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The signing of a 12-year-old as the face of an Australian fashion week is being slammed by modelling agencies here.
Just as Air New Zealand Fashion Week kicks into gear, an international debate is brewing over whether model Maddison Gabriel - who turned 13 at the weekend - is too young to be the face of Gold Coast Fashion Week.
Even Australian Prime Minister John Howard weighed in, saying "catapulting girls as young as 12 into something like that is quite outrageous". He said Australia should follow the example of Europe and ban models younger than 16 appearing on catwalks.
The director of Auckland agency 62 Models and Talent, Sara Tetro, said Maddison was too young.
"A 12-year-old - that's ridiculous."
She said there was an unwritten rule around the Auckland event to discourage younger models participating.
"Our market doesn't tolerate the 12-year-old look.
"We definitely had a number of girls who wanted to cast that we wouldn't let cast.
"Although it was tough for them because they were all saying, 'It's school holidays, it's school holidays', we don't want to subject them to [working underage]."
Air New Zealand Fashion Week managing director Pieter Stewart said the models were selected by the designers.
"I don't know who they've hired but I wouldn't expect it to be a 12-year-old," she said. "I can't imagine a 12-year-old would look old enough in the clothes for a start."
She said the NZ scene did not have many of the problems rife overseas, including the "size zero" phenomenon that saw the British Fashion Council release a report at the weekend recommending London Fashion Week require girls to have a health check and that under-16 models be banned.
Naomi Campbell has criticised the decision on younger models as unfair. The strapping supermodel began modelling as a stringy 15-year-old, but says that was age rather than unhealthy skinnyness.
Auckland agency Red11 co-owner Amanda Betts said a couple of 13-year-olds entered the modelling scene most years, but the average age was 16 to 18.
Ms Betts said the selection of Maddison Gabriel for the role in Australia was unusual.
"Clearly the girl is a bit of a freak of nature; she's something a little bit extraordinary."
