Miu Miu advertising controversy or advocacy against young models?

Hailee Steinfeld, the 14-year-old star of the blockbuster hit "True Grit" was named the face of Prada brand, Miu Miu, this year. However, her newest advertisement for the brand, depicting her in vintage-inspired garb sitting next to train tracks, is receiving serious backlash and has been banned in Britain.



According to theimproper.com, one of the main arguments is that the ad (shown above)promotes, "youth suicide." However, no train is in sight in the distance, she appears to be more tired than melancholy, and isn't even directly on the tracks. Is this really the main concern or is there another dislike that is fueling the controversy?

Others are not as angry about the ad as they are about its model. Many are generally and uproariously disturbed at the use of young models on the whole; numerous children, as young as 10 years old, are being used in major fashion magazines, in adult fashion advertising campaigns, and are even walking the runway. Liz Jones, style director London’s Daily Mail, compared the use of such models to something as bad as underage smoking and drinking.

Personally, I think that there are pros and cons to every story. First off, getting girls involved so young does, in a sense, take away their childhood. Society tends to see the bad effects of young Hollywood actors who make it big very young and then go into a downward spiral once puberty, and reality, hits (Lindsay Lohan, anyone?). But at the same time, numerous successful models and actresses have also come out of Hollywood. As far as the fashion world goes, Kate Moss, who started modeling at the age of 14, is one of the biggest models in the world--not to mention she is still walking the runway and as relevant as she was when she made it onto the scene. While I am not crazy about the idea of a girl 2 years older than my niece posing in major fashion magazines, as long as it is not pushing the line of provocative I think it is just as cute as a J. Crew for Kids or babyGap ad. If that is what the mini model or young actress wants to do (by her own free will & sans pressure from anyone) I see it as no harm, no foul. Some children are more mature than others, and if they are already acting I don't see a problem.

As for the Miu Miu ad, I think it is gorgeous. Would it have been prettier with a much older model? Appealed to me more? Undoubtedly, but kudos to Harriet for pulling it off with true class.