Supermodel Toni Garrn has offered a critical perspective on the long-standing customs of the fashion industry. She recounted her experiences in model agencies, stating that “the situation was always awful,” describing how she would stand there half-naked, only for someone to approach with a measuring tape and comment, “‘Your hips are too wide, Honey.'”
Garrn noted that since she is taller than most, it was evident that her hips were two centimeters wider than typical standards. In defiance of these measurements, she once went out and bought herself an ice cream after such appointments. Later, she refused to be measured, explaining, “I figured the companies were already booking me.” However, she emphasized that she was in a position where she could afford this attitude, as she was not financially dependent. “I could have quit at any time to go to school, and my parents would have supported me,” she said, adding that for her, modeling was purely for enjoyment.
Even when she was 15, Garrn participated in photoshoots wearing bikini bottoms and cigarettes, but she claimed to never have experienced genuinely uncomfortable situations. She confessed that she was often expected to hold a cigarette, though she never actually smoked, noting that it was just part of the styling. She also mentioned that, at that time, she had not had sexual experiences.
While Garrn enjoys a level of freedom, as she continues to model while being a mother and an entrepreneur, she cannot escape the focus on body image and weight. When asked if she has always been healthy, she responded, “What does healthy mean? Everyone gets a little sick sometimes. When exactly are you sick?” She believes that some level of physical strain regarding weight is inherent in modeling. She has had to adapt to industry practices, revealing that since the age of 14, she has been unable to eat everything she wants. Otherwise, she fears she would “only eat cake all day.”
