Model told to slim 'down to the bone' fights back

A size eight model lost six kilograms and was told to lose more. Photo / Getty

A model who was told to slim 'down to the bone' by an agency has launched a petition calling for better healthcare for models.

Australian born Rosie Nelson was 21 years old and a size eight when a top UK agency told her to lose more weight.

Nelson said she lost 6.3 kilograms following the agency's initial request.

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📷👙💭 when I was asked to lose more weight by a top London agency. #London

A post shared by Rosalie Nelson 🐼🇦🇺 (@rosalienelson) on Apr 25, 2015 at 12:59am PDT

"When I returned to the same agency they told me to lose more weight, they wanted me 'down to the bone'", she told the BBC.

She said she knows models who take drastic measures to achieve the desired size.

"Some girls are doing really drastic things to lose weight, they're eating cotton [wool], they're eating only popcorn."

Instead of attempting to lose more weight herself, Nelson has responded by starting a campaign for models which has garnered 113, 000 signatures in support. She is also set to speak at a British parliamentary inquiry into modelling and health issues.

Nelson hopes her campaign efforts will mean stricter health checks for British models.

"If a model is being asked to lose weight, she can go to a doctor and say 'I need to get down to 35 inch hips' and the doctor can then say you can lose weight this way".

While New Zealand is yet to do so, countries including France and Italy have already legislated in this area, with France creating rules about a minimum body mass index for models and Italy demanding health certificates.

- nzherald.co.nz