Thylane Loubry Blondeau, a 10-year-old model with a sultry stare beyond her years, had the fashion industry drooling after posing for French Vogue. But photos of the Parisian preteen, whose lanky body and gap-toothed pout bring to mind full-grown size-zero magazine cover girls, have reignited the debate over the sexualization of young girls.
"We don't want kids to grow up too fast," said Shari Miles-Cohen, senior director of women's programs for the American Psychological Association. "We want them to be able to develop physically, emotionally, psychologically and socially at appropriate rates for their age."
Sexualized images can have lasting effects on the young girls who see them. An APA taskforce found that sexualization by the media affects how girls think about femininity and sexuality, promoting "appearance and physical attractiveness" as key values. It's also linked to low self-esteem, eating disorders and depression.
"The research clearly shows that the fashion industry affects girls and women's images of themselves and their self-esteem if they do not meet the industry 'image' that is currently in vogue," said Paul Miller, associate professor of psychology at Arizona State University in Phoenix. "Even the very young are quite conscious of media images of what is 'pretty' and desirable."
In a photo not affiliated with Vogue, Blondeau poses topless on a bed with a young male playmate propositioning a pillow fight. And in another, she wears hip-slung jeans and no top with beaded necklaces covering her would-be breasts.
Many in the industry have defended the work as art. Others say it crosses a line.
"Any creepy child ****ographer could plead 'artistic license,'" said Miller.
The pictures aren't bad at all.. I don't see anything sexy about them.
I doubt the people that took the photos were pedophiles or something.. they're just doing their job.. trying to get pictures of her and for the magazine. Or at least that's my opinion on it.
If she wants to model for a magazine, then what do you expect her to look like? In pigtails and running around a playground? Let's be real now.
I have one of the issues of Vogue she was in, and she wasn't the only girl her age. There's nothing wrong w it imo, there's nothing sexual or inappropriate about the pictures.
My Sister is 10 and she always sneaks in my mother's room and starts putting on her makeup and puts on high heels and manicures her hands and legs and then accessorises, I find this normal, they just took what little girls do at home, made it better and took photos.
She has her whole life to do sexy photoshoots but not at age 10. I'm sorry that is my opinion. I've seen other pics besides this one. This reminds me of that show Toddlers & Tierras.
Omg @ the pictures.
I was expecting the worst, She looks fierce, like she was playing in mommy's closet and came out looking fierce and having a fun time.
The issue she's in is December 2010, and considering just how in advance these shoots are shot, it'd be fair to assume she's 11 or even 12 now, although the article may just be late w the pics, not her age.
look at Karlie Kloss. has been a model since probably 2006. in high school and still no tit pics unlike many other established models like natasha poly or magdalena frakowiack
Or at least that's my opinion on it.
