Thank you, Connie Talbot
As an example, I think first of Suri Cruise. Back in 2009, when she was three years old, she was going out (with her parents, obviously) in high heels. Ok, point out to me that, they make high heels small enough for little kids, so why shouldn't she wear them? And I'll ask you, WHY do they make high heels for TODDLERS? It's not cute. It's inappropriate. Kids that young should be wearing sandals or sneakers or something other than heels.
But let's move on. That was 2009. Moving on to the main point of this post.
A ten year old French model, Thylane Lena-Rose Blondeau, somewhat recently did a photoshoot for the French version of Vogue magazine. The child was photographed wearing high heels, make-up, and clothing anything but age-appropriate. Some of the poses look as if they are meant to be "sexy" or "seductive" shots. Of a ten year old child. In one of the pictures, she is topless (with her hair covering her chest.) Personally, I think that is repulsive. She is a ten year old. She's a little kid. She is a very beautiful little girl, and will likely be booking modeling jobs left and right (if she isn't already), but that doesn't change the fact that she is a young child.
I don't understand, at all, a photographer would agree to take pictures of a CHILD acting as a miniature adult. Kids don't need make-up. Kids shouldn't be wearing high heels or revealing clothing. If Thylane wants to be a model, then fine, let her be a model. But let her model for the GAP or Old Navy or something where she wears age-appropriate clothing, and a lot less make-up. Maybe I'm a bit too "American" with my view on this, but hey- that's just my opinion on the matter.
I liked this comment on one of the pictures of the young French model:
"As a photographer, I would much rather photograph this beautiful child AS a child!!! No makeup and in age appropriate clothing doing age appropriate things (playing with friends, going to amusement parks, playing hopscotch). She is a beautiful little girl, but the idea of "adulterizing" her seems to steal the life out of her. It almost doesn't seem real.. like she is a doll or a mannequin. There are plenty of adult women models out there....and it is they, not the child, that belong in most of these pictures here."
Also, I don't know if it was done on purpose, but the little girl doesn't look happy in any of the pictures. She doesn't look like she wants to be in them. Maybe it's just me, but I see a hint of sadness in her eyes.
So here's where I say THANK YOU to Connie Talbot. Connie is also ten years old. In every picture I've ever seen of Connie, she is dressed as a child her age should be.
I don't want to violate copyrights, so click here to see a photoshoot of Connie done by Daniel Smart. Notice her clothing. Nice choices, for a young child. Notice how happy she looks in every single one of the pictures.
Connie:
Thank you for acting like a normal ten year old.
Thank you for being a normal ten year old.
Thank you for not trying to be "sexy" in photoshoots.
Thank you for not doing photoshoots like the one Thylane did for Vogue.
Thank you for not wearing make-up (or at least a lot of make-up) yet.
Thank you for always wearing age-appropriate clothing.
Thank you for staying sweet and innocent and not trying to grow up too fast.
Thank you for giving me hope that not all kids want to be miniature adults.
Thank you for being you.
And to Connie's parents: thank you guys for raising such GREAT kids.
My youngest sister just turned 11 earlier this year, so she's right around the same age as Connie and Thylane. And maybe it's just because she's my sister, but I'd rather she was dressing like Connie than dressing like Thylane. I would be so angry if my sister did a photoshoot like Thylane's for a magazine. I wouldn't want to hear people calling her "sexy" or "seductive" or anything like that. Ten year olds aren't supposed to be any of that. Ten year olds are supposed to be kids.
Comments
Post a Comment