OPNION | Before you start thinking that I may be overly conservative or moralising, look at the photo below out of January 2011 French Vogue (leave a comment below).

Provocatively gazing at us in four inch heels and wearing a $4.3 million necklace is Thylane Lena-Rose Blondeau. Yes the high heels do not fit her- as this model was born in 2001.

At almost 11, Blondeau is France’s rising fashion star. Undeniably beautiful she is quickly gaining comparison to a young Brigitte Bardot. 

With her signature pout and piercing blue eyes the child already has a lustrous modelling catalogue, most of which is age appropriate.

I have discovered the model just recently and although the Vogue shots are a year old they stimulate the question- how young is too young? Is this child being exploited? Is she being forced to grow up and assume a sexualised role? Is it an innocent game of dress up? Is it healthy for other young girls to look up to her?

The fashion industry, being such a cut throat habitat for adult models is no place for a 10 year old child, no matter how à la mode.

Models now a days appear to have longer careers on and off the catwalk and many make comebacks well in to their 40s, such as Claudia Schiffer.

Furthermore, curvier models are established in some fashion circles. However this was not always the case, Heidi Klum’s career did not sky- rocket in America in the mid- nineties due to her voluptuous frame. Although dubbed plus size,high-end fashion models are mostly Australian sizes 6-8 at the most.

Hence I wonder what Thylane Lena-Rose Blondeau is learning about beauty and health in such a fickle environment, where she can be replaced with another girl who may be taller and thinner or more willing to take her clothes off.

What will happen when this girl’s body changes during puberty? Or will she endeavour to retain her prepubescent body, which has been her money-maker? Will she starve herself to hold on to her waif stature?

As a child- model she is emulating womanhood, but will she be desirable when she reaches her 20s and is an adult? Most likely yes, considering her beauty, however I wonder about her mental health by that stage.

Will the years in the spotlight and her parents’ non-chalant outlook turn her into an entitled narcissist or a withdrawn, insecure creature seeking approval?

Kate Moss started modelling at 14 and although her career has been illustrious, it has also been tumultuous, leading her to say “I don't think it's the best industry really for young girls. Unless you're really strong, it can really f*** you up," she said to ABC News in America, when quizzed about the prospect of her own daughter persuing modelling.

The daughter of a soccer star and TV presenter, Blondeau is definatly not needing money to feed her starving family. They are the ones responsible for Thylane’s current job choices and the ones that need to protect their daughter, while she is at this impressionable age.

Their role needs to be active now more than ever in regards to the choices she is making, instead of feeding her to the wolves.

In a few years, she will be a  multimillion dollar teenager and will not be sticking around to listen. Thylane’s mother reported to a French newspaper - “The only thing that shocks me about the photo is the necklace that she's wearing, which is worth 3 million Euros".

This wilful ignorance is what is irritating many around the world. Her poses and expressions masterfully mimic adult sexuality and portray little girlhood or her own personality. The allure she presents makes it easy for other pre-teen girls to question their notions of femininity and beauty. In many ways she intimidates women twice her age.

Thylane Lena-Rose Blondeau is a captivating child and veteran child-model. However, she needs to be a child first and model second.

She needs to ride bicycles, play in mud, read, daydream about being a doctor and feed her Baby-Born doll.

Such a worry free age of innocence will never return.

A 10-year-old needn’t be plagued with insecurities about her appearance and be judged by the world.

If Thylane is destined for the fashion world, she at the very least deserves a break for a few years and the ability to discover who she really is and grow without pressure or scrutiny.

Let her belong to herself, before she belongs to the fashion and media realm.