A majority of models if not all models were born with a very fast metabolism. Genetics is the biggest reason why they have very tiny waists. Then, as they get older their body starts to slowly change especially if they're not eating right.
In the Fifties, British women were eating a much healthier diet as a result of post-war rationing, so they were significantly smaller. 'Butter and meat were hard to come by, so vegetables were a staple food and the diet was rich in fibre and minerals but low in fat.
23-Inch Waist for Women
The average waist size for American women is 35.6 inches. That means a 23-inch waist is more than a foot smaller than usual. And your waist would be smaller than 99.9% of the female population.
What should your waist measurement be? For men, a waist circumference below 94cm (37in) is 'low risk', 94–102cm (37-40in) is 'high risk' and more than 102cm (40in) is 'very high'. For women, below 80cm (31.5in) is low risk, 80–88cm (31.5-34.6in) is high risk and more than 88cm (34.6in) is very high.
A thin waist is also shown to be a significant factor in attractiveness and intelligence, according to multiple studies, often regardless of weight.
Cathie Jung (born 1937) is an American Victorian dress and corset enthusiast residing in Manteo, NC, United States. She has held the Guinness World Record for the smallest waist on a living person since 1999. Jung, who is 1.72 meters (5 ft 8 in) tall, has a waist that measures 38.1 centimeters (15.0 in).
That being said, the average waist size for American women, according to the CDC's data from 2016, is 38.7 inches (98.3 centimeters). To determine an “average”, thousands of women's waist sizes are measured and all those numbers are added together.
The average waist circumference for women aged 18 and over in 2017–18 was 88 cm (ABS 2018). A high-risk waist circumference is more common in older women. In 2017–18 (ABS 2019): around 4 in 5 women aged 75 and over (84%) had a high risk waist circumference.
Never mind perfectly sculpted cheekbones, enviably arched brows or a pert derriere, a recent study has discovered the most attractive female attribute is a cinched-in waist: one that measures a fraction under 26½ in (the equivalent of a size eight).
In general, keep waist circumference to less than half your height. For example, for a 6-foot man (72 inches), a healthy waist size would be anything less than 36 inches. For a 5-foot-2 woman (62 inches), a healthy waist size would be anything less than 31 inches.
What is a zero size figure? A size zero figure typically refers to the body size of a woman. A bust size of 31 inches, waist size of 23 inches and hip size of 32 inches is generally considered as a size zero figure.
Generally speaking, a 24-inch waist is quite small and indicates low abdominal fat, a marker of good health. However, having a slim waist doesn't automatically make you healthy. And it would be best if you also considered other diet and lifestyle factors.
The average waist size for American women is 35.6 inches. That means a 27-inch waist would be smaller than 95% of average women. However, it's important to remember that 3 out of 4 adult women in the US are overweight or obese.
In fact, science shows that men are highly attracted to women with good curves. Scottish researchers found that the slimmer a woman's waist, the more satisfied her partner and the less likely he is to suffer from erectile dysfunction. Is that the only reason? Wide hips are a sexually dimorphic trait.
Men consistently find women the most attractive when they have a low waist-to-hip ratio — commonly referred to as an hourglass figure. New research provides evidence that men have this preference because it is a reliable signal of physical and sexual maturity in young women who have not been pregnant.
The smaller your waist looks, the rounder and more bodacious your booty will look by comparison, so go for pants, skirts, and dresses that fit snugly at your natural waist, and pair them with cropped or tucked-in tops and cropped jackets.
Likewise, models can be older but agencies and clients tend to like their models looking younger and more youthful. Height is typically between 5'9″-6″, bust is between 32″-36″, waist is between 22″-26″, and hips should be between 33″-35″.
Waist to hip ratios
Healthy women have ratios of 0.67 to 0.80 while healthy men have 0.80 to 0.95. For attractiveness, ideal for men is 0.90 and female ideal is 0.7 (for Western populations only).
Men should have a waist to hip ratio slightly under a 1.0 - a . 99 according to this study. Women should have a waist to hip ratio under 1.0 - a . 90 or lower.
Ideally, your waist measurement should be less than half of your height. (So if you're 5 foot 6, or 66 inches, your waist circumference should be less than 33 inches.)
But the average woman aged 20 to 24 in the country is 1.6m tall and has a waist size of 28 inches and hip size of 36 inches, according to the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards in 2015.