Ozempic driving ‘concerning’ return of skinny models, says Vogue editor
Ozempic could be behind a “concerning” return of skinny models, the editor of British Vogue magazine has said.
Chioma Nnadi said that Ozempic, which has been lauded by many celebrities as a wonder drug, could be causing the “pendulum to swing back to skinny”.
Asked about thin models dominating catwalks this fashion season, Ms Nnadi told the BBC’s Today programme: “We should be all concerned. I am very concerned, and I know many of my colleagues are very concerned, and I do think perhaps Ozempic has something to do with it.
“We’re part of this moment where we’re seeing the pendulum swing back to skinny being in, and often these things are treated like a trend, and we don’t want them to be.”
Ozempic is a formulation of the drug semaglutide, which is used to treat type 2 diabetes and is prescribed off-label for weight loss. In the UK, semaglutide is licensed for weight management and treating obesity under the brand name Wegovy.
Semaglutide is a synthetic drug that mimics the effects of a naturally occurring intestinal hormone called GLP-1, which is released after a meal, making users feel full.
Ms Nnadi added: “I don’t think we can pin it on any one thing. I do think that Ozempic has something to do with it, because we’re seeing a lot of celebrities who are using it, and I think there’s a shift in the culture around how we think about our bodies, and how we address our bodies.”
She said she believes it is important that “all bodies are represented”, but conceded that many designers make their runway collections in “sample size”, which is between sizes six and four, limiting the models who can fit in the clothes.
“We as a magazine cannot change it on our own, because obviously, the designers are making clothes at a sample size,” she said. “It’s something that is really worth talking about in fashion right now, because it is a real problem.”
Ms Nnadi, who was speaking before the launch of the Vogue: Inventing the Runway exhibition at London’s Lightroom on Wednesday, said that there was not enough “body diversity representation” this past season.
She added: “It felt almost like at certain shows the models were especially thin. It’s hopefully not something that will endure, and it’s something that will hopefully be a wake-up call, and that this negative trend will not progress.”
The immersive exhibition, which explores the history of the modern runway, will be open until April 26.
Lack of representation for larger sizes
Ms Nnadi also said the magazine had championed certain plus-sized models such as Paloma Elsesser and Precious Lee on its cover, but conceded there wasn’t enough representation of the kind across the industry.
A Vogue Business Spring/Summer 2025 size inclusivity report into body shapes seen on the catwalks across New York, London, Milan and Paris found that of 8,763 looks across 208 shows and presentations, 94.9 per cent were a size US 0-4 (UK 4-8).
It found that 0.8 per cent were plus-size (US 14+) and 4.3 per cent were mid-size (US 6-12).
Commenting on the report, Emma Davidson, the fashion features director at Dazed magazine, told Vogue: “For me, it was the worst season in a long time.
“It has felt like brands were turning their back on inclusive casting for a while, but this season, I sat in my seat a few times at shows where bigger models had previously been present, and it was so disheartening to see no representation – this season feels like the nail in the coffin.”