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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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Model's Film Bares Industry's Secret Sex Assaults

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(Newser) – Naked photographers, orders to strip for no reason and sex assaults are a troubling part of the modeling business and involve some of the top names in fashion, according to a new documentary by a popular model. "Every girl I have talked to has a story," model Sara Ziff tells the Guardian. "It's all under the radar because people are embarrassed and because the people who are doing these things are much more powerful, and the model is totally disposable."

Ziff spent two years on the documentary Picture Me with her filmmaker boyfriend Ole Schell. The Guardian deems it "one of the best films about one of the few unregulated industries." The "predatory nature" of the business is growing worse as ever-younger girls are involved, according to Ziff. "When you pair a 15-year-old girl with a 45-year-old man who is trying to create a sexualized image, you are asking for trouble," she warned.

Model Sara Ziff attends the MIFF Awards Party Night in Milan, Italy, last month.
Model Sara Ziff attends the MIFF Awards Party Night in Milan, Italy, last month.   (Getty Images)
Sara Ziff and her filmmaker boyfriend brought their camera to shoots over two years to make their troubling documentary about the modeling business.
Sara Ziff and her filmmaker boyfriend brought their camera to shoots over two years to make their troubling documentary about the modeling business.   (Getty Images)
Hyper-sexualized images like these featured during Australia's fashion week last year are part of an atmosphere that includes sex harassment and assault of models, according to a new documentary.
Hyper-sexualized images like these featured during Australia's fashion week last year are part of an atmosphere that includes sex harassment and assault of models, according to a new documentary.   (Getty Images)
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Model Sara Ziff and boyfriend Ole Schell talk about their film about the modeling business, "Picture This."   (davidjrcom)

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4 comments
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Sauerkraut
Jun 7, 09 12:22 PM CDT
so they are paid to get naked. big whoop Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
2-bits
Jun 7, 09 1:32 PM CDT
I think you missed the point.
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+2
chas_m
Jun 7, 09 8:07 PM CDT
and WHOOSH it all flies right over the head of Sauerkraut. Reply
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+2
flame821
Jun 8, 09 8:27 PM CDT
Last I heard, sexual assault in general, much less on the underage carried a hefty jail term. I hope that one day these ego-driven old men get what's coming to them a la the District Attorney Reply
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