"Fat" Ralph Lauren Model Fired, Photoshopped

Guess which one is Photoshopped

This Ralph Lauren model was fired earlier this year for being too fat. At 5' 10" and 120 lbs, Filippa Hamilton (who was with the company since 2002), tells the Daily News, "They fired me because they said I was overweight and I couldn't fit in their clothes anymore."

To add insult to injury, a Ralph Lauren Blue Label ad she appeared in popped up in Japan (and on the internet) last week severely Photoshopped, leading to an onslaught of criticism of the company, and in turn, the company went through a period of denial and threatened anyone who posted the image. Finally, however, they released a statement admitting they turned Hamilton into a bobblehead. It said, in part: "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. "

They also said that Hamilton is a "beautiful and healthy" woman... but she's still fired due to failure to meet contract obligations (to look like Skeletor in real life?). Hamilton declares: "I'm very proud of what I look like, and I think a role model should look healthy." Indeed. She appeared on the Today Show this morning, saying that she hadn't even gained weight since the contract was signed. Cosmo editor-in-chief, Kate White, was also on hand, offering Hamilton an 8-page spread in the magazine.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on October 14, 2009 11:28 AM

Comments [rss]

kat

I just made a call to Ralph Lauren and left a message for the CEO regarding the firing of Filippa Hamilton and the GROSS distortion of her image in their advertising. Let your voices be heard! It takes 2 minutes!!! Phone: 212-318-7000, ext 7417 (Asst to CEO). Fax: 212-318-769017. Tell them you will not support any mags that they advertise in or buy their clothes. RL accounts for 1/3 of my wardrobe, and I just packed everything away. PS butterbutter is an idiot and probably a RL employee. If they wanted to let her go, buy her out of her contract, and don't use her body in such a gross and distorted way!

kat

I just made a call to Ralph Lauren and left a message for the CEO regarding the firing of Filippa Hamilton and the GROSS distortion of her image in their advertising. Let your voices be heard! It takes 2 minutes!!! Phone: 212-318-7000, ext 7417 (Asst to CEO). Fax: 212-318-769017. Tell them you will not support any mags that they advertise in or buy their clothes. RL accounts for 1/3 of my wardrobe, and I just packed everything away. PS butterbutter is an idiot and probably a RL employee. If they wanted to let her go, buy her out of her contract, and don't use her body in such a gross and distorted way!

carbomb

smile you skowling skank

wildinaustin

Fashionistas like their models really, really thin so that the clothes will wear the woman instead of the women wearing the clothes. Also, most of these clothes wouldn't look good on anything but a stick. Real women have breasts and buttocks, real models do not.

kat

If they wanted to let her go, buy her out of her contract, and don't use her body in such a gross and distorted way! This isn't even the proportions of a waif model, just really bad photo shop.

AmbitiousDaisy

Weight has become the new predictor to separate us. The haves are skinny and have expensive clothes and the have-nots have bellies. Whatever.

It's just another way for companies to define reality and brainwash individuals so they can profit from them. They're selling lifestyle brands...not clothes...same as american apparel, gap, all of them...selling lifestyles so people can have the illusion of being a part of something...

How about these models getting real jobs instead of being biological mannequins? The models make more money than the kids who MAKE the clothes...think about how that makes sense...

She's a beautiful girl, but this is an opportunity for her to actually DO something with her life...Maybe she'll go somewhere she might be useful to society...like a supermarket bagging my groceries or maybe a library helping children read

green

WHY is this news?????!!!!! Who gives a %%#%%@ anything goes in the fashion industry. Move on with your life.

invisibleman

sick,look at her,that flannel and those jeans shes wearing look like they are going to burst

zodak

someone needs to feed that girl, the today show couldn't give her a bagel?

Guest

She's hot and healthy.

butterbutter

She was sitting down in the interview. It would have been nice to see her stand up, and may be wear a bikini, so we can see if she's carrying a wide load.

WorksInDUMBO

Hamilton declares: "I'm very proud of what I look like, and I think a role model should look healthy."

Since when are Ralph Lauren models considered ROLE MODELS?

oofstar

5'8" and 120 pounds is not healthy. it's a real disservice to people everywhere when numbers like that are shown as 'healthy' and a woman talks about being 'proud' of that weight as opposed to being even skinnier.

but to be honest, i bet she doesn't weigh 120. people don't know what weights look like at all, because of all the damned lying all the time.

NannyState

Maybe Ralph Lauren should stick to clothes for fat guys.

nyorker555

whoever at RL thought that middle pic looked "good" should be fired and will likely be fired after this negative press.

felixthecat2

I think they fired her because she doesn't look fresh anymore. She obviously isn't fat.

kat

If she didn't look fresh then why did they use her face?

butterbutter

As people age their body proportion changes. They might not gain weight, but it's distributed differently.

I think she might weight the same as she did, but may be since her body changed shape, she didn't fit into the clothes anymore.

I think RL is ok for letter her go. If she didn't fit, she didn't fit.

RL never said she was fat. She said she was fat. RL only said she didn't fit into the samples anymore, which would be true if her shape changed.

Regarding the photoshopped ad. Someone in the art department should have caught that before it went to print. However if it was in Japan they might have seen it as a sort of Anime treatment.

kat

If they wanted to let her go, buy her out of her contract, and don't use her body in such a gross and distorted way! BTW, this is VERY bad photoshop, and the proportions aren't even that of a waif model.

ak

You: "RL never said she was fat. She said she was fat. RL only said she didn't fit into the samples anymore, which would be true if her shape changed."

The article: At 5' 10" and 120 lbs, Filippa Hamilton (who was with the company since 2002), tells the Daily News, "They fired me because they said I was overweight and I couldn't fit in their clothes anymore."

You: "I think RL is ok for letter her go."

English: I think RL is ok for letting her go.

Actuality: Ralph Lauren is way out of whack.