Filippa Hamilton

'Skinny Model' Fired for Being Overweight

October 14, 2009 Candid Confessions

Model Filippa Hamilton claims she was fired for being fat

The model featured in the digitally-altered Ralph Lauren ad has been fired -- she says for being too heavy!

Filippa Hamilton appeared to be incredibly thin in the ad, but says she was fired because she was too big.

"They fired me because they said I was overweight and I couldn't fit in their clothes anymore," Hamilton tells the Daily News. "I was shocked to see that super skinny girl with my face."

Hamilton, 23, is only 120 lbs. and has worked for Ralph Lauren since 2002. "I think they owe American women an apology, a big apology," the model said. "I'm very proud of what I look like, and I think a role model should look healthy."

Filippa has reportedly lawyered up. "Extra" wants to know -- Do you think she should sue?

Blog and Ralph Lauren Fight over Thin Model Ad

October 08, 2009 Star Justice

Funny vs. fashion -- it's an internet brawl of super skinny proportions! BoingBoing.net and Ralph Lauren are bickering over an ad featuring a model who appears to have been photoshopped to look incredibly thin.

Rail-thin bodies in the media have been under fire for portraying unhealthy role models and contributing to the development of eating disorders.

A post on Boing Boing slams the Lauren ad because the model's unnaturally thin figure isn't even in proportion to her head. The site posted the ad with model Filippa Hamilton and the caption, "Dude, her head's bigger than her pelvis."

Blog and Ralph Lauren Fight over Skinny Model Ad

Ralph Lauren responded by accusing the website of copyright infringement for publishing the ad. Boing Boing claims this is "classic fair use: a reproduction 'for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting.'"

On Thursday, Polo Ralph Lauren released the following statement about the retouched ad: "For over 42 years we have built a brand based on quality and integrity. After further investigation, we have learned that we are responsible for the poor imaging and retouching that resulted in a very distorted image of a woman's body. We have addressed the problem and going forward will take every precaution to ensure that the caliber of our artwork represents our brand appropriately."

Underweight models were banned from the fashion week catwalk in Madrid back in 2006. More recently, Miss Universe Australia was criticized for her skeletal frame during the competition.

"Extra" wants to know: Does this distort your image of beauty?