Super-skinny TopShop mannequin sparks outrage after customer posts photo on Twitter

A PHOTO of a size eight TopShop customer beside a super-skinny mannequin has caused outrage after being posted online. You’ve never seen legs this spindly before.

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A PHOTO of a size eight TopShop customer beside a super-skinny mannequin has caused outrage after it was posted on Twitter.

Shopper Georgia Bibby’s legs look far larger than those of the tall, spindly shop dummy.

The image was retweeted thousands of times, and social media users vented their frustration at seeing unnatural-looking mannequins in high street stores.

The girl on the left is a size 8/10. #Topshop #poorbodyimage #irresponsible #fashion #highstreet 😪 pic.twitter.com/mYbCZMYeSI

— Becky Leigh Hopper (@BeckyLHopper) October 27, 2014

Becky Leigh Hopper tweeted the photo of her friend in TopShop in Hull, England, along with the hashtags #poorbodyimage and #irresponsible.

The 23-year-old pair quickly received an overwhelming response, with Twitter users commenting that it was “shocking” and “wrong”.

Many observed that the size zero model looked unhealthy and could promote eating disorders.

But the tweet also prompted a backlash from others, who said the photo was “body-shaming” people who are naturally slender.

I'm sorry @Topshop but how is this size zero mannequin sending a remotely safe & responsible image? Remove. Simple. pic.twitter.com/UWmBw274A2

— Gemma Oaten (@gemmaoaten) October 29, 2014

@BeckyLHopper Just read about your #Topshop picture! I'm so pleased it's gone global. It's about time realistic sizings were mandatory!

— Brodii Lynn Simpson (@Snodii13) October 29, 2014

@BeckyLHopper loved your blog post, have often thought the same about mannequins. @Topshop should take note!

— Eve (@spudlover82) October 29, 2014

Becky wrote in a blog post: “The mannequins were thinner than any human being I have seen in my life.

“We believe that all girls are beautiful and all should be comfortable in their own skin, whether they be a size 4 or a 24.

“The mannequins in Topshop are all this size and misrepresent a normal body image for their demographic.”

Georgia has now received tweets attacking her over her weight.

@rostinted @danwootton @BeckyLHopper It's awful that a brand as big as Topshop is promoting this image as 'the norm'-they should know better

— Kate Allen (@KCAllen_xo) October 29, 2014

@georgiabibby @BeckyLHopper whats so silly is that the clothes don't even fit the mannequin it's that unrealistic 😂 they adjust & pin to fit

— jessie (@wotm8) October 29, 2014

@BeckyLHopper My 4 yr old's legs aren't even that skinny. It's absolutely frightening.

— Lauralou (@Lauralou_m) October 29, 2014

It is not the first time fashion chains have been called out for the minuscule size of their mannequins.

A scientific study more than 20 years ago showed that if mannequins were real, they would not have periods. In 2007, Spain asked its country’s fashion retailers to fatten up their window dummies to size 10 or above as one of many measures to combat anorexia.

And experts continue to raise concerns over the super-thin models on which mannequins are based.

TopShop has come under fire in the past over the issue, as have other high street stores.

Earlier this month, fashion retailer Glassons was forced to remove dummies with visibly protruding ribs after an outcry from customers.

TopShop have yet to respond to the latest tweet.

Check out this mannequin at the clothing store @Glassons Purging is in this season! xx pic.twitter.com/lojSGzlt7e

— Emillionär (@EmilyRobins) October 9, 2014

It appears we taking one step forward but two steps back with size zero expectations #topshop #unrealistic #bodyimage pic.twitter.com/i3JTdz1UbE

— Sarah Maloney (@SarahMolser) April 8, 2013