BrigitteBrigitte, Germany’s most popular women’s magazine, had banned professional models from its pages in favor of “real women” in an attempt to combat an unhealthy standard of rail-thin beauty that it says has isolated its readers. The editor-in-chief of Germany’s bimonthly Brigitte told reporters that the magazine will feature a mix of prominent women and regular readers in photo spreads for everything from beauty to fashion to fitness. Andreas Lebert said the move is a response to readers increasingly saying that they are tired of seeing “protruding bones” from models who weigh far less than the average woman. “We will show women who have an identity – the 18-year-old student, the head of the board, the musician, the football player,” Andreas Leberts said in Hamburg, where the magazine, published by Gruner+Jahr, is based. On its website, Brigitte announced to readers that “A New Epoch has Begun” and women to submit a portrait and full-body photos of themselves to considered for a photo shoot. “We will pay the same fee as we would for professional models,” Lebert said, adding that the magazine views the move as an investment. Lebert said his magazine’s move “should not be understood as a declaration of war on the modeling profession. We are not going to become a magazine for plus-sizes,” he said. Brigitte has suffered a steady drop in readers over the past 20 years but, with more than 719,000 copies sold per issue, it remains Germany’s most-read women’s magazine. Louisa von Minckwitz, who owns the German-based Louisa Models agency, told The Associated Press she believed the ban on models was a marketing gag that would not last for long. “Women want to see clothes on a beautiful, aesthetically pleasing person,” von Minckwitz said. Info from The Huffington Post and Jezebel Here’s a look at some of the pages:

Brigitte

Adding substance: every model gets her name, age and profession stated

Brigitte

These women are mounted officers!

Brigitte

The magazine hasn’t sworn off airbrushing, but these women look so much more natural than what we’re used to seeing!

Brigitte

At the end of the articles even more biographical info is given

Brigitte
Brigitte

No props – these are her actual children!

Brigitte Brigitte These images look fantastic! Not to mention, the woman on the cover looks natural and gorgeous – and a bit older than the 20-something year old women we see on American magazine covers! I love that the magazine is using its actual readers and allowing the women it portrays to have an identity instead of just being a body. I only wish that there was more diversity with ethnicity and size. Regardless, it’s a huge step from a widely popular magazine and I hope they keep it up. I wish this magazine was in America so I could read it. I think this is so amazing and inspirational! This is a similar direction that I hope to take Beutiful Magazine to one day.

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