1960's Super Models and Body Image Today

The rise of the supermodel: Twiggy

Everyone knows Twiggy, in 2016 we still refer to here as a legend and an icon. I find it fascinating how the image of a supermodel has changed and what make her so amazing in comparison to supermodels today such as Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner.

Twiggy was the world’s first supermodel, a skinny girl who once was told that she’d last about two weeks, little did they know that she would be seen as a British fashion icon and would go on to a successful modelling career.  All this happened during 1966 and she shot to fame when she was only 16. In my previous blog post I mentioned the evolution of the mods, well Twiggy was the one who gave the mods the pedestal they wanted. With her boyish hair cut and striking eyelashes, she became an idol for millions across the world and an idol for teenage girls during the 1960’s. She appeared on the covers of Vogue, Tatler and her own publication named Her Mod, Mod Teen World.

Barry Lategan, the photographer who shot her first images, said that ‘there are so many adjectives to describe what photogenic actually is, but my photos of Twiggy show the result of that.’ Her long eyelashes and short hair inspired a trend of millions of girls and she was the Face of ’66. Twiggy went against all odds because she was so skinny and small compared to the other models during the time who were a lot taller and curvaceous.

With Twiggy going against the odds being such a huge success makes me think of models in today’s industry who are featured on sports illustrated and model’s like Gigi Hadid who is known for her fuller figure, plus size models have also made an impact on the modelling world and it’s funny how the fashion industry changed. As during the 1960’s the fashion was to be curvaceous and have fuller figure and Twiggy was seen as the outcast, the look then changed and size 0 was the new figure which we saw on our catwalks, this has now changed again and we are seeing a lot fuller figure models on the runway in 2016.

This show how society has changed and how the view of body image has developed over the years, I do believe that the fashion industry showcasing small models is a step in the right direction to promoting healthier bodies in the fashion industry.

It’s very strange how fashion goes against the norm sometimes, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.  I think the social opinion and the mod trend during the 1960’s helped Twiggie’s star status as she promoted the mod trend and made them even cooler, the British 60’s was truly on top of the world with music and modelling coming straight out of the UK.

picture 1: daily express 1966 

picture 2: jessiewilliams505.wordpress.com

picture 3: sports illustrated.com