[Zippy]

Supermodel Thylane Lena-Rose Blondeau’s appearance in an edition of Vogue Paris has prompted fury from parents... because she’s only 10-years-old.

The mini-model was featured in the January 2011 issue – as part of a 15-page picture spread called ‘Cadeaux’ (gifts). It included shots of a heavily made-up Thylane posing seductively in a chair, bed and on an animal skin rug, with her legs and neckline bared.

The controversial pics were shown on US TV this month and reignited concern over the sexualisation of children in the media.

The debate comes as the Government announced a crackdown on inappropriate clothing and raunchy ads aimed at young kids earlier this year.

They commissioned the Bailey Review to investigate enforcing restrictions on the sexualisation of children in the media and sexual content in advertising.

Reg Bailey, Chief Executive of the Mother’s Union is in charge of the independent review.

Fleur Dorrell, Head of Safe Policy at the Mother’s Union, told Yahoo! UK that these images were “blurring all thoughts of beauty” and were “physically disturbing” for adults.

She added: “Modelling agencies think that it is ok to use pre-pubescent girls as models but this is completely selling us a different idea of beauty. They are making this girl look and feel as though she has to dress this way in order to be perfect.”

“If you think about it in reverse they wouldn’t ask me, a 43-year-old woman to dress like a girl, so why would they want to dress her up like that?”

Despite concern over the images of Thylane, there is huge fan support for model, with a blog and several Facebook fan pages dedicated to her work.

On one fan page a woman wrote: “I don't find this unusual, she is super talented...plus it’s French Vogue!!! FRENCH. VOGUE. Totally ok.”

Another fan added: “I am frustrated with all the people who deem this as sensual... Art is totally subjective and depends on the individual viewing it.”

The Mother’s Union and David Cameron have invited the fashion and advertising industries to reassess the representation of young people under the age of 16 at a summit in October.





Personally I find it shocking that any parent would allow their 10 year old to be depicted like this. It's blatantly sexualising them way before it's appropriate. Seriously, are they so stupid they don't realise who these images will appeal to and the harm theyre doing?

As for the magazines and TV shows who promote young girls being tarted up and encouraged to pose and dance around provocatively I think they should be ashamed of themselves.....and banned. Its just sending out very dangerous messages all round.

[Marc]

Can't blame the kids parents for wanting money. That's all this was about surely

[Novo]

Originally Posted by Marc.

She is pretty though.

[Marc]

I've edited since.

[Smithy]

awkward

[Marc]

Models are picked because they are pretty, have a look that people want to look at.

I'm not a paedo, grow the **** up. She's a pretty girl and that's why she's been cast.

[CharlieO]

Well if she can I don't see why she shouldn't.

[Zippy]

Originally Posted by Marc.

She is pretty though.

Can't blame the kids parents for wanting money. That's all this was about surely

so it's ok to ***** your kids out just for money?

Hell yes I can blame them. I think theyre a disgrace.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Zippy

so it's ok to ***** your kids out just for money?

Hell yes I can blame them. I think theyre a disgrace.

Oh I think it's bad dont get me wrong. But this sh*t happens all over the place, young kids being forced into sports.. being talented. I don't see everybody kicking up a fuss about them yet they are still doing it. I wonder if the girl liked the experience, she probably did. And the girl probably has money now for her future, if she carries on.. she'll get enough money to do whatever she likes.

[Lee.]

That is the most disturbing thing I've seen!

She actually looks like a child... I know some models start young like 15 or 16 and do things like underwear and swimwear shots but because their bodies have actually developed, they actually look like adults... that model in Vogue just looks like a kid trying on her mums clothes!

[Shaun]

another blow to society

[Novo]

Originally Posted by Marc.

Oh I think it's bad dont get me wrong. But this sh*t happens all over the place, young kids being forced into sports.. being talented. I don't see everybody kicking up a fuss about them yet they are still doing it. I wonder if the girl liked the experience, she probably did. And the girl probably has money now for her future, if she carries on.. she'll get enough money to do whatever she likes.

difference is your not really exposed at that age if your talented at sports it's only when you grow up you become more famous but she is being plastered over popular magazines already at the age of 10 think that's why people kick up a fuss over things like this

[Zippy]

Originally Posted by Marc.

Oh I think it's bad dont get me wrong. But this sh*t happens all over the place, young kids being forced into sports.. being talented. I don't see everybody kicking up a fuss about them yet they are still doing it. I wonder if the girl liked the experience, she probably did.

I think you're missing the point. This girl has been made up to look twice her age and SEXY.

What the hell is the point of these images but to provoke? No Vogue reader is gonna want to buy those products when worn by a 10 year old ffs.

And the girls parents have made her the worlds top pedo pin up. She'll probably have all kinds of freaks stalking and obsessing over her for years to come. Great parenting.

Then there's just the overall message images like this send out. None positive.

[tmi]

Every girl dream is to pinch a bit of mums make up and high heels, that said this girl is being expolited for money, she is being madeover to look like a girl nearly double they're age.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Novo

difference is your not really exposed at that age if your talented at sports it's only when you grow up you become more famous but she is being plastered over popular magazines already at the age of 10 think that's why people kick up a fuss over things like this

But those kids are still being forced/told to practice for hours and hours a day to get to that eventual end point; with the aim to be the best, be loved by everybody and to be known by everybody in the world

[Marc]

Okay fair enough I didn't read the editoral about it making her try to be sexy. I'm a fool in that sense. That IS wrong.

But any other photo shoot wouldn't be too bad meh I don't know, wish I never spoke

[Novo]

Originally Posted by Marc.

But those kids are still being forced/told to practice for hours and hours a day to get to that eventual end point; with the aim to be the best, be loved by everybody and to be known by everybody in the world

Yeah but by the time they reach the top they are usually prepared for it.. can a 10 year old really be prepared for this?

[Zippy]

One of the featured children in the spread was Thylane Lena-Rose Blondeau, a 10 year old French girl, who now has quite a few sexy-themed photographs to her portfolio.

What makes these images problematic is not so much the makeup and dresses, as many children like to dress in the clothes of adults in an innocent exercise of imagination and play. These photographs of Thylane are inappropriate because they not only suggest the presence of an adult viewer, inciting “come hither” stares and pouty lips, but they also invite said viewer to regard her as having an adult’s sexuality.

Lipstick and jewelry are not the culprit here, as even in photographs where Thylane is depicted in a mere jeans and t-shirt, a sexual intent and focus is present. Her low gaze and hands to her hips mirror an adult sexuality, and don’t convey anything genuine or authentic about girlhood. Thylane’s mimicking of adult poses and facial expressions is obviously something that she has mastered, but her tiny child’s frame bring these gazes and gestures into dangerously questionable context.

Parents often worry that their daughter’s premature interest in fashion or makeup will garner unwanted attention, and so they seek to steer them away from suggestive clothing and beauty products. While those parenting tactics are valid, Thylane’s photographs show us that hair spray and flat irons alone don’t make a particular depiction of a child inappropriate. Ultimately, the sexualization of children is defined by viewership, perception, intention, and more specifically, the person who is choosing to characterize her that way.

Koa Beck

[Josy]

She's far too young for that kind of exposure imo.

[Zippy]

Her parents are former French international footballer Patrick Blondeau and some French actress.

Doesn't look like she got her looks from him..

[Omah]

Originally Posted by Zippy

Personally I find it shocking that any parent would allow their 10 year old to be depicted like this. It's blatantly sexualising them way before it's appropriate. Seriously, are they so stupid they don't realise who these images will appeal to and the harm theyre doing?

As for the magazines and TV shows who promote young girls being tarted up and encouraged to pose and dance around provocatively I think they should be ashamed of themselves.....and banned. Its just sending out very dangerous messages all round.

Originally Posted by happyland

That is the most disturbing thing I've seen!

She actually looks like a child... I know some models start young like 15 or 16 and do things like underwear and swimwear shots but because their bodies have actually developed, they actually look like adults... that model in Vogue just looks like a kid trying on her mums clothes!

Originally Posted by Zippy

What the hell is the point of these images but to provoke? No Vogue reader is gonna want to buy those products when worn by a 10 year old ffs.

And the girls parents have made her the worlds top pedo pin up. She'll probably have all kinds of freaks stalking and obsessing over her for years to come. Great parenting.

Then there's just the overall message images like this send out. None positive.

Originally Posted by tmi

Every girl dream is to pinch a bit of mums make up and high heels, that said this girl is being expolited for money, she is being madeover to look like a girl nearly double they're age.

Originally Posted by Josy

She's far too young for that kind of exposure imo.

I gotta agree with the above ..... it's a

[Livia]

Ten years old. TEN! She looks like a streetwalker. What the **** were they thinking? Freakin' outrageous.

[Zippy]

Apparently her mother has now removed the girls Facebook pictures as a result of all the backlash and comments being made.

See, just attracting all the wrong kind of attention for your daughter. You should be protecting her in her childhood not exposing her to pedo's and public outcries.

[HBB1508]

Whatever happened to kids having a childhood why do mothers feel the need to live their lives through their kids - sickening I'm afraid.

[Chuck]

I'd say the parents are exploiting her more than Vogue.

This reminds of that vile show "Toddlers and Tiaras" in which frustrated mothers who wish they were as attractive as their children basicallly force little girls to take part in beauty competitions.