Milan Fashion Week 2019: Model Edie Campbell told she’s ‘too fat’ to open show

Campbell responded to the derogatory remark by enjoying a ‘slap up brekkie’

Sabrina Barr
Friday 22 February 2019 10:28 GMT
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Model Edie Campbell on pressures of the fashion industry and her advice for aspiring models

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Model Edie Campbell was told she was "too fat" to open a runway show at Milan Fashion Week 2019.

Campbell, who's modelled for brands including Chanel and Burberry and appeared on the cover of British Vogue, revealed on Instagram that she'd recently been subject to a contentious remark regarding her weight.

The British model shared a selfie of herself and artist Christabel Macgreevy on her Instagram story, showing the pair enjoying a hotel breakfast spread.

"When a brand says you are 'too big' to open their show so you get @christabitch round to have a slap up brekkie," Campbell wrote.

"By 'too big' I don't mean 'too famous'. I mean 'too fat'," she added in a second post.

On Thursday 21 February, Campbell was one of several models who took part in the late Karl Lagerfeld's last Fendi catwalk in Milan.

A day prior, the model had also walked the runway for Italian fashion label Alberta Ferretti.

Campbell was named "Model of the Year" at the 2013 British Fashion Awards, an accolade that was presented to her by fashion photographer and frequent collaborator Tim Walker.

The 28-year-old was also dubbed an "icon" within the fashion industry by models.com last year.

Edie Campbell
Edie Campbell (Instagram/@ediebcampbell)
Edie Campbell
Edie Campbell (Instagram/@ediebcampbell)

Campbell has been critical of the fashion industry in the past, having last year called for models to be provided with private changing rooms when getting ready for shows.

The model explained to BBC Radio 4 that it can be "humiliating" for models to have to change in front of others.

"It's sort of quite jarring and then there comes a point when it becomes very normalised for you," she said.

In November 2017, the model wrote an open letter for WWD detailing the abuse fashion models frequently face.

“We operate within a culture that is too accepting of abuse, in all of its manifestations,” she wrote.

“This can be the ritual humiliation of models, belittling of assistants, power plays and screaming fits.

"We have come to see this as simply a part of the job.”

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