The mother of 10-year-old Thylane Lena-Rose Blondeau is ok with the photo shoot which appeared in this month’s issue of French Vogue, depicting her pre-teen in some rather adult poses.  It seems Veronika Loubry, a fashion designer, is more concerned with the materialism of the spread than its supposedly sexualised images of young Thylane.

“The only thing that shocks me about [it] is the necklace that she’s wearing, which is worth three million Euros,” Veronika told a French newspaper.  See?  She really does care.  I’m pretty sure no-one noticed the necklace though.

The Vogue spread featuring Thylane has been at the centre of a storm of controversy and debate around the sexualisation of young girls since it appeared earlier this month.

According to Good Morning America, consumers, psychologists and fashion industry folk worldwide have been weighing in with their opinions.  Some have deplored the Blondeau spread as “sad and repulsive,” whereas others said they found “nothing sexual” about it.

Really? But a ten-year-old is not styled lounging around in animal print stilettos and lipstick without any intention of making her look deceptively older and sexier than her years, surely? I’m talking styled by a team of professionals – not her eight-year-old sister (bad dress up games happen to good people every day).

Apparently Tylane has been in the fashion industry since the age of five, when she appeared on the catwalk for Jean-Paul Gaultier.  When it comes to modelling, this little girl knows what she’s doing.  As far as her self image is concerned, let’s hope her mother knows what she’s doing too.

[Source: abc]