Are Models Just Like Us?

Last week, Naija Gym Blog, a health blog tweeted “Two slices of pizza are the equivalent to swallowing 3 spoons of warm oil. Do you feel like eating pizza now?” Chrissy Teigen simply responded “Yep.” The model, who definitely has an envy worthy figure, was praised for her response. During New York Fashion week, Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid were applauded for heading to the nearest McDonald’s after strutting down the runway. But what if Chrissy had tweeted that pizza is bad for your health? What if Kendall and Bella opted to get salads instead of burgers? Would they still be commended on social media? Probably not.

While it’s great that a model is showing that it’s okay to have a greasy slice of pizza, models are too often glorified for eating junk food while receiving no praise for maintaining a healthy diet. There’s something dangerous about thin models making eating junk food look so effortless. While many models try to seem normal by posting pictures of them eating a burger and fries, they are not helping those with a less slender body. It has become an unhealthy expectation that you can eat chips and ice cream while maintaining a size two figure.

Obesity is already a huge problem in America, with 35.7% of adults considered to be obese. Seeing size two models getting praised for eating fast food is not helping this growing problem. Celebrities are people that many look up to, yet somehow eating pizza while remaining skinny and beautiful makes a celebrity someone’s role model. Models should receive just as much praise for posting a picture of a healthy diet as they do for posting a picture of junk food. To maintain their figure, junk food is most likely a rarity in their diet. There is a backlash against healthy eating that should not exist. Models should be proud of maintaining a healthy diet, just as any normal person would be proud to announce that they ate a healthy meal.

I understand why these models post picture of themselves eating an entire pizza. They are trying to defy the stereotype that models never eat junk food. But I think we should commend models for their healthy diets too. After all, an average person would be praised for ordering a smoothie rather than a milkshake. Of course, it’s okay to have a cheat day and binge out on greasy and sugary foods once in a while, but it is also important to get the proper serving of fruits and vegetables. Body shape and size is not important, but what is important is preventing obesity and other health problems.

I think it’s great that Kendall and Bella are just like us and eat at McDonald’s. It’s great that Chrissy Teigen has shown us that models enjoy junk food too. I just hope that they can receive as much praise for eating grilled chicken and veggies as they do for eating Chicken McNuggets. Anything is good in moderation, but just know that these models are not gorging on junk food every day. Eating junk food is perceived by the media to be cool and fun, but eating healthily should have the same connotation.