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12. 10. 09. - 15:00

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12. 10. 09. - 15:00

Fed-up fashionistas choose plus size models

Fed-up fashion bosses have scrapped skinny models after searching far and wide for a new size-18 superstar.

German style magazine Brigitte held its own plus size beauty contest in Berlin after announcing a ban on super thin size zero models.

Now food sciences student Saskia Grimm, 21, has been hailed the new shape of German fashion after winning the contest.

More than 2,500 contestants were not only judged on their looks but how happy they are with their self-image and their body shapes.

Saskia said: "I have always been on the large size and wanted to show other women that they don't need to be ashamed. They should love their curves."

She has now been signed by the Louisa Models agency and will be doing a photo shoot for a new clothing catalogue next month.

The contest follows an announcement from Brigitte whose editor-in-chief said that he was fed up with retouching "anorexic" girls and claimed today's models weigh 23 per cent less than normal women.

"From 2010 we will no longer work with professional models," said Andreas Lebert, editor-in-chief.

He added he was "fed up" with having to re-touch pictures of underweight models who bore no resemblance to ordinary women.

"For years we've had to use Photoshop to fatten the girls up," he said. "Especially their thighs, and boobs. But this is disturbing and perverse and what has it got to do with our real reader?"

Austrian Times

Set up tax on financial transactions soon, says Katzian
The head of the Association of Private Employees (GPA-djp) has called for a quick introduction of a tax on financial transactions.

Pühringer rejects U-turn on rightist ball
Young Social Democrats (SPÖ) have appealed to Upper Austrian Governor Josef Pühringer not to attend the Burschenbundball in Linz this Saturday.

FPÖ under fire after trip to Grozny
The Freedom Party (FPÖ) has been harshly criticised for meeting with Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov.

WKO boss wants pension age hike incentives
Federal Economy Chamber (WKO) President Christoph Leitl has identified attempts to raise the average retirement age as the key issue regarding Austria’s budget.

Woman and child run over in Vienna
A woman and child have died in a road accident in Vienna, Austria. The lorry driver was making a right turn when he drove into a group of pedestrians leaving a 59-year-old and a 12-year-old dead. The mother of the school girl was left with serious injuries.

Schlecker says Austrian jobs are safe
The son of Schlecker founder Anton Schlecker has claimed that the company has no plans to sell its Austrian affiliate.

SPÖ sees smaller parliament as key signal
The general secretary of the Social Democrats (SPÖ) has argued his support for a reduction of the size of the parliament.

Austrian food to feature in organic trade fair
Austria is expected to be well represented at next week’s BioFach 2012 international organic trade fair in Nuremberg, Germany. Some 90 companies and organisations from the Austrian organic good sector will feature at the fair from 15 to 18 February.

Brothel for the homeless in Vienna
Homeless people are queueing up for free rooms in an Austrian brothel after owner Peter Laskaris said it would be unfair not to do everything he could during the current cold spell.

Deep-freeze snacks for orangutans in Schönbrunn
The lucky orangutans who take up residence in Europe’s oldest zoo have been indulging in a twice weekly take-away. Despite the trees in Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria now being completely bare the fury friends have fresh branches and leaves delivered twice a week.