The fashion industry has long been a point of contention when it comes to body image issues, with models such as Karlie Kloss admitting to being called “too fat” and “too skinny” on the same day, and others, such as size-two UK model Ulrikke Hoyer, allegedly being cut from a recent Louis Vuitton runway show for being “too big.” No one knows better the consequences that such stringent expectations can have than Lily Collins, an actress who has been plenty open about her own eating disorders, and now, the To the Bone star is having her say on the matter.
Collins’ own weight has been the subject of much scrutiny as of late, following the release of her controversial Netflix film, which saw the 28-year-old losing pounds to play the role of a young woman struggling with anorexia. The actress addressed the backlash head-on, saying that for her, it was a chance to inform and make the conversation surrounding eating disorders “louder.” She also revealed some of the problematic compliments she received from acquaintances while filming for the role, saying, “This is why the problem exists.”
She isn’t just talking about herself, either. The author, who got her start as a model, touched on the issue at large in a new interview with the Hollywood Reporter, in which she discussed the fashion industry’s refusal to give up its unhealthy standards. While she praises France’s adoption of new rules which require models to have a BMI of 18 or more and a doctor’s note to work (“I think the BMI conversation was really important), she says it isn’t always reflected in the shows she attends. “You see extremely small girls walking the runway, and a lot of them are really young and haven’t become women yet,” she says. “It’s like their body shape hasn’t changed. Some girls look like they’re about to pass out. I think there’s still a conversation to be had about runway sizes.”
Lest you think that Collins is body-shaming those with thin frames, she’ll be the first to tell you that it couldn’t be further from the point she’s making here, which is not meant to be a critique on the bodies of models, but the standards that they’re unfairly held to.
“I hate [when people criticize others for being too thin], because you just don’t know if someone is struggling,” she clarified. “I was a victim of that when I was losing weight for this movie. I was photographed looking a certain way, and all of a sudden it was plastered everywhere, and I wasn’t allowed to talk about the movie yet.”
Kudos to her for standing up and speaking out!
What do you make of Lily’s remarks? Let us know over @BritandCo.
(h/t Teen Vogue; photos via Pascal le Segretain + Michael Buckner/Getty)
