THE HEALTH INITIATIVE, a pact between the 19 international editors of Vogue to encourage a healthier approach to body image within the industry, is unveiled today in the June issue of Vogue.

"As one of the fashion industry's most powerful voices, Vogue has a unique opportunity to engage with relevant issues where we feel we can make a difference," editor Alexandra Shulman explains in her editor's letter, adding that the Initiative will "build on the successful work that the Council of Fashion Designers of America with the support of American Vogue in the US and the British Fashion Council in the UK have already begun to encourage a healthier approach to body image within the industry".

In line with the Health Initiative, the international issues of Vogue jointly pledge - among other things - to "work with models who, in our view, are healthy and help to promote a healthy body image" and to "be ambassadors for the message of healthy body image".

The British Fashion Council's Model Health Inquiry was finalised in 2007 and it continues to promote model health through its on-going Model Programme. Recommendations in place since this date, which are also included in London Fashion Week's designer contracts, comprise: no under 16 models on London's catwalks, healthy food and drink available to all backstage, the introduction of a model relaxation zone, Equity becoming a representative body for models, and bi-annual meetings of the BFC's Model Programme Committee to discuss any issues that may arise.

"Vogue believes that good health is beautiful," Jonathan Newhouse, Condé Nast International chairman, said. "Vogue editors around the world want the magazines to reflect their commitment to the health of the models who appear on the pages and the wellbeing of their readers."

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