Stephanie Seymour, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell

(Note from Anne: This may be the first connect-the-dots article I wrote over two years go, one that synthesizes my own philosophy on self-image and self-esteem; the powerful players — mostly men — who promote size 0 women in the fashion industry; the movement to desexualize women since the late 90s by taking away any muscles or curves; and the larger movement afoot to disempower women worldwide.

Since its original writing, these topics are communicated frequently at AOC in what I daresay is a losing battle for women, if we don’t get our butts in gear.

The title of the article is only picked up in my final words — we can reprogram our brains to hate size 0 fashion ads, if we choose. Rather than break this article in two — which a good editor would now do — we will leave it as one of my meandering, touch all the pulse point articles that I’m known for. My self-editing skills are far better today, than when I first began writing.

A new article appeared in Science Daily today, one that reinforces my own argument that we can reprogram our brains — in this case about food choices, which I also believe in and practice in my own life.

When is see one of those mouthwatering images of a biggie-burger with cheese, what really goes through my mind is a vision of a burger that will kill me prematurely, destroy my sexuality, make me fat and not Sensual and Superyoung. It will also make me stupid and contribute to the fact that I will dislike the woman in the mirror (me) if I respond favorably to this immediate gratification. 

I have convinced myself that the burger is poison and best worn as American art or fashion, and not food.

I’ve struggled very hard over the years to control my weight. The only solution I know of is this one — to develop a host of mental bullets that I use against both size 0 models only as a beauty standard (I have no objections to some) and food messages offering me immediate gratification with a 1500 calorie burger that will kill me early.

Self-control is much stronger than we believe as a secret weapon in our self-development arsenal. As women we are not hamsters in the cage; we have the ability to turn our brains into our best friend, putting us in charge for once. Not ads, not fashion designers in Paris, not the business establishment, not peer pressure and popular culture. The last challenge is the most difficult of all.

As these scientists confirm in today’s learnings about the brain and self-control, the learnings have applications in many other aspects of our lives. I argue they can be applied to our own self-perceptions and how we respond to ridiculously emaciated women in fashion ads.

I am studying all the new research concerning mind power, since I wrote this essay and will issue a new essay that beings in the brain soon. Anne

The Cultural Reasons Why Women Should Reprogram Our Brains To Hate Size 0 Fashion Ads and Anything Other Commercial Message Not Good for Mind and Body

80s powerhouse supermodel Cindy Crawford told German celebrity magazine Bunte that she would stand no chance of being a successful model today.

“A body like mine with big breasts, normal thighs and toned upper arms” is no longer what the industry is looking for, she said. via New Zealand Herald

Desensualizing the Supermodels

Cindy’s healthy athletic figure was the rage in the 80s and 90s, along with Naomi Campbell, Stephanie Seymour. Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, Claudia Schiffer and more.

As a former Victoria’s Secret exec who worked with many of these models, I know we are in a time warp with today’s fashion designers, who care most of all about themselves and their brands. Neither models nor consumers penetrate the minds of today’s fashion patriarchy.

Models exist as coat hangers for fashion designers, experts explain, asking why women like me can’t get that reality through my pretty blond head. As fashion hangers, women must be as thin as humanly possible.

The problem is, this image does become deeply entrenched in the human psyche — among women and men. Much scientific research documents the fact that human minds process ad images as intended. Otherwise, why would advertising exist?

The Old Days

80s supermodels proved that you could be healthy and slim, that you had breasts (god forbid) and often hips and a booty besides. Simply stated, as a supermodel, you were thin but sensual. The vast majority of us would never look like any of these supermodel women, but it wasn’t dangerous to our health and wellbeing to try. It’s estimated that one in four women could achieve a 4-6 US supermodel body if she put her mind to it and stayed the course.