Fury as 12-year-old 'model' fronts world fashion show

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dailymail.co.uk reports that Maddison Gabriel was picked as the official ambassador of Gold Coast Fashion Week in Australia and has worn a number of revealing outfits for the Queensland event.

But the country's Prime Minister John Howard criticised the decision saying it was unacceptable:

"Catapulting girls as young as 12 into something like that is outrageous."

He wants Australia to follow the example set by Europe and ban models younger than 16 from appearing on catwalks.

"There should be age limits, I mean there has to be, we do have to preserve some notion of innocence in our society,"

But the young model herself, who just turned 13 yesterday, believed she deserved to win the competition to become the star of the show.

"I believe that I can fit into women's clothes. I can model women's clothes, so I should be able to do it," she said.

"It doesn't matter about age, it matters that you can do the job. Modelling is all I've wanted to do since I was six - I don't think I'm too young."

Apparently, the industry agrees. She has already signed an exclusive media deal and contracted an experienced celebrity agent since the controversy broke.

Her mom defended the child's right to model and even went so far as to demand an apology from the Prime Minister.

"I believe the Prime Minister is getting very doddery," she said.

"He does not know exactly what 13 and 14-year-old girls are like. I used to vote for him. We're trying to get our teenage daughters to act older. I am so happy that I've got a daughter who has got a good head on her shoulders."

She wont be modelling swimwear or lingerie, but even so I think that a 12 year old needs to be a 12 year old. They are not yet equipped to make a decision like that. The only person winning is the fashion industry.