National Ledger - Shock: Maddison Gabriel "Sex Sells" Model Exploited at Twelve

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Share This \| Related Shock: Maddison Gabriel "Sex Sells" Model Exploited at Twelve
By Cathy Beers Sep 18, 2007

Maddison Gabriel was but twelve years old when she sparked a firestorm of controversy and many believe that she is far too young to be the face of "Gold Coast Fashion Week" and pundits are furious from down under all the way back here in the states. She just turned thirteen on Sunday and a raging debate is that she is being exploited as she looks much older. I get it - sex sells but is it too much to ask to let these kids grow up?

Shock: Maddison Gabriel "Sex Sells" Model Exploited at Twelve

Frankly it is just too much for a young girl. This is just plain messed up in at least three different ways D Pravaz writes at the "Big Blog" over at Seattle PI. The argument in three easy steps - One - Being paraded around as an adult woman is going to mess with this kid's head. It has to. Agreed.

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Two - It sexualizes her to adults who might not know how old (or young) she is. Gross. So true. Let's let these kids grow up first a bit. I don't even want to get into what it does for the pervs out there. Three - It sets up an even more ridiculous standard for how women are supposed to look in those damn clothes. Come on. She's just too young for this type of modeling.

I may be biased; I have a thirteen year old daughter. Here's more this time form the Herald Sun: "Most parents of a 12-year-old know that a child of that age is not the best person to judge if they are being exploited."

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Continuing: "At worst it is a jungle, where undernourished and exploited girls compete in a profession where they could be on the scrap heap by their early 20s. A 12-year-old does not possess those skills. A rule that only girls aged over 16 can feature in adult fashion shows would save children such as Maddison from themselves." Please someone heed these warnings.

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