Finally, a headline I cheered at reading: 'Skinny models banned'. An upcoming fashion catwalk event in Madrid has banned all models with a BMI of 18 or less. The healthy range is 20 - 25. It's about goddamn time that someone, somewhere, tried to stem the flow of images of appallingly thin women that flood the media the world over. Very, very few women are that thin naturally. It is irresponsible and outright dangerous to continue to proffer the size 6, size 4, size 0 women as the ideal way to look. Teenage girls are starving themselves, developing all manner of eating and anxiety disorders, as are adult women.

I am so tired of the cult of celebrity where the outward and the materialistic are praised and sought. There is nothing wrong with being slim, looking pretty and wearing nice clothes and makeup, but as incidentals to everything else that goes on in your life. It's when it becomes the sole focus of your life, when it's pushed at you every time you open a magazine, turn the TV on, surf the internet, so much that you can't but help think that maybe if I did lose a few pounds, or buy that new designer bag then I'd be happier. It's such empty, unfulfilling 'happiness'.

Success and happiness, we are told, are equated to being thin, rich and beautiful. Whatever happened to developing as an individual? To spending as much time and money on your mind and heart as on your wardrobe, accessories and beauty regime? To building relationships with your friends and family, and spending time and energy giving to others, instead of focussing on me me me? When did the media switch from the occasional celebrity story to being dominated by celebrity 'news' and proferring them as (useless) role models? Where have all the normal, intelligent, capable female role models disappeared to? Bring them back, please! The women of the world need to know it's ok to be a size 14, that if you don't wear prada people will still be your friends, that happiness is something you make, not buy. Rant over.