British Vogue’s Editorial Director Chioma Nnadi has expressed concern about a troubling trend in the fashion industry: a potential return to using predominantly skinny models, which threatens the progress made in body diversity.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Nnadi suggested that the rise of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic might be contributing to this shift. She noted that the fashion industry seems to be experiencing a cultural moment where “skinny is back in,” and warned against treating body types as temporary trends.
Nnadi believes the trend is complex and cannot be attributed to a single factor. She highlighted the influence of celebrities using weight-loss medications and the broader cultural conversation about body image. Despite this concerning development, she emphasized the importance of representing all body types in fashion.
During recent fashion weeks, Nnadi observed a noticeable lack of body diversity. She was particularly struck by how thin models appeared at some shows, describing the experience as feeling like models were “especially thin.” This observation has prompted her to hope that the current season will serve as a “wake-up call” to prevent this negative trend from continuing.
As the head of editorial content at UK Vogue, Nnadi is committed to promoting inclusivity. She and her colleagues are intentional about including models who are not traditional “sample size” in their photoshoots. However, she acknowledges that meaningful change requires collaboration with designers, who predominantly create clothing in smaller sizes.
The popularity of Ozempic, a medication that suppresses appetite, has grown significantly in the United States and is increasingly used in the UK. Nnadi suggests this could be contributing to the renewed focus on extremely thin body types in the fashion industry.
Nnadi, who took over her role at Vogue last October, replacing Edward Enninful, is continuing the magazine’s commitment to challenging traditional beauty standards. Her concern reflects a broader industry conversation about representation and the potential harmful impacts of promoting unrealistic body ideals.
The editorial director’s comments highlight an ongoing tension in the fashion world between historical beauty standards and the push for more inclusive representation. By drawing attention to the potential regression in body diversity, Nnadi is advocating for a more nuanced and respectful approach to showcasing fashion.
Her message is clear: body types should not be treated as fleeting trends, and the fashion industry has a responsibility to represent diverse body shapes and sizes. The hope is that by continuing to have these conversations and making conscious choices, meaningful progress can be maintained and expanded.
