Modelling and crash-dieting: what could possibly go wrong?

MTV are chasing after the TV modelling bandwagon with a show that ‘dares to go where no modelling show has gone before’. Where might that be then? Empowering women to measure success with something other than beauty? Not quite…

Model Maker‘s daring idea is to make skinny, body-obsessed girls skinnier and more body-obsessed, by combining modelling and dieting. Let the self-loathing begin!

The official website doesn’t pull its punches over what we can expect:

Women come in all shapes and sizes, but models don’t. The term model conjures an image of stick-thin, towering beauties oozing confidence, glamour, poise and sexuality from every pore.

“Skinny,” “no body fat,” and “size zero” are the words and phrases associated with models. “Chubby,” “well-fed,” and “big- boned” are not… Until now!

15 ‘lucky’ women from across the USA will be chosen to compete in the show. They will endure 12 weeks of intensive physical fitness training to help them get down to their ‘ideal size’, while also competing in modelling challenges every week. The winner receives $100,000 and a personal trainer for a year (assuming she survives that long).

Now for the really frightening part: To audition for the show, contestants must be 5’9″ to 6′ tall, and 130-190 pounds.

Someone who is 5’9″ and weights 130 pounds has a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 19.2. Someone who is 6″ and weighs 130 pounds has a BMI of 17.5.

According to the NHS, a healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. So the person is 5’9″ is already at the lower end of their ‘ideal weight’, and the person who is 6″ is already underweight.

If you want to tell the producers your thoughts about the show, why not email [email protected].

[via The Lipster]