Model Material

I've just read an article (albeit on the Daily Mail online - don't judge) that Sam Faiers who was recently diagnosed with Crohn's and since left TOWIE, has been signed to Elite Models.

This sits uneasy with me.

Not because she's making the most of her opportunities since leaving TOWIE like previous castmates, etc. But because she lost so much weight through ill-health, I feel it's a skewed view on what is deemed attractive...borderline glamourising her new smaller frame. Also the fact that her recent weight loss is unlikely to be sustainable - and it shouldn't be a weight she looks to maintain.

From personal experience, I've always been advised that an IBD patient is better to stay on the plump side (if possible) due to the speed in which you can lose weight during a flare up. Plus there's the other side of it being the speed in which you can also gain weight on a cocktail of meds. But I'm also aware that being thinner, through no fault of your own, is not particularly something you like to bring attention to. Classic examples of what not to say to a Crohn's patient include:

"You're so lucky, you can eat anything and stay skinny!"

"You've lost weight! You look great!"

The full list, which puts the phrases in context, can be found here: What not to say

If she does gain weight due to meds working and making her better, I worry she will only be forcing herself to stay thinner due to her new modelling contract. And if her previous size was ok with regards to the modelling world, why wasn't she signed before?

Just seems completely non-sensical and it makes me kinda sad.

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