UK Advertising Watchdog Bans Two Ads By Zara Over 'Unhealthily Thin' Models
Britain's ASA banned two Zara ads for featuring "unhealthily thin" models, calling the images "irresponsible." Zara has removed the ads.
Britain's advertising regulator has banned two Zara advertisements for featuring models who appeared 'unhealthily thin", calling the images 'irresponsible," according to a report in news agency AFP.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) stated that the advertisements were in breach of social responsibility standards.
The advertising watchdog's action came after it received a complaint about the ads, which were published on Zara's website in May.
The AFP report, citing the ASA, mentioned that one photo showed a model with protruding collarbones, and her pose and styling made her look 'very slim." While in another image, another model appeared 'slightly gaunt". Her look was further intensified by her slicked-back hairstyle, lighting, and clothing, that made her seem 'noticeably thin".
Noting the ads could be perceived as promoting an unhealthy body image, the ASA ruled that they must not appear again in the same form.
In response, the Spanish clothing group said the models were medically certified as healthy and that their appearance complied with British guidelines. The fashion brand also stated that only minimal lighting and colour edits were applied to the images.
Complying to the ban order, Zara removed the ads after being alerted to the complaint and said it follows 'follow stringent guidelines and controls in the selection and photographing of models."
This ruling comes amid growing scrutiny of fashion advertising and body image representation. Earlier this year, the ASA took similar action against UK retailers Next and Marks & Spencer for showing models that appeared too thin.
view comments
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
19 minutes ago
- Mint
Sun TV Q1 profit dips 5.4 pc to ₹529.21 cr
New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) Sun TV Network Ltd has reported a decline of 5.38 per cent in consolidated profit after tax (PAT) at ₹ 529.21 crore for the first quarter ended June 30, 2025. The company had reported a PAT of ₹ 559.32 crore in the April-June period a year ago, Sun TV Network, one of the largest broadcasters, said in a regulatory filing on Thursday. Its revenue from operations was down 1.77 per cent to ₹ 1,290.28 crore in the June quarter. This was at ₹ 1,313.55 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. Sun TV Network's total expenses increased 10 per cent to ₹ 782 crore in the June quarter of FY'26. However, total income of Sun TV Networks, which includes other incomes, in the June quarter was up 1.28 per cent to ₹ 1,479.19 crore. Sun TV also owns the Sunrisers Hyderabad Cricket Franchise of the Indian Premier League and the Sunrisers Eastern Cape of Cricket South Africa's T20 League. "The results for the quarter ended June 30, 2025 include income from the Holding Company's Cricket Franchises ("Sunrisers Hyderabad" and "Sunrisers Eastern Cape") of ₹ 473.03 crore and corresponding costs of ₹ 256.09 crore," the company said. Moreover, subsequent to the quarter ended June 30, 2025, its holding company has entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) with the England and Wales Cricket Board to acquire 100 per cent equity in the Northern Superchargers Ltd, for a consideration of 100 million British Pounds (around ₹ 1,050 crore). Sun TV Network operates satellite television channels across seven languages -- Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bangla, Hindi and Marathi, and airs FM radio stations across India.
Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
Ad group WPP slashes dividend on tariffs and client losses to Publicis
Clients are spending less on advertising due to tariffs, WPP warned on Thursday, as it halved its interim dividend following big client losses to rival Publicis , showing the scale of the challenge faced by incoming CEO Cindy Rose . The British ad group, whose agencies include Ogilvy , VML and WPP Media, named Microsoft executive Rose as its new boss last month, days after it downgraded forecasts, blaming the loss of big accounts and the timing of business for a dire June. Rose has a difficult road ahead. While all advertising agencies are trying to stay relevant in the world of AI, which gives clients the tools to create and manage their own campaigns, WPP is faring worse than France's Publicis. Since losing its crown as the world's biggest ad group to Publicis last year, WPP has lost the Mars and Paramount accounts and some business from Coca-Cola to Publicis, prompting the French group to lift its financial guidance. Shares in WPP were down 2.5% in mid-morning deals, having earlier sunk to their lowest level since 2009. The stock has lost over 50% of its value in the year to date. "At one time WPP was considered a bellwether for the wider economy ... however, it is now so consumed by its own problems this wider relevance has diminished," AJ Bell head of financial analysis Danni Hewson said. CEO Mark Read , who hands over to Rose on September 1, said it was not the case that clients were deserting WPP. "Our industry is characterised by major pitches and some we win, like Amazon or Unilever, and others we're not successful," he said in an interview. "We have to look at business over a period of time." He said the phasing of business which caused declines in June was due to "one-off factors", but warned the general environment was tough. "I think a lot of clients are distracted by the macro, tariffs, figuring out what to do," he said, noting that consumer goods companies and carmakers were particularly affected. For the second quarter, WPP reported a 5.8% drop in underlying net sales, but said it was on track to meet its downgraded 2025 guidance for a fall of 3% to 5%. Its half-year reported operating profit dropped 48% to 221 million pounds ($295 million) and it also announced an interim dividend of 7.5 pence per share, half the level of a year earlier. The new CEO will review strategy and future capital allocation policy, WPP added.
Mint
38 minutes ago
- Mint
Rolls-Royce Nears Deal to Offload Its £4 Billion UK Pension Pot
Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc is nearing a deal to offload its UK pension pot to an insurer, a move that would take almost £4 billion in liabilities off the aircraft engine maker's balance sheet. The biggest UK manufacturer may announce a deal with pension buyout firm Pension Insurance Corp. as soon as this month, according to people familiar with the negotiations. Talks could still be delayed or fall apart, said the people, asking not be identified discussing private information. Representatives for Rolls-Royce and PIC declined to comment. Rolls-Royce has about 21,000 employees in the UK, out of a global workforce of 50,000 that make aircraft engines for Airbus SE and Boeing Co. as well as products from power systems to marine propulsion. Under Chief Executive Officer Tufan Erginbilgic, who joined from BP Plc at the start of 2023, the shares have enjoyed a record performance as he streamlines the business and the company benefits from surging demand for engines like the Trent XWB model powering the Airbus A350. According to Rolls-Royce's annual report for 2024, the UK defined-benefit pension had obligations of £3.96 billion and assets of £4.74 billion. The UK's pension buyout market, where firms pay insurers to take on their financial obligations to pensioners, has been booming in recent years as higher interest rates reduced the value of plans' liabilities. The improved funding levels have made buyouts more affordable and led many large British companies from pharmacy chain Boots to insurer RSA and lender NatWest Group Plc to offload these liabilities to focus on their core businesses. Demand for such risk-transfers is expected to reach £500 billion through 2033, according to consulting firm LCP. A buyout of Rolls-Royce's pension would be the largest UK risk-transfer so far this year. Earlier this week, Phoenix Group's Standard Life completed a £1.9 billion transaction for a part of insurance broker Marsh McLennan's UK pension. The deals have also become a hot corner of the insurance market. Last month, an insurer backed by Apollo Global Management Inc. agreed to buy PIC for about £5.7 billion from owners including a vehicle controlled by South African billionaire Johann Rupert, a unit of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and CVC Capital Partners Plc. With assistance from Kate Duffy and Anthony Palazzo. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
