Dawn Collinson talks to the local model speaking out against the super-skinny fashion culture

IN THE brutally perfect world of modelling, less is most definitely more. The smaller the size, the bigger the opportunities to grace the runways of New York, Paris and Milan.

Ignoring the temporary glitch of one-time curvy champion Sophie Dahl, that’s the way it has been since the 60s heyday of Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton.

But, if fat was once a feminist issue, then now it’s a fashion one, too, thanks to Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman.

She has accused designers of forcing magazines to hire super-skinny models by only supplying “minuscule” sample-sized clothes for photo-shoots.

And with other industry big hitters backing her, she is pressing fashion houses including Prada, Versace and Chanel to put more healthy looking girls in their shows.

So, will we soon see protruding hip bones and sunken cheeks replaced by voluptuous bosoms and bountiful bottoms?

Plus-sized model Fern Victoria Hodge certainly hopes so. The 20-year-old from Southport has been modelling for the past six months since starting a Facebook group for curvy girls.

She certainly isn’t apologetic for her size, and doesn’t believe other women should be, either.

“I’m not kidding myself that I’m going to be the next Kate Moss, I’m not stupid,” she smiles, “but modelling for me is a real confidence booster and it shows people how I feel about myself. I’ve always been really happy with who I am; I love my size and I do think that I look good.

“Not everyone is a Size 0 and not everyone wants to be, but designers and magazines carry on sending out this message to women that we should all look a particular way.

“I know from running the curvy girl group that a lot of women think it would be nice to see clothes on people who look like them. If you’re a Size 18 or 20, then you never really get a true representation of what things will look like on you.

“I’m not a skinny-basher and I’m not criticising thin girls, but I think everyone should be allowed to be their natural size whether that’s a 6 or a 16.”

Not surprisingly, Victoria, who is training to be a make-up artist, agrees with Alexandra Shulman’s view of a sizeist industry.

“I think a lot women wish there were more pictures of curvier models in the fashion magazines,” she says.