Minimum Age for Catwalk Models Changed to 16

After the banning of skinny models in Spain, modeling continues to revolutionize its image as the minimum age for catwalk models is changed to 16.

This was spearheaded by the Australian Fashion Week organizers who have vowed to prevent the use of a 14-year teen model Monika Jagaciak for the Rosemount Australian Fashion Week. Aside from setting the minimum age requirement to 16, catwalk models are also required to be represented by a modeling agency.

Vogue magazine responded to the call by announcing that it would not feature Monika in its coverage of Australian Fashion Week (AFW). The magazine also reechoed the call for the use of catwalk models who are 16 years and older.

Last year, there was a public outcry when a fashion competition was won by a 12-year old girl so the AFW reviewed the policies of the industry to ensure that the event best served modeling and reflected the modeling community's attitudes towards issues surrounding the fashion industry.

Aside from setting 16 as the minimum age for catwalk models, AFW also requires school-leaving models to have written permission from parents or guardians and school principals. They must also be chaperoned by a representative of a reputable agency. All these and everything perhaps, to remind them that they may be in the catwalk but are still “innocent babies” of the modeling industry.