Between models showing off their curves in certain poses and the current corset trend, many fashion photoshoots recently make it look like these perfect, gorgeous models have Scoliosis. While supermodel and Taylor Swift bestie Martha Hunt has been open about her struggles with Scoliosis, Gigi Hadid, Gisele Bundchen and many others don’t have Scoliosis, and if they do they do not talk about it. And this is wrong for many reasons.
While Hunt admirably opens up about her Scoliosis through working with the organization Curvy Girls and celebrating Scoliosis Month in June, she is still a beautiful, blonde, skinny, white model who doesn’t reflect the bodies and looks of many other Scoliosis survivors. It’s not as relatable. And what makes it worse is that Hunt’s peers use the look of Scoliosis as a fashion statement.
Gisele Nunschen, Dove Cameron and many other skinny women who match the American beauty standard often pose with an asymmetrical curvy body, while unintentional, is incredibly triggering to someone with an actually curved spine and who struggles with body dysmorphia because of it. Gigi Hadid made waves for a Barbiecore look that had a white corset that looked eerily like a back brace. Actress Lili Reinhart sported an eerie white corset in Contentsmode Magazine and Zendaya wore a Roberto Cavalli spine dress that just made me personally uncomfortable. Alexander McQueen also made the iconic metal spine corset that is just wrong on so many levels, with the curved spine and it being a corset, which is essentially a voluntary back brace, being two of them. There are also countless small businesses that profit off of spinal designs, and often they actually feature curved spines. And these are just the celebrities and designers I’ve noticed on social media the past few months. I am sure there are plenty more, and some that are much more significant. Now, do I think harm was their intention? No. I am sure they only had good intentions and that this was not purposeful. But do they have all the resources to educate themselves on why this is not okay? Absolutely!
The solution is simple, Scoliosis is NOT a fashion statement. It’s not a meme. It’s not something to be sidestepped. It’s real, painful and valid. I am all for avante garde fashion. I am all for making your outfit experimental and flattering. I am all for making a statement through fashion. However, respect should be everyone’s first priority. Fashion has always been about celebrating femininity and confidence, so let’s make sure it’s at least respectful when doing so.
With the popularity of Bridgerton, corsets have been a huge trend. However, the corset eerily resembles back braces. They can go from stylish to insensitive in an instant. While corsets are mainly used as undergarments for a flattering shape, they can also be psychically harmful and cause unrealistic body standards. This is extremely dangerous and should be talked about more.
As for posing, asymmetry does make photos fun and interesting, but magazines don’t have to print the ones of stick-thin models looking like they have a spinal abnormality. I am sure they have plenty of other photographs to choose from (Aren’t these professional models, after all?). So, next time you have a photoshoot, just be aware of it, models.
It’s also important not to limit these spinal looks to skinny, beautiful women. Have plus-sized and average-sized women wear them too. Survivors of Scoliosis often struggle with body dysmorphia, so only showing skinny women in dresses with spinal details, if designers are gonna do them (which no doubt they still will), at least put women like Lizzo or Megan thee Stallion in them. They would look bomb in them too!