Why don't we see shorter models on the runway?

Question

I've been insecure my whole life about my height. Models are supposed to represent beautiful people: and all my life I've been told that only tall people can model. To a child, this means that If you're short, or if you're different, you're not "pretty enough". The fashion industry is including plus size models on the runway, however the height is still pretty strict. If the runway is supposed be an accurate representation of what the brand's clothes look on the consumer, then why can't they hire shorter women? (the average height of a model is 5'8/9 whereas the average height for an American woman is 5'5) We need to have representation in the media, there aren't enough short celebrities. (I can only name 3: Anna Kendrick, Ariana Grande and Kourtney Kardashian). Yes, ALL types of bodies should be seen on the runway. INCLUDING SHORTER WOMEN No, taller women have "better" proportions Would you like seeing shorter women on the runway?

0112358 · Accepted Answer

You are fundamentally misinterpreting what conventional models do, and what their point is.

"Models are supposed to represent beautiful people"

While models are generally beautiful (often in a somewhat exotic way, also often with a particular bone structure that looks good when lit from the precise lighting angle runway shows light the models at), that's not their primary point. Model scouts are not walking around trying to find the most physically attractive women on the planet.

Models are chosen to sell clothes. Their job is to make the clothes look good, not to make themselves look good.

Why are they tall? A few reasons:
- while generally people may not prefer taller women, people do find a proportionately longer leg on women. Taller women have that proportion.
- taller models appear slimmer, because when you're not face to face with them, their height isn't apparent.

Essentially, models are playing a game of optical distortion. People don't realize that they are tall when they seem them at a distance, or more significantly, in photos. So instead, people imagine they're somehow normal height and extra thin with an unusual and appealing leg/torso ratio.

Why must they be so thin? A few reasons:
- because if a designer sends a model down a runway who looks at all chubby, nobody is buying their shit. So as a designer, you have two options. 1) carefully design clothes that would be flattering on a variety of women. 2) hire 5'11" 105 lb women to model your clothing while designing whatever the hell you feel like. Shockingly, they chose 2.
- Because often designers don't actually want curves on the model. Former models I've known have used the phrase 'walking coat hanger' to describe their job. The designers want to control where there are, and aren't curves on the design. They don't -want- the woman's shape busting through.

Now models do tend to be attractive, and some men DO like tall and slim women the most, but they are certainly NOT the most popular body shape in real life. So stop thinking they are.

madhatters4 · Accepted Answer

the height requirement is simply for a material matter as i understand it. i had an ex who modeled. basically it's so that they can make fewer varieties of clothes sizes. at a fashion show you'll notice that most of the models are very similar in height. that similarity in height means the people who make the clothing can make clothes at one size rather than tons of different sizes. then when a show occurs they don't have to have specific sizes for specific models

does that make sense? basically it's a convenience thing i've been told.

but this requirement is flexible and really only a requirement mostly of runway modeling... again for convenience sake. but print models can be and often are of any height. and exceptions are often made (e. g. kate moss)

Catholicgirl22 · Accepted Answer

I think there are loads of short celebrities espicially women in both film and music. Modelling is essentially an ideal or a lifestyle being used by those in the fashion industry to sell clothes to women by essentially telling us we are not good enough, pretty enough, slim enough and of course we lap it up. Women are marketed a he'll of a lot more than men with the message that to be happy, beautuful, atteactive and/or fulfilled we need to change or modify ourselves by spending all our money on cosmetics and clothes. So as a result we slap on make up, fake tan, color our hair, fake nails, high heels, lipstick, wax our eyebrows, shave our legs and so on.
Hayden Panettiere and Anna Kendrick both 5'0", Hilary Duff, Shakira, and Salma Hayek all 5'2", Kim Kardashian 5′ 3″, Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen 5'0, Rooney Mara 5'3, Lady Gaga 5'1, Lea Michele 5'2, Jessica Simpson 5'2, Rachel Bilson 5'2, Natalie Portman 5'3, Mila Kunis 5'3, AnnaSophia Robb 5'0, Lucy Liu 5'0, Kristen Bell 5'0, Christina Aguilera 5'2, Eva Longoria 5'2, Vanessa Hudgens 5'1, Shakira 5'1, Jennifer Love Hewitt 5'2, Lucy Hale 5'2, Reese Witherspoon 5'1, Alyssa Milano 5'2, Ellen Page 5'1, Ashanti 5'3, Kelly Clarkson 5'3, Emmila Clarke 5'2, Scarlet Johansen 5'3, Isla Fisher 5’3, Nicki Minaj 5'2, Megan Fox 5'4, Dakota Fanning 5'4. There is loads of representation of short petite women in the media.
Personally I dont care about models or what height or weight they are I'd much prefer if clothes for my short petite frame were more obtainable.

ChronicThinker · Accepted Answer

They favour tall models because their bodies are just easier to work with and they fit the standard size of clothing. It's easier for a designers to make clothes with more material (consider pant-legs) than less material, so when consumers buy them, they can at least get them hemmed rather than not have enough material. Taller models mean they don't have to alter clothing as much.

But I would like to point out that models don't represent "beautiful people" as a whole, they represent a standard of beauty for the industry they're in. Young girls need to understand that ridiculous beauty standards aren't being held against them, as real people know what real people look like, no one actually expects you to look like a model.

Me, for example, I'm almost 25 and I'm 5'. I have never been called unattractive for my height and I've had plenty of people regard me as attractive.

vishna · Accepted Answer

I think that some of these designs are so ridiculous, people below a certain height would be smothered in them. And so, for unity, everyone must be tall. Also, the taller you are the thinner you usually are, so, the companies love that part.

I don't think average height or short women are ugly compared to models, I just think it'd be harder for them to model all the clothes. Some things really just look better on a tall frame.
However, I do think some things look better on a less skinny frame. ex) swimsuits and a lot of other pieces.

Llyra · Accepted Answer

Honestly, I've always been jealous of short people. In my area, it's rare to find a guy that likes tall girls. They all want short and cute girls. I would never have to worry about being taller than a guy I like if I were shorter. I would be able to buy pants that reach my ankles. I could buy smaller shoes for cheaper. My feet wouldn't touch the ground in every chair. I wouldn't have to worry about shower heads that are too short. There's so many things that I'm jealous of.

CoffeeWC · Answer

Models should include shorter women

BadAssHunter · Answer

Find something else to do. Being tall is what makes a model a model. I don't wanna see shorter women in a runway because it's already average and it isn't model material. I'm short myself. All gymnast are short, should taller people be mad because it's not a sport for their body type? Taller women are insecure too and modeling is one thing they have where they're not looked at as unattractive. Shorter women have it easier for them, such as shopping, attention from men, etc. So, everyone has something for themselves and I think wanting to have something that really only suits the other group is selfish, insecure and a sign of jealousy. Js.

Samathoo · Answer

The modeling industry is snobby and close minded and nothing you’ll be able to get around. Short women are beautiful too! Not to mention they can wear heels? It’s messed up and unfair. I’m 5’11 and my whole life I’ve always been the taller girl but I’ve never been stick skinny and in no way was I ever fat either but I just know I’m never to the people’s standards. I was with my other friend who is 5’10 and very SKINNY like model skinny and she was walking next to me in the mall one day and even had heels on so she was around 6 ft tall and she was stopped by several people that day asking if she was a model. Nobody ever asked me if I model never mind the fact that I was also a tall women. It’s always made me very insecure and I’ll never feel like I’m “skinny” enough to model which is why it’ll never be an option for me.

KobySavage · Answer

They do have a lot of short models more women than man, and majority of famous people are average hight. But runway modeling is different they have standards you have to meet but it's a lot different now then it was then. It's the kinda fashion you follow more mainstream style use Touran models becauseoms that what people want to see. But with understand names they go for the people who actually buys their stuff so it's very equal... Best brand do this is YEEZY because it's one of the only brand thats on edge of being mainstream and Underground.

MrMysteryMan · Answer

You're problem is you're comparing yourself to runway models. They aren't really the most beautiful women. I don't really know if there is a thing as "most beautiful woman" for that matter. Too many to say there is one for sure out of the 3.5 billion or so in the world. Anyhow, beauty is subjective, so be happy with how you look. Someone is bound to find you attractive.

taytayasks · Answer

I think modelling should be more inclusive to all women. Scars/stretch marks/freckles/moles? Beautiful. Shorter? Great! Taller? Grand! Plus sized? Curvy and delicious! Naturally skinny? Rocking it! In the middle? Just as amazing. I think if we were more inclusive as a society for all types of models girls would suffer less dysmorphia and compare themselves to others less. I love Winnie Harlow and Ashley Graham for the differences they are making.

Anonymous · Answer

I'm 5'8 and I can assure you, It's not fun either. In the place where I come from, people are tendentially shorter. All the guys in my school were shorter than me and i find it so unattractive. At school they used to call me giraffe. So no the only thing being short precludes you is becoming a model, but honestly, it takes so much more than height to become one, like oyu need a perfect face, perfect proportions, etc. So i wouldn't bother. Clothes look better on tall skinny girls and models will continue being tall skinny girls.

sodaslut · Answer

honestly it's so annoying how people are SO sensitive these days and want to protest for every fucking thing. so what if they don't have short model? life goes on. if you're going to be oh so sad over this because your fucking height isn't represented in a superficial ass industry u need to revaluate ur priorities lmao. im sure im gonna get loads of hate bc my opinion is unpopular but its true 🤷‍♀️

purplevicky118 · Answer

I'm pretty sure the height requirement when it comes to modeling is purely so that there's a uniform size to make all the clothes in the clothing line or some shit like that. Also because adjusting for cameras and for aesthetics (it looks better to present all models of equal height on a runway).

Anonymous · Answer

I don't care. I don't think they represent beautiful people. They're meant to be walking coathangers. The mistake is in assuming that they represent beautiful people or that they are meant to accurately depict clothes as they would look on the customer. A good chunk of fashion is ridiculous 'art clothes,' not practical attire. They use the kind of women they do because: 1. They're walking coathangers, and 2. Because women respond to other women who look like that.
*They are not representative of beautiful people in reality*

pooper89 · Answer

Because they don't make the clothes look good. People get caught up in models and how they think they should look but it's not about that... its about the clothes... and selling the clothes... and the clothing brands. Vera Wang doesn't give a shit that the runway model who is wearing her outfit doesn't represent the average woman. She cares about how much revenue her brand is earning

iamgiraffe · Answer

Tbh i don't want them to change that. I hate my height so much. I hate being tall so much. This is like the only thing that makes me think that being tall has a good site "I at least have a height that is supposed to look good"?

Username678 · Answer

Your choice of answers though...:D
Why we don't see short models?
Because a model models a product, the taller the model , the more people can see her.
When you see a tall gal in the public you immediatelly notice her
That's what they want to do with clothes.

alice55 · Answer

Because tall people have better body and look better in clothes, they can wear everything and still look good.

Shorts people can't. I think we should only have tall models.

Too there's models who aren't tall there's 5'6 and 5'7 models but they look much more less better in the clothes than the other taller models.

9teen · Answer

There are agencies for short people.
The reason why tall height is more desirable for modeling is because of long legs. There is only a small minority of short people who have long legs. Long legs is common around tall people.

Also model agencies don't go specifically for attractive people but for people who look unique (in a beautiful way). Who basically catch the eye of anyone.

Anonymous · Answer

funny bc im insecure about being tall and dont think models are cute or proportionate.
wish i was short and i never thought models were something to look up to or they were beautiful. being tall and skinny makes it easier for everyone to focus on the clothes instead of the models body. its not about beauty.

hasrett · Answer

Because they look better on the runaway. To be honest, I see no problem with that.  Every job has it's requirements. Want to be a maths teacher? Go study maths. Want to be a model? Be tall.

LegendOfGAG · Answer

Good point I agree. Short girls are more lovable y’all girls can’t get no love. Just the way it is. Be grateful.

witherwing · Answer

I'm short, but honestly tall people just can show of clothes better. It has nothing to do with beauty.

WalterRadio · Answer

I have dated models, the shortest was 5' 7 1/2" and the tallest 5'10".

They aren't there to model themselves, they are there to be coat hangers for the clothes. They can't make the clothes fit the girls, the girls have to fit the clothes.

Why don't we see shorter models on the runway?

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