Model industry's dark secret: glp-1s fuel a return to extreme thinness
The runways are shrinking, and the whispers in the modeling world are growing louder: a disturbing trend fueled by weight-loss drugs is pushing models back towards dangerously thin physiques.
A generation of starvation: the rise of glp-1s
Samantha Benjamin, a former model herself, recounts a chilling history of illicit practices – Adderall, starvation diets, even parasite ingestion – driven by the relentless pressure to shed weight. Now, with the widespread availability of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, that pressure has intensified, creating a new, insidious cycle.
“Girls are getting called fat. Nobody is mincing words,” Benjamin stated bluntly, reflecting the stark reality of the industry. The shift isn’t just a return to old habits; it’s a dramatic acceleration, driven by the instant gratification of these medications.
The vogue report: a stark decline
Recent data from Vogue Business’s size inclusivity report paints a grim picture: a significant drop in mid- and plus-size representation on the runway. The lowest levels since the publication began tracking this data reveal a troubling trend – a clear indication that the industry is prioritizing extreme thinness once more.
“When GLP-1s were introduced, a lot of models wondered, ‘If I want to do these higher shows, if I want to work for these brands, then do I get skinnier?’” explains Grace Breuning, a curve model. “And then a lot of models got skinnier.” The impact is palpable, with many seasoned curve models finding themselves increasingly sidelined, relegated to commercial and beauty work.
The drug's shadow: abuse and pressure
The pervasiveness of Ozempic is undeniable. Since its FDA approval in 2021, one in eight Americans has taken a GLP-1. The ease of access – Wegovy available as a pill for just $150 a month – has undeniably lowered barriers to entry. But alongside the legitimate use for obesity and diabetes comes a troubling potential for abuse. “It’s almost like the new-millennia cocaine,” admits a major model agent, highlighting the addictive nature of the drug.
A crisis of body image
The industry’s history with body image is long and fraught with tragedy, marked by model deaths linked to starvation in 2006 and 2007, leading to BMI reforms and stricter rules. However, the current situation feels profoundly different. The ‘model charter’ from Kering and LVMH, while a step forward, appears to be struggling against a powerful current.
Brooks Nader, a model and reality TV star, candidly admits to “micro-dosing” Ozempic, stating that it “confirmed a lot more work” when she lost weight. Lottie Moss, Kate Moss’s younger sister, offered a chilling account of her own experience, landing in the emergency room after Ozempic abuse. “You’re thinking, if celebrities are using it, it must be safe,” she confessed, reflecting a widespread, and dangerously misguided, perception.
The loss of diversity, the loss of character
The homogenization of body types is a significant concern. “It’s homogenized; it’s not interesting; it’s the same as everybody having veneers,” argues Benjamin. The decline in diverse representation—models like Ashley Graham, Paloma Elsesser, and Tess Holliday who championed size inclusivity—risks erasing the unique qualities that once defined the industry’s most impactful figures.
Beyond the runway: a systemic problem
Ultimately, the issue isn't simply about the desires of a few designers or clients. As Mina White, a director at IMG Models, points out, “It has nothing to do with what a customer wants, but rather what the people running these houses and their casting directors and their stylists are dictating.” Kyle Hagler, founder of No Smoking: Management and Consultancy Firm, notes that brands exploit the trend “to catch this wave of energy, just to ride the wave, while not producing garments that could fit them for general consumption—that’s problematic for me. It’s tokenism.”
Ashley Mears, a sociologist who studies the modeling industry, succinctly captures the core problem: “Everybody’s saying the market gets what it wants, but they are the market.” James Scully, a former casting director, underscores the lack of accountability: “Nobody takes responsibility for it.”
A warning from the trenches
Fashion, as both a mirror and a shaper of culture, is now grappling with a disturbing paradox. While brands might claim to be catering to customer demand, they are simultaneously perpetuating unrealistic standards and fueling a dangerous cycle of self-harm. The industry needs a fundamental shift – a reckoning that prioritizes Health, diversity, and genuine representation, not simply the pursuit of a fleeting, and ultimately unsustainable, aesthetic. The consequences, it seems, are far more severe than a few extra pounds.