[Edition 21] A 16-year-old French model has been told she may never work again, after smiling on the catwalk during a fashion parade in Sydney last week. Lucinda Dior smiled at least three times during a runway show at Australian Fashion Week. Her cheerfulness has enraged fashion purists, who have accused the model of making fashion less pretentious.

The smiling incident that shook the modelling world and embarrassed a nation.

[Edition 21] A 16-year-old French model has been told she may never work again, after smiling on the catwalk during a fashion parade in Sydney last week.

Lucinda Dior smiled at least three times during a runway show at Australian Fashion Week. Her cheerfulness has enraged fashion purists, who have accused the model of making fashion less pretentious.

‘It is a scandal,’ said designer Helmut Mutt. ‘Not only was she smiling, but she looked healthy and genuinely happy to be there. There’s no room for that in my new beachwear collection. That’s not what most women feel at the beach so why should she.’

The young model has previously upset the fashion world by insisting on having both a Christian name and a surname. Tensions worsened when she refused to lend her name to a cheap perfume promotion and a new lingerie line.

‘This kind of immaterialism has got to stop,’ warned fellow model Jodie Meares, who says modelling’s the only thing she’s done in her own life purely for financial advantage.

Meares’ criticisms have been echoed by some of the most influential figures in international fashion.

‘She’s an embarrassment,’ said Jenny Kee. ‘And it’s not just the smiling. It’s all those other things too like the eating. And her refusal to throw tantrums, or assault her personal assistant. She’s 16-years-old, can you believe, and she hasn’t once gone out with Rod Stewart.’

Modelling agency Elite, who manages Belize, admits the young French woman has been difficult and stubborn. ‘She point blank refuses to sleep with me,’ confides her agent.

‘I’ll be forced to take her off our books if this whole smiling attitude continues. Otherwise, what’s she good for – toothpaste ads and the odd Fossey’s catalogue.’

It’s understood RALPH magazine is planning to capitalise on the smiling scandal with a raunchy “Grin and BARE It!” pictorial.