Parent’s fury at 10-year-old ‘supermodel’

http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/parents-fury-at-10-year-old-supermodel.html

Supermodel Thylane Lena-Rose Blondeau’s appearance in an edition of Vogue Paris has prompted fury from parents... because she’s only 10-years-old.

The mini-model was featured in the January 2011 issue – as part of a 15-page picture spread called ‘Cadeaux’ (gifts). It included shots of a heavily made-up Thylane posing seductively in a chair, bed and on an animal skin rug, with her legs and neckline bared.

The controversial pics were shown on US TV this month and reignited concern over the sexualisation of children in the media.

The debate comes as the Government announced a crackdown on inappropriate clothing and raunchy ads aimed at young kids earlier this year.
They commissioned the Bailey Review to investigate enforcing restrictions on the sexualisation of children in the media and sexual content in advertising.

Reg Bailey, Chief Executive of the Mother’s Union is in charge of the independent review.

Fleur Dorrell, Head of Safe Policy at the Mother’s Union, told Yahoo! UK that these images were “blurring all thoughts of beauty” and were “physically disturbing” for adults.


She added: “Modelling agencies think that it is ok to use pre-pubescent girls as models but this is completely selling us a different idea of beauty. They are making this girl look and feel as though she has to dress this way in order to be perfect.”

“If you think about it in reverse they wouldn’t ask me, a 43-year-old woman to dress like a girl, so why would they want to dress her up like that?”

Despite concern over the images of Thylane, there is huge fan support for model, with a blog and several Facebook fan pages dedicated to her work.

On one fan page a woman wrote: “I don't find this unusual, she is super talented...plus it’s French Vogue!!! FRENCH. VOGUE. Totally ok.”

Another fan added: “I am frustrated with all the people who deem this as sensual... Art is totally subjective and depends on the individual viewing it.”

The Mother’s Union and David Cameron have invited the fashion and advertising industries to reassess the representation of young people under the age of 16 at a summit in October.

All involved in this should be in prison!
Its disgusting!

When you look at those photos of that 10 year old they are an open invitation to paedophiles. That girl's parents obviously care nothing for the wellbeing of their daughter, just the money she can make them.

Yeah thats all that counts £££££!
I thought nothing could shock me anymore but those pics have!
They turn my stomach.

No way - this is not "modelling" - this is the genuine article - sexualisation.

I think in the U.S. Beauty contests for children is rife and I watched a Documentary about the Pageants and the Parents are definitely to blame.
Children about 8 0r 9 were dressed like adults and were heavily made up......JonBenet was a typical example.

Panda wrote:I think in the U.S. Beauty contests for children is rife and I watched a Documentary about the Pageants and the Parents are definitely to blame.
Children about 8 0r 9 were dressed like adults and were heavily made up......JonBenet was a typical example.

Maybe they are Pandaring up to their parents, also big in USA is cheerleaders, saw a documentary on that, lot of pressure on them.

Top dog wrote:

Panda wrote:I think in the U.S. Beauty contests for children is rife and I watched a Documentary about the Pageants and the Parents are definitely to blame.
Children about 8 0r 9 were dressed like adults and were heavily made up......JonBenet was a typical example.

Maybe they are Pandaring up to their parents, also big in USA is cheerleaders, saw a documentary on that, lot of pressure on them.

Morning Top Dog ,

Yes, to be a cheerleader is considered an honour, who cares about Graduating in college.!!!

10-year-old Vogue model's mother shuts down Facebook fan site in response to outrage over daughter's career


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2022979/10-year-old-Vogue-models-mother-shuts-Facebook-fan-site-response-outrage-daughters-career.html


The mother of 10-year-old Thylane Lena-Rose Blondeau has shut down her daughter's Facebook fan page after highly sexualised pictures of the girl sparked controversy and condemnation.
In a message posted on the young girl's fan site, Veronika Loubry, 43, a French actress and television presenter, wrote in broken English:
'Hey guys, I'm the mum of Thylane, something's going wrong at the moment with Thylane and bad [people] in the U.S.A. about pictures she made eight months ago for Vogue.
'Thylane doesn't know about the buzz and I want to protect [her] from my deepest heart... She's so young.
'So we are going to close this [account] for a while.
'I know that all of you are good [people] who like her so I send you a big kiss, thanks.'

Her decision comes on the heels of a barrage of criticism stemming from the publication of a fashion shoot of the child in French Vogue.
Guest edited by Tom Ford, the January issue features Ms Blondeau in heavy make-up, revealing outfits and provocative poses.
One image shows her reclining in a gold dress, the slashed v-neck exposing her bare chest and stomach.

She wears stilettos, pouts alluringly and drapes herself across a tiger skin throw in poses that would not look out of place in a shoot with models more than twice her age.

The Facebook page had over 700 fans, most of whom have been in raptures over the youngster's angelic face and seemingly natural talent in front of the camera.

One fan writes: 'Hey I just wanted to say that Thylane is absolutely stunning! xx' while another writes 'the awkward moment when a ten year old is prettier than you'.
But, despite her obvious support - not least from the fashion behemoth that is French Vogue and from designer Tom Ford - the images are whipping up a fevered storm of condemnation.
Shut down: Veronika Loubry has shut down her daughter's fan page
A spokesperson for the Mothers' Union told MailOnline: 'We have grave concerns about the modelling agency who represent Blondeau, which clearly does not know if it represents a child or an adult.
'Photo shoots requiring her, a 10-year-old-girl, to dress in full make-up, teetering heels and a dress with a cleavage cut to the waist across her pre-pubescent body deny Blondeau the right to be the child she is.

'These images would, we hope... not pass through the standards of magazines, on street advertising and other media within the UK.'
As protective as Ms Blondeau's mother is claimed to be, images of the child have appeared on less reputable pages than Vogue's.

A Tumblr blog dedicated to the child's modelling career is explicitly entitled 'f**kyeahthylaneblondeau.'
According to Blackbook.com, it featured thousands of candid shots of Ms Blondeau but now appears to have been closed down.
Elsewhere on the web, comments about the child star have been many and heated.
Following a blog post asking 'Pretty or Weird?', commentators on LATimes.com were appalled.
Bernice Dietrich Taylor said: 'This is appalling to see adults exploiting children in this manner. We argue continually about child pornography, paedophilia and sexual abuse of children and here are photos of a ten year old child in a provocative manner.'
While Cristina Pirello DaPonte said 'I can't believe Vogue has sunk that low. I don't approve of even 15-years-olds (my age) doing this, much less a 10-year-old.'

One fan writes: 'Hey I just wanted to say that Thylane is absolutely stunning! xx' while another writes 'the awkward moment when a ten year old is prettier than you'.
But, despite her obvious support - not least from the fashion behemoth that is French Vogue and from designer Tom Ford - the images are whipping up a fevered storm of condemnation.
Shut down: Veronika Loubry has shut down her daughter's fan page
A spokesperson for the Mothers' Union told MailOnline: 'We have grave concerns about the modelling agency who represent Blondeau, which clearly does not know if it represents a child or an adult.
'Photo shoots requiring her, a 10-year-old-girl, to dress in full make-up, teetering heels and a dress with a cleavage cut to the waist across her pre-pubescent body deny Blondeau the right to be the child she is.

'These images would, we hope... not pass through the standards of magazines, on street advertising and other media within the UK.'
As protective as Ms Blondeau's mother is claimed to be, images of the child have appeared on less reputable pages than Vogue's.

A Tumblr blog dedicated to the child's modelling career is explicitly entitled 'f**kyeahthylaneblondeau.'
According to Blackbook.com, it featured thousands of candid shots of Ms Blondeau but now appears to have been closed down.
Elsewhere on the web, comments about the child star have been many and heated.
Following a blog post asking 'Pretty or Weird?', commentators on LATimes.com were appalled.
Bernice Dietrich Taylor said: 'This is appalling to see adults exploiting children in this manner. We argue continually about child pornography, paedophilia and sexual abuse of children and here are photos of a ten year old child in a provocative manner.'
While Cristina Pirello DaPonte said 'I can't believe Vogue has sunk that low. I don't approve of even 15-years-olds (my age) doing this, much less a 10-year-old.'


Good Morning America dedicated a segment to the controversy, while at MailOnline, readers' comments have included 'inappropriate,' 'ashamed,' 'revolting,' 'sick,' 'wrong' and 'creepy.'
One blogger said of the images: ‘She is a beautiful little girl, as are all ten year old girls. While I am sure she will make a terrific model someday, I find these pictures beyond disturbing - she is styled way too maturely.’
No stranger to modelling, Thylane has graced the cover of Vogue Enfants, has shot a slew of high-end editorials and is the owner of a portfolio of which many an adult model would be proud.

Born in the Ivory Coast, she has already been compared to Sixties siren Brigitte Bardot - who at the age of 15 appeared in ELLE.

Like many child stars, Thylane has strong connections with the entertainment industry. Her father is former French international football player Patrick Blondeau.
The backlash comes in the wake of a recent Government initiative in the UK to enforce restrictions on the sexualisation of children in the media and sexual content in advertising.
Reg Bailey, Chief Executive of the Mothers' Union, was commissioned to conduct the independent review on the pressures faced by children today.
In the review a survey revealed that 88 per cent of parents agreed that children are under pressure grow up too quickly, with 58 per cent accounting this to celebrity culture.


And experts warned today about the psychological damage done to children who are treated in this way.
Dr Emma Gray is a consultant clinical psychologist and clinical director of The British CBT & Counselling Service, which deals in behavioural therapy.

She said: ‘This picture is the antithesis of what childhood in our society should be; a child being exposed to a world she is not yet equipped to deal with solely to serve the needs of the adults around her.

‘If children are to develop into happy, grounded and psychologically balanced people their childhood needs to be spent appropriately preparing for the demands of the adult world.

‘Before they are exposed to this world it is the task of the adults around them to create an environment that gives them the time, space and nurture to complete their physical and psychological development. Prematurely exposing a child to the adult world is dangerously preventing the completion of their development into a person who can survive in it.’
Mr Bailey added: 'Society also seems to have become more openly sexualised; the rapidly changing technological environment has its benefits in so many ways but has also made the seamier side of humanity inescapable.'