“My goal is to show that a big part of the model industry thinks that you should not look like this”.
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But while any regular viewer can see the 19-year-old doesn’t have an inch of fat on her, the Swedish model has actually been told shes “too big” to have a career in the fashion industry.
Agnes Hedengard, who weighs just 8st 11lbs, was told she was “way too big” to model.
In the video, she says: “The industry thinks I’m too big”. “So yeah, according to the modeling industry, you can not look like this”.
Agnes Hedengård, 19, from Arvika, in south-east Sweden has revealed that she is struggling to get work due to her size, forcing her to leave full-time modelling.
Agnes Hedengard spoke out about the ridiculous body standards she has come across in the fashion industry. To be classed as somebody with a “healthy weight”, you need a BMI of 18.5-24.99.
‘You guys, I’m too big!’, she adds, twirling in front of the camera.
“I have been in contact with big agencies and clients that really want to work with me but as soon as they get a hold of my measurements, it’s a whole other story”, she said.
The model has since started working part-time as a shop assistant in Stockholm as she failed to secure modelling contracts.
“Modelling is more like a part time job now”.
And worryingly the rejection has lead her to have “anorexic thoughts”, but thankfully she has fought against them.
‘I gave [the modelling world] a shot for a year – I barely ate and counting calories was a daily chore, ‘ she says, explaining that she also works out every single day.
However, her experience, she says, has taught her: “I am fine just as I am”.
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Whilst it’s clearly still a big problem, the fashion industry has been taking steps to improve its attitude to body image and ideals – in July, Topshop announced that it was going to stop using mannequins deemed “too skinny” by shoppers.
