French ministry hosts dwarf fashion show
France’s culture ministry hosted an entire dwarf fashion show on Friday evening off the normal Paris Fashion Week calendar.
The government is supporting an initiative to promote alternative standards of beauty in an industry that promotes being tall and thin.
Fifteen women dwarves all measuring under 4 feet 4 inches (1.22 meters, 10.16 centimeters) trod the boards proudly in the latest colorful spring-summer fashions, designed by a team of designers for the show.
Organizers accuse the French fashion industry of “discriminatory diktats” that exclude short people from being considered beautiful.
- A model hits the catwalk at the French Ministry of Culture during the dwarf fashion show in Paris, France, Friday Oct. 2, 2015. The show is an event organizers say is aimed at highlighting the elitism and prejudice that the model industry encourages in its depiction of bodies. It is presented during the Paris Fashion Week but is not part of it. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
- A model gets ready before hitting the catwalk at the French Ministry of Culture during the dwarf fashion show in Paris, France, Friday Oct. 2, 2015. The show is an event organizers say is aimed at highlighting the elitism and prejudice that the model industry encourages in its depiction of bodies. It is presented during the Paris Fashion Week but is not part of it. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
- Models get ready before hitting the catwalk at the French Ministry of Culture during the dwarf fashion show in Paris, France, Friday Oct. 2, 2015. The show is an event organizers say is aimed at highlighting the elitism and prejudice that the model industry encourages in its depiction of bodies. It is presented during the Paris Fashion Week but is not part of it. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
- Shoes lay on the ground as models get ready before hitting the catwalk at the French Ministry of Culture during the dwarf fashion show in Paris, France, Friday Oct. 2, 2015. The show is an event organizers say is aimed at highlighting the elitism and prejudice that the model industry encourages in its depiction of bodies. It is presented during the Paris Fashion Week but is not part of it. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
- Models get ready before hitting the catwalk at the French Ministry of Culture during the dwarf fashion show in Paris, France, Friday Oct. 2, 2015. The show is an event organizers say is aimed at highlighting the elitism and prejudice that the model industry encourages in its depiction of bodies. It is presented during the Paris Fashion Week but is not part of it. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
- Models get in an elevator moments before hitting the catwalk at the French Ministry of Culture during the dwarf fashion show in Paris, France, Friday Oct. 2, 2015. The show is an event organizers say is aimed at highlighting the elitism and prejudice that the model industry encourages in its depiction of bodies. It is presented during the Paris Fashion Week but is not part of it. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
- Models get ready before hitting the catwalk at the French Ministry of Culture during the dwarf fashion show in Paris, France, Friday Oct. 2, 2015. The show is an event organizers say is aimed at highlighting the elitism and prejudice that the model industry encourages in its depiction of bodies. It is presented during the Paris Fashion Week but is not part of it. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
- Models get ready before hitting the catwalk at the French Ministry of Culture during the dwarf fashion show in Paris, France, Friday Oct. 2, 2015. The show is an event organizers say is aimed at highlighting the elitism and prejudice that the model industry encourages in its depiction of bodies. It is presented during the Paris Fashion Week but is not part of it. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
- A model hits the catwalk at the French Ministry of Culture during the dwarf fashion show in Paris, France, Friday Oct. 2, 2015. The show is an event organizers say is aimed at highlighting the elitism and prejudice that the model industry encourages in its depiction of bodies. It is presented during the Paris Fashion Week but is not part of it. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
- A model hits the catwalk at the French Ministry of Culture during the dwarf fashion show in Paris, France, Friday Oct. 2, 2015. The show is an event organizers say is aimed at highlighting the elitism and prejudice that the model industry encourages in its depiction of bodies. It is presented during the Paris Fashion Week but is not part of it. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
- A model hits the catwalk at the French Ministry of Culture during the dwarf fashion show in Paris, France, Friday Oct. 2, 2015. The show is an event organizers say is aimed at highlighting the elitism and prejudice that the model industry encourages in its depiction of bodies. It is presented during the Paris Fashion Week but is not part of it. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
- Models get lined-up before hitting the catwalk at the French Ministry of Culture during the dwarf fashion show in Paris, France, Friday Oct. 2, 2015. The dwarf fashion show is an event organizers say is aimed at highlighting the elitism and prejudice that the model industry encourages in its depiction of bodies. It is presented during the Paris Fashion Week but is not part of it. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
- Models pose for a selfie before hitting the catwalk at the French Ministry of Culture during the dwarf fashion show in Paris, France, Friday Oct. 2, 2015. The dwarf fashion show is an event organizers say is aimed at highlighting the elitism and prejudice that the model industry encourages in its depiction of bodies. It is presented during the Paris Fashion Week but is not part of it. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
- A model hits the catwalk at the French Ministry of Culture during the dwarf fashion show in Paris, France, Friday Oct. 2, 2015. The dwarf fashion show is an event organizers say is aimed at highlighting the elitism and prejudice that the model industry encourages in its depiction of bodies. It is presented during the Paris Fashion Week but is not part of it. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)