California wants healthy models



from Reuters February 23, 2016

"Fashion models who want to work in California would need a doctor to attest that they are of healthy weight and not suffering from an eating disorder under a proposal announced by a state lawmaker on Monday."

The bill is proposed by California state Assembly member Marc Levine.

“The evidence of eating disorders in the modeling industry is alarming,” Levine, a Democrat who represents the Marin County suburbs of San Francisco, said in a statement on Monday.

Under his bill, which was introduced Feb. 19, modeling agencies would have to be licensed by the California Labor Commissioner, and could be fined if they hire models who do not have a physician certifying that they are healthy.

The bill, if passed, directs the state’s Department of Public Health and the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board to adopt rules for the health of fashion models that would include periodic health checkups, nutrition consultations and medical testing."



Seriously? With all the critical things that need urgent attention in the State of California, the State Legislature is spending taxpayer time and money proposing a law making models get a note from their doctor saying they are healthy enough to work? Hey, all you do-nothing-state legislators, what about the critical general issues like lowering taxes, creating jobs, reducing bureaucratic government regulations and generally doing the job voters sent you to do? Instead, you want to make models get a note from their doctor before they can book a gig?

Hey, California lawmakers, I got news for you: when it comes to fashion modeling, Los Angeles or San Francisco (or any other city or town in California) is not Paris or New York. Not even close.


It gets worse. We know that some models can be anorexic, or border on it. What about Plus Size models? Can you be too HEAVY to be a healthy model too? If it passes, will the new law inadvertently cause Plus Size modeling to be declared illegal in California - with Plus Size models unable to work?