Ella Rose Corby, 16, poses nude

The November cover of Stab Style featuring Ella Rose Corby.

Stab magazine

Poll

Is 16 too young to pose nude for a magazine?

This poll ended on 26 November 2010.

Yes

39%

No

48%

It depends

11%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

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• Ella chases modelling career

A KINGSCLIFF 16-year-old has made a controversial start to her modelling career, by posing nude for the cover of a surfing magazine.

With only strategically placed limbs barely covering her modesty, Ella Rose Corby cuts a striking figure on the cover of Stab.

But the shoot has posed concerns in the community, with Richmond MP Justine Elliot and fellow Tweed model Samantha Harris voicing unease about Miss Corby’s age.

According to Mrs Elliot, a mother herself, the magazine cover was not in good taste.

“I think photographs like these are inappropriate, particularly when the young woman involved is only 16,” Mrs Elliot said.

Miss Harris, who relocated to Sydney to further her modelling career, stressed she did not want to sound “nasty”, but said 16 years old did seem very young to feature nude on a magazine cover.

She worried that Miss Corby might consider it a “mistake” in years to come.

“Personally, I wouldn’t do it at any age really, and 16, I think that is really, really young,” she said.

“If she was interested in high fashion and that, maybe that might not have been the smartest move.”

Ms Harris said it was important for girls to consider what type of model they would like to be before undertaking early work.

“It really depends on what you want to do in modelling, whether it is high-fashion or men’s magazines.”

Miss Corby entered and won a competition to model for Stab, which is known for its edginess and celebration of parties and sex.

The Tweed Daily News organised an interview with Miss Corby, but her mother called the newspaper and cancelled, saying the family “don’t want to discuss it”.

Stab editor Derek Reilly did not return calls, but in the edition in question, the magazine was aware of the fact Miss Corby was 16.

Stab writer Mike Jennings explained in his article on Miss Corby how a girl that age means danger to the adult male.

“They’re moving into womanhood and they know it.

“They dress older, sneak into clubs and are easily mistaken as adults.

“And as girls in their early twenties try and hang onto their teenage beauty, lines are blurred and we’re left confused.

“You can leer at the 16-year-old as you would an adult woman, so long as you’re ignorant.

“Once you become aware of their age you must look away.”

As part of the shoot, she was painted by artist Steve Gorrow.

Miss Corby told Mr Jennings the photo shoot was: “A bit confrontational, but fun at the end of the day”.

She said modelling for the magazine was the beginning of a dream.

According to Mr Jennings, when Miss Corby’s mother found out the details of the shoot, she “freaked out”, but her father said it was the kind of thing she would have to get used to if she wanted to be a model.

Mark Pearson, Professor of Journalism at Bond University, said using children in such appearances was dangerous and required parental permission.

“The danger with this kind of thing is, young people don’t always realise the longer-term consequences of their actions; that is why all branches of media have to be especially careful of their management of children,” Mr Pearson said.

“An editor needs to think long and hard about using such material.”