Last fall, there was uproar when a 15-year-old Croatian model walked the runway during Fashion Week, prompting the Council of Fashion Designers of America to ask its members to essentially card models to confirm that they are at least 16 years old. CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg even said, "Top modeling agencies—including DNA, Elite, Ford, IMG, Marilyn, New York Models, Next, One, Supreme, Trump, Wilhelmina, Women and Women Direct - have again pledged that they will not send out models under the age of 16 for shows." But now it turns out that Ford never promised it, so that's why they have two models under 16 participating in Fashion Week.
The NY Times' big feature about underage modeling notes, "Ford Models includes the hot newcomer Ondria Hardin in its show package, the portfolio of models it presents to casting agents, even though Ms. Hardin was reported to be 14 when she appeared in the Marc Jacobs show last season." Ford responded, "While we agree with many of the guidelines the C.F.D.A. is working towards, we did not sign on with this particular initiative... We are sorry for the confusion and apologize for not clearing it up right away when it was announced. We take the age and maturity of our models very seriously. We work on a case-by-case basis alongside a prospective model’s parents to make a determination as to whether they are ready to walk the runway. In most cases, the answer is no. But a select few demonstrate the know-how and maturity that are necessary to work earlier than they otherwise would."
And why is sweet 16 the magic age? According to the Times, "The reason models should be 16, the council argues, is that they are more likely to have the maturity to deal with being rejected by designers or treated disrespectfully by photographers. Of major concern are those who take pictures of models when they are undressed backstage." And not just backstage: Model Rie Rasmussen once confronted photographer Terry Richardson, about his tactics, "He takes girls who are young, manipulates them to take their clothes off and takes pictures of them they will be ashamed of. They are too afraid to say no because their agency booked them on the job and are too young to stand up for themselves. His 'look' is girls who appear underage, abused, look like heroin addicts … I don't understand how anyone works with him."
