Ralph Lauren Photoshopped Ad Saga - Model Filippa Hamilton Says She Was Fired for Being Too Fat!

by Melissa Schweiger (Subscribe to Melissa Schweiger's posts)
Posted Oct 14th 2009 at 2:40PM

Does she look fat to you? A natural and gorgeous Filippa Hamilton on the left; her airbrush horror on the right. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris, WireImage | Huffington Post

In a twist of irony, Filippa Hamilton, the model who was airbrushed to the point of emaciation in a recent Ralph Lauren ad, claims she was fired from the fashion company for being too fat!

In an exclusive interview with the New York Daily News, Filippa says she was released from her Ralph Lauren contract in April because she wasn't thin enough. "They fired me because they said I was overweight and couldn't fit in their clothes anymore," she tells the paper. Filippa, 23, had been working for Ralph Lauren since she was 15.

"I was shocked to see that super-skinny girl with my face," the 5-foot-10, 120 pound model says about when she saw her body digitally reduced in the now controversial Ralph Lauren Blue Label ad. "It's very sad, I think, that Ralph Lauren could do something like that," reports the Daily News.

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Would You Fire Filippa Hamilton?

Check out Filippa Hamilton's looks through the years. Does the former Ralph Lauren model look "overweight" or "healthy and gorgeous?"

Randy Brooke, WireImage

Getty

Would You Fire This Model? Filippa Hamilton Gallery

Filippa Hamilton attends the Dylan's Candy Bar relaunch celebration on October 27, 2008 in New York City.

Dimitrios Kambouris, WireImage

Celebrities attend the American Musuem Of Natural History Annual Winter Dance on February 13, 2007.

Bauer-Griffin

Filippa Hamilton wearing Ralph Lauren Spring 2006. on September 16, 2005.

Randy Brooke, WireImage

Filippa Hamilton wearing Ralph Lauren Spring 2005 in New York City, New York on September 15, 2004.

Randy Brooke, WireImage

Filippa Hamilton wearing Ralph Lauren Fall 2004 at the Dia Annex in New York City, New York on February 13, 2004.

Randy Brooke, WireImage

Filippa's lawyer, Geoffrey Menin, told the paper that "the image is a gross distortion of how she really looks and which we fear will be extremely damaging to her."

Polo Ralph Lauren released a statement to the Daily News saying that Filippa is "a beautiful and healthy" woman, but their relationship ended "as a result of her inability to meet the obligations under her contract with us."

Filippa also made an appearance on the Today Show this morning (clip below) to speak out about the incident.

Do we smell lawsuit?

Visit our sister site That's Fit to see which celebrity dropped four dress sizes the healthy way (sans Photoshop).

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Filed under: News
Tags: airbrush, airbrushing, distorted ad, DistortedAd, filippa hamilton, FilippaHamilton, fired, interview, model, photoshopped model, PhotoshoppedModel, ralph lauren, ralph lauren ad, RalphLauren, RalphLaurenAd

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READER COMMENTS

(122)Add A Comment

Amanda B., 10-14-2009, 3:13PM

Wow, she looks so much better in real life. I'm glad to see that's she's a healthy woman. Too bad she was fired.

Reply »

Diztrbd, 10-15-2009, 8:47AM

I'm not surprised they fired her for being too "fat". The modeling industry supports an unhealthy lifestyle. You can NOT be as skinny as they expect their models to be, and still remain healthy. We wonder why females' self-image is so screwed up these days. This is exactly why. The industry wants you to believe if you're heavier than 70 pounds, you're fat. If you can't clearly see every bone, you're too fat. Lord forbid you wear a size larger than zero. It's ridiculous. I'd love to see the day when girls aren't inspired by what they see in magazines. They'd have more faith, respect, and love for themselves. But, in today's world, it will never happen. I guess that's what we get for allowing such screwed up ideals.

ashley, 10-14-2009, 3:46PM

This recent firing seems rather odd to me considering that many fashion designers are opting for plus sized models- not that I would consider Philippa to be plus-sized by any means. I think she looks beautiful and healthy! For more info on plus size models in magazines, and fashion week check out this video- http://www.newsy.com/videos/fashion_s_new_line_up

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chris, 10-15-2009, 5:04AM

FAT???? Not by a long shot...Lauren need to get real!
The photoshoped pic is sickening. Too bad they don't read these posts.

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robtheblogger6, 10-14-2009, 8:10PM

Oh come on, they all know she's not fat. They either said that to piss her off or this is just a publicity stunt.

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Marshall, 10-14-2009, 9:59PM

Yes, you are right.

Uncle Eddy, 10-14-2009, 8:14PM

Ever since I had a good friend die from Anorexia it's been difficult for me to see how the media portrays women.

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smileygerdee13, 10-14-2009, 8:17PM

thts insane, she seems 2 have a normal weight and they fire her 4 tht? theres the modeling industry 4 u, where even designers dont live up 2 the skinny images. this needs 2 stop!

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Philip, 10-14-2009, 8:30PM

They should fire the guy who did the airbrushing. Not her.

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markie, 10-29-2009, 3:29AM

I think we the public allow designers to tell us what beauty is. She looks like a cartoon figure in the retouched picture...at first I thought it was a joke. Sorry guys you fired the wrong person. Curves make a woman and the entire filling east to west. Proud to be round, finally! I gained 30 pounds and I’m healthy feel good and look great. Hubbie takes me everywhere and loves my new look.

We are many types of people and we do not all look-a-like or need to be thin. It may be good for the designers they use less material cheap bastards and make tons of money in return scaring young girls into believing they need to be thin. Come on let’s be real and promote the real woman, Barbie dolls are plastic like that retouched picture. I Boycott designers that boycott real women.

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Karry, 10-14-2009, 8:48PM

What? You've got to be kidding. 5'10 and 120 pounds is fat? What is the matter with Ralph Lauren. That airbrushed picture is beyond weird! No wonder people fall for all the fad diets out there trying to look like that. (Notice all the comments where people want you to try their diet?)

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Lisa Iris, 10-14-2009, 9:35PM

The technique and term is "photoshopped", not "airbrushed", guys.

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spitinkitten2u, 10-15-2009, 12:24AM

The following quote was taken from the article itself:

"In a twist of irony, Filippa Hamilton, the model who was airbrushed to the point of emaciation in a recent Ralph Lauren ad"

They used the term "airbrushed". Who cares what it is called? The effect is still the same. She lookes hideous in the altered photo. Hope she gets something from Ralph in return for her humiliation.

robert, 10-14-2009, 9:01PM

Yeah...she is sort of fat...best choice was probably to let her go.

Reply »

Maricia12, 10-14-2009, 9:26PM

Sort of Fat, a size 4, you have got to be kidding. If not, you have a serious problem with your eyesight.

Marshall, 10-15-2009, 3:10AM

No.I disagree.

Debi Drecksler, 10-14-2009, 9:02PM

Please read my column addressing this issue at www.debidrecksler.com

http://debidrecksler.blogspot.com/2009/04/tell-truthwere-on-to-you.html

Reply »

Mamo, 10-14-2009, 9:16PM

I'm glad that airbrushed pic is not how she really looks. that would have been disgusting. I also like that she has eyebrows. No eyebrows is the ugliest/stupidest fad ever!

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Maricia12, 10-14-2009, 9:20PM

The model is beautiful and looks great with her own body. The air brushed photo is just creepy. I will not buy anything that Ralph Lauren puts out, including his perfume. Maybe he is happy designing clothes for size zero women but there are a lot more women that are of an average size that he should be trying to impress. He insults women everywhere and we can all put a stop to designer's like him by not buying their fashions. They like skinny women, let's see how they like skinny bank accounts. (-:

Reply »

o25scorpio, 10-14-2009, 9:41PM

I agree! The consumers have the power to stop buying the clothes from designers who are all about sending a negative body image to young girls. And yes, if the true reason this model was fired was because she was "too fat," Ralph Lauren is seriously diluted.

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