British Vogue’s editorial director, Chioma Nnadi, voiced concern about the resurgence of ultra-thin models in the fashion industry, noting a potential link to the rising use of anti-obesity drugs like Ozempic. In an interview with the BBC, Nnadi highlighted the troubling reemergence of “skinny” as a beauty trend, a shift that many in the fashion world hoped had been left in the past. “We’re in this moment where the pendulum is swinging back to skinny being ‘in,’ and often these things are treated like a trend, which we don’t want them to be,” she said.
Nnadi, who became British Vogue’s editor in October 2023, attributed part of the shift to drugs such as Ozempic, originally designed to treat diabetes but now widely used for weight loss. “We’re seeing a lot of celebrities who are using it,” she observed, acknowledging how this trend influences cultural perceptions of body image.
While British Vogue continues to champion body diversity by featuring models of all shapes and sizes, Nnadi expressed frustration with fashion’s structural constraints, such as sample sizing, which limit body diversity on the catwalk. Despite some progress, she noted that many runway models remain “especially thin.” Nnadi added, “It’s not something that we, as a magazine, can change on our own,” pointing out that the ultimate change lies with designers and their approach to body-inclusive fashion.
The resurgence of thin models has reignited concerns about body image, recalling the 1990s and early 2000s “heroin chic” trend embodied by figures like Kate Moss. While some fashion brands have made strides toward inclusivity, Nnadi, 44, believes there is still work to be done to reflect diverse body types across the industry.
