I was a model when I was a teenager. I did a runway show for Seventeen magazine and I was bummed when I was put in the “natural” clothes that covered me from head to toe in a cable knit cardigan, leggings, boots and a long skirt. I wanted to be in the sexy “vogue” collection with an off-the-shoulder dress, heels and makeup.

I was 12.

Luckily the fashion editor didn’t believe in the sexualization of children.

Unlike today, where it is acceptable for a French company to create an entire line of lingerie geared towards little girls between the ages of 4-12. What’s worse than the bras and panties are the photos and ads. Little girls are posing in push-up bras, frilly undergarments and heavy make-up while lounging on a bed.

I am outraged. While some argue that that this is just a fun clothing line and parents can make the choice to buy this for their daughters, I believe that this company is sexualizing young girls. Kids are extremely susceptible to marketing and they are too young to understand these harmful images. The underlying message of this marketing campaign is that girls need to look sexy to be “cool” and “fashionable.”

I have a five-year old daughter, who just started Kindergarten yesterday, and the thought of her looking at these ads and asking me for a bra or thong makes me sick. She is still a little girl and I don’t appreciate marketers forcing her to grow up too fast.

Teenage girls are already being bombarded with images of what they “should’ look like. With very few positive role models, kids look up to celebrities like Kim Kardashion and Paris Hilton, who also send the message that girls need to be thin and sexy to be successful.

Now this problem is running even deeper with girls as young as 4 being told how girls should look and act.

This sexualization leads to many problems, one of which is anorexia. Girls are told that they must be thin, so they starve themselves and over exercise for fears of getting fat. In our society being extremely thin is a standard of beauty and these images just reinforce that mindset.

I was anorexic as a teenager and I understand how damaging this can be to a girl’s self-esteem. These issues that arise as a young girl can follow all throughout adulthood.

So what is a parent to do? Have a conversation with your daughters about the media images being thrown at them. Talk with them about how the pictures of models aren’t real, not only are these pictures airbrushed and photo shopped, but these models (on average) weigh 25 percent less than their ideal weight.

A strong family system will overcome these horrific marketing campaigns.

I know that my wonderful mother saved me from my teenage anorexia and she was right by my side during everyone of my modeling gigs, making sure that I was covered and not wearing the “sexy” clothes that I desired.

What do you think of this new line of lingerie for tots? Do you think it’s just an innocent clothing line or do you feel it is contributing to the sexulaization of young girls? I’d love to hear from you!