How long have you been working for the magazine?
Since it launched in 2007. I worked for free (work experience) for a whole two years and then have been here ever since.
What would you say to a student hoping to get into magazine work?
Get as much work experience as you can in magazines and head for the one magazine you ideally want to work for and fight for it. I mean be determined, if thats really the place you want to work exhaust all areas as with hard work you will get it!
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love the photo shoots and doing what I love which is styling. I love seeing outfits come alive, and finding the best high street picks to show other girls in a really creative, fun and attractive way which helps them find their own style and know where to find key season pieces from the best stores.
Does the magazine have a policy on models and using girls of certain sizes?
We don’t have a set policy, but we all know what we look for and we wouldn’t go for a model who looked ill or unhealthy. We try to use models of different sizes. We will use size 8 models but also use curvier size’s like 12’s too. All girls and our readers are different sizes and we try to embrace that and cater to everybody. We understand although a girl is size 8 and slim, we think that is her natural shape like a lot of other girls, however the size 12 is just as beautiful and attractive, and other clothes look good and suit her better. So it’s about using a mix, in a healthy way and not using someone who looks like they are not eating.
But how do you know when someone is ill? Where is the line? Two girls could be the same weigh yet one be Anorexic yet the other naturally like that?
That is true. We can’t say for sure, but we have to judge that and think, does that look too skinny. Our readers are important to us, and we’ve got the responsibility to promote a healthy image along with our photo shoots. We just try and bring in a mix of slim, and curvy models, but aware and don’t use models who look visually ill.
Do you think using size 0 on the catwalk within high fashion is irresponsible to young girls? Do you think they are affected and look up to them because of their size?
Yes, to be honest I do. I have looked at them in the past and been upset myself so I am just the same as those girls so I know how they feel. I look at all the glamorous beautiful women who fit into all the beautiful clothes and I’ve thought why aren’t I thin like that?! But I’ve got to the point were I’ve accepted who I am. I’m naturally curvy and some things would suit and flatter my figure that wouldn’t on size 0 models. And that’s what we’re trying to embrace in the magazine that we can all be fashionable and look good. We are plastered with size 0 models everywhere we go so we forget that curvy and normal women look good in fashionable clothes too!
We further discussed what the high fashion world would be like if they used curvier models, discussing different fittings, and the way it is in fact a lot easier for designers to make one size of everything, in all areas that will fit the size 0 models than getting the right measurements for curvy models. Also if they used curvy models maybe naturally size 0 women will think they’re creating a look that high fashion is telling them they should be. It’s a debate I am looking forward to getting further and deeper in, I have a lot of points to be made and the fashion stylist has helped me with her views as well as the magazines.
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