16 - under the age of consent - should be portrayed as adult women. The risk of sexualising these children was high and designers could risk charges of sexual exploitation."

Rosalynd Ramage, at The Look Agency in Glasgow, said she agreed with the ban: "I think it's right, especially if they are wearing clothes designed to be worn by a woman in her thirties.

"We don't book girls under that age. All the models we have under 16 are booked as children. They do things like children's magazines and things which are appropriate for their age."

However, Kay Gannon, the co-director of Glasgow-based All Talent UK, said she felt it was fine for younger girls to take part in adult fashion shows, as long as they were well looked after and mature for their age.

"You love getting girls at 13 or 14 years old and keeping an eye on them. If you get it right, the chances are they are going to have a long-term career."

Cathy Owen, operations manager for The Model Team, also in Glasgow, said banning under-16s from catwalk shows could create problems for the next generation of British supermodels.

"If you are limited to starting at 16 years old it could take years for them to build up enough experience and to get enough pictures in their 'book'."

A MODEL AT 14 - AND BOTH SHE AND HER MOTHER ARE DELIGHTED

AS THE latest 14-year-old recruit to the Glasgow model agency All Talent UK, Jenna Stewart is not happy about a possible ban on girls her age taking to the catwalk. "I think people should be able to model from any age really," she said.

Jenna, from Falkirk, thinks it would be a shame if she was not allowed to take part in catwalk shows before her 16th birthday - and her mother, Betty, agrees.

"I think if they are healthy enough and they are safe enough, then why not model at that age? They have got lovely figures at that age," Mrs Stewart said.

She acts as chaperone for her daughter, and does not agree that modelling "sexualises" young girls.

"They are only showing the clothes off," Mrs Stewart said. "If you look at what 14-year-old girls wear, it is very similar to what you see on the catwalk - just a cheaper, high-street version."

Karen Reoch, of Glasgow, whose daughter Jennifer has been modelling clothes since the age of 12, agrees.

"It has given her a lot of confidence," she said. "She got to travel and it was a lot of fun for her."

Jennifer, who has just turned 18, said: "I think it depends on the maturity of the person. I felt I was ready to do that and it was a brilliant experience. My mum always chaperoned me on jobs. I never went alone."

The model, who is with Glasgow agency the Model Team, said that, while she was always body conscious, she never allowed herself to become unhealthy.

"There is an awareness that you need to keep your body in shape. But I have never felt pressure to be skinny or to be a size zero," she said. "I think the experience has made me more confident. I have never been in a situation where my confidence was dented and I have met a lot of nice people through it.

"To some extent, you look at people like Kate Moss and Lily Cole and you look up to them, but you have to be realistic. And when you think about some of the other things Kate Moss has been through, it is not so appealing. At the end of the day, school was the main priority for me when I was younger."