I ranted about this to anyone that would listen when it first came out! And people wonder why (and how) pedophiles sexualize children....... This is not only ridiculous, but vomit inducing! We as an industry and society apparently not only condone the sexualization of babies, but publish and distribute visuals! And the copy across every page..."GIFT".....it all makes me so angry.

Kids. They should be enjoying their childhood instead of being sent around like a cash cow, no matter how agreeable they are.

Suzanne,
You are so right!! Also - I forgot to mention for those who don't know the French translation of Cadeaux is Gifts! Thanks for bringing that to attention! [This was January's issue right?]

AtelierGal,
Yup. Now disclaimer: my children have [and continue] to do some on-camera work [Sage is 17 now] but I would never agree to this content.

Shame on all involved. Makes me sick.

i think she is beautiful and she will be the next tyra banks!!!

I never said she was ugly. My stance is on the inappropriateness and irresponsibility of Vogue and all involved. I think the images can speak for themselves.

Tyra was scouted at 15. 10 years old is... well 10 years old. I bet Tyra would see fault with this imagery too.

I think she's so beautiful and amazing .. More photos of Thylane Lena Rose Blondeau ... http://t.co/E2LD1gg

As I said, you can disagree with me.

As a mother of three daughters [3, 14 & 17] - yes, generally all children are 'beautiful and amazing' but you take a 10 year old and play dress up with her to the degree that you have taken away her youth and innocence and disguise her as a 30-something year old woman, it's just wrong. For those who can't see that you are either young yourself or missing the boat completely on the messages they are sending.

I found this response on a news site.... basically says everything that I wanted to....

This photo is wrong on so many levels:
1. It sends a message to women that they are only valuable as humans if they remain looking impossibly young.
2. We wonder why there is such a huge problem with child pornography yet this is legal. It’s like a gateway drug…
3. This child will have unrealistic expectations of herself as she ages. The 1st wrinkle will be utterly traumatic.
4. This sort of thing breeds more delusional women like the ones who use their daughters as surrogates by entering them in beauty pageants for infants & children.
5. Its fakery – plain & simple! Meant only to sell something, it would seem that Mad Men are still with us & have yet to catch up to the last 50yrs. of social change.
It’s well past time that the fashion industry & ad agencies got a grip on reality. One size does NOT fit all. Women come in all heights & breast to hip ratios, yet other than plus sized models, runways are populated by tall human sticks. Dove’s recognition of this sort of portrayal is a ray of hope in a marketing world full of Users who see but are blind.
One of the most beautiful women I have ever seen was a woman her 80's & I'm not just being euphemistic.

Paula,

Thanks for posting this here! You're right - it's a great summary.

So that link from amanda somers has a pic of this little girl in a partial nudity shot. Are you kidding me? That is child pornography! I do not deny that she is a gorgeous little girl, but she is just that a little girl. I started modeling at 13, but wasn't doing half of the stuff this girl is doing until much older. I stuck to jcpenny and other age appropriate magazines and catalogs. This is appalling! Those heels and makeup? are you kidding me?

I hope that in the long run this little girl isn't permanently damaged or abused mentally or physically from all of this exposure. I know how creepy it felt at 13 when old men when stare at me and I wasn't exposing myself like that. Thanks andrea for your take on this crazy trend.

Charity,

It's really interesting to hear p.o.v's from models. Thank you.

As a hair & makeup artist for 20 years, I have never been on a set that had been this irresponsible. I have been on sets where we have finished our shoot and then the photographer had wanted me to, as a 'girl', ask the models to take off their tops for 'really beautiful pictures' and I have said no; adding that they should ring the models' agents and ask for permission. That usually shut that nonsense down.

I'm curious as to photographers opinions. I had one person 'tweet' me that although wrong, they felt it was a 'beautiful picture' - but on what level? I never responded back as my stomach just churned. How can this image be beautiful?

This is child exploitation. Plain and simple. Perhaps France has different laws, but this is just dangerous! As a mom and former Child and Youth Worker, I firmly believe we (EVERYBODY) is responsible for our children's influences and well being. This photo and the likes of Toddler and Tiaras teaches nothing but a sick idea of self worth and subservient sexuality. I'm cool with Porn, but not when it teeters on children who have no understanding of what sex really means.

I'm a 10 year old Polish model. But only for pink dresses, and other clothes. They only put a little make-up on and I have my hair in a ponytail or loose. My mother would never agree on that, and neither would I.

whats wrong with a little girl playing at dressing up? where does it stop, do we ban Wonder Woman, nurses or other costumes just because some one thinks they are sexually inappropiate. I made my 8yo daughter a French maid dress from an old black dress and assorted items. She loves it and often plays with it. A child sees nothing sexual in a playsuit

i'll tell you precisely what's wrong with a little girl playing dress up - nothing. and you are right, a child sees nothing sexual in a playsuit - when it IS a playsuit. However, what a pedophile sees is traumatically different than from what the child sees. that's why its up to responsible parents and adults to protect children at all costs - even during dress up time. the answer is not about banning anything - but a collective cry from responsible adults to the magazines that would exploit this innocence to make money from it (and that is EXACTLY what they are doing) should not be acceptable at all. besides being in poor taste, this cover and the other adds that objectify this child for simply her beauty and the temptation to shock viewers with the goal of making money is a drastic new low for the fashion industry. I do not approve.