5 Ugly Truths about the Fashion Industry

The modeling industry is full of contradictions. Sexual harassment, lack of diversity, promoting an unhealthy lifestyle are only some of the many problems to name.

The lack of regulations doesn't make it any more comfortable, and the transparency on real problems needs to come a long way.

Here are some of the most common problems in the fashion industry that people should be speaking about:

1.      It's not open to the transgender community

Even if the fashion industry has a slightly progressive vibe, it's still very far from accepting transgender models. Stories about models having their booking canceled at last minute on the cause of them being transgender do exist.

2.      Mental issues are rarely the topic

Models need to watch always for their weight. They also need to handle being rejected over and over again. On top of everything else, and they're not hired all the time, so the income is rarely constant.

Having said that, it’s perfectly understandable why fashion models feel pressure in their life. Staying positive and on top of things, when you don’t have the money for the rent, isn’t easy. Even if so many models fight with depression, anxiety, or substance abuse, the topic is seldom acknowledged.

3.      Sexual harassment and assault do happen

So many models talked about how they had to take their clothes off during a photoshoot without any warning.

Fashion models have to undress in least desirable situations. Many of them feel disgusted and cannot handle the shame of other people touching their bodies even if it's for a photo to look better.

4.      Eating disorders don’t surprise anyone

Body positivity isn't something you meet within the fashion world. Fashion models need to lose weight and to look slim, even if the public is continually talking about how accepting our bodies is good for our mental health.

Fashion models still lose contracts on the cause of their weight. And until that’s not changing in the fashion industry, the chance for fashion models not do develop eating disorders is still high.

5.      There’s not much room for diversity

Being a black woman with curly hair doesn't get you very far in the fashion world. It's not very often that a black model with curly hair gets the opportunity to run the catwalk. It's instead only now and then that it happens.

Sure, who has Naomi Campbell to prove us wrong. But even the icon model talked about how the fashion world is rather moving backward and not forward.