New Bill Seeks to Protect Models From Being Abused at Work

A young model waits backstage. Photo: Getty

A new bill created to protect fashion models from being sexually abused and financially exploited cleared its first hurdle towards becoming law recently, in California. According to Harvard’s School of Public Health, it’s the first of its kind in the United States.

Introduced on February 19 by the National Eating Disorders Association, advocacy group the Model Alliance, and Assemblymember Marc Levine —
and passed its initial hearing on April 6, California AB 2539 seeks to afford models the same rights as employees in all other industries. It notes the pressures and problems that models frequently face, including the pervasiveness of eating disorders, the vulnerability of working minors, and the commonness of sexual harassment.

AB 2539 also clarifies the fact that models are not independent contractors, but employees of the brands they represent — like actors and other entertainers. Additionally, modeling agencies will be required to be licensed as talent agencies, and will work with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) so that those model’s who feel they’ve been mistreated can actually report it.

“While this is only the first step, passage of this legislation today is historic,” said Levine. “California has an opportunity to lead the nation and the global fashion industry in providing vitally-needed health standards and workplace protections for fashion models.”

In a heartfelt blog post on Huffington Post, former model Nikki DuBose — an avid supporter of the bill who helped present it at its initial hearing — wrote,

“To those who think that models are ‘complaining’ and have nothing better to do, let me ask you the following questions. Why is it ok for abuse to go on in the modeling industry and for there not to be any laws or protections in place, but it’s not alright in other industries? Would you like it if you went to work and were abused, not paid, and bullied about your weight? Would you like it if your daughter or son went through these things?

“I believe that Assembly Bill 2539 can be the vessel for [an] effective shift to occur [in the modeling industry], and that California can lead the nation in this progressive change,” DuBose continued. “Hopefully New York and other states will implement the changes we are addressing.”

Considering the horrific and depressing stories that seem to constantly surface— most recently, Erin Heatherton’s description of her dangerous eating habits during her years as a Victoria’s Secret Angel — it’s about time the modeling industry became more legally regulated. And while California isn’t necessarily considered a modeling hotbed like New York is, a change needs to begin somewhere — and AB 2539 sounds like a smart (and hopefully effective) way to kick things off.

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