BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

20/12/2005

Model Ban

THE President of Belarus has forbidden Cindy Crawford and Kate Moss from the capital city, Minsk, along with "French women with grubby faces" and now, walking down the streets of Minsk you will be struck by the lack of photographs of internationally renowned supermodels. In April, the President introduced legislation banning the use of foreign models in advertising campaigns. The new law is causing havoc with the advertising industry which is now forced to prove Belarussian citizenship of any models used. International companies such as Renault and L'Or゛l are resorting to creating advertising images without people. Chaos has also arisen for the modelling schools which must now apply for a licence which the Government has been less than forthcoming to issue. Although these actions will potentially give Belarussian citizens more opportunities, it is unlikely that Belarus will become the new fashion capital of the world since any models with great potential will take their talent to Paris or New York. With this in mind, the fashion industry must be prepared for the possible influx of Belarussian models: Olga Antropova, Miss Belarus herself, has apparently already accepted a contract with a Miami-based modeling agency. (December 20 2005, AM)

Source:

http://www.vogue.co.uk/vogue_daily/story/story.asp?stid=31418