ROME, July 11, 2007 (AFP) - Fifteen Fifteen models were kicked out of a Rome fashion show late Tuesday, july 10th for being too thin, sparking new debate on anorexia in the fashion industry. "I asked that girls with abnormal measurements shouldn't work ...(and) had to fire 15 who were under (French) size 36 (US size eight)," Raffaella Curiel told reporters.

Raffaella Curiel - Photo : AFP

"One girl fainted during the trials," he said, adding, "I had to give her a ham sandwich."

Curiel said his fashion house wanted to respect rules developed in December to combat anorexia among fashion models, but added: "It's not our fault if (agencies) send us girls who are too skinny."

Under the new rules, girls under 16 cannot take to the catwalk, and models must produce a certificate proving that they have no eating disorders.