Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Inside Cologne’s Laxness Arena, a 15,000-strong crowd of fashionistas eagerly awaited the arrival of Stefanie Giesinger. The lithe 17-year-old from Kaiserslautern was about to be declared winner of “Germany’s Next Top Model” – an annual event hosted by the nation’s fashion trade entrepreneur, and veteran supermodel, Heidi Klum.
Barely a mile away last Thursday, 120 onlookers stood in drizzling rain to watch an impromptu show by “Pinkstinks” in front of Cologne’s famous cathedral. The group is committed to exposing what it claims is the fashion industry’s brainwashing and exploitation of young women. It recently protested against the opening of a “Barbie Doll” museum for young girls in Berlin. “Nobody has the right to do business with the dreams, the search for identity and uncertainties of young girls,” an angry Pinkstinks spokeswoman said.
The German media takes such accusations seriously. Five years ago the women’s magazine Brigitte decided to stop using waif-like models for its fashion pages and recruit “real people” instead, with chubbier non-models from all walks of life advertising clothes. But Brigitte has abandoned the concept after subscription rates dropped by around 22 per cent.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments