Girl Model strips away the façade of the modeling industry by following two people whose lives intersect because of it. Ashley is a deeply conflicted American former model-turned-scout. Thirteen-year-old Nadya, plucked from a remote Siberian village and promised a lucrative career in Japan, is her latest discovery. As the young girl searches for glamour and an escape from poverty, she confronts the harsh realities of a culture that worships youth — and an industry that makes perpetual childhood a globally traded commodity.
Girl Model's disturbing look behind the curtain raises important questions about responsibility that go beyond the people we see on screen. Viewers are confronted with a reality that forces all of us to ask who creates the demand for these models and who is responsible for their well-being. As an outreach tool, the film is an excellent springboard for discussions about the culture of fashion and the role its values play in our lives, media and economy.
Download the discussion guide for Girl Model: