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In celebration of Miami Swim Week, a new fashion collection has been paraded down the runway.
The three day event, which is held in South Beach, Florida, has promoted an entire range of swimwear, for both children and adults.
In one fashion collection by brand Hot As Hell, primary school children have walked down the catwalk in an array of different bikinis and swimming costumes.
Some defended the Hot As Hell brand, remarking that the kids look "cute"
Since photos and videos from the event have emerged online, some commenters have hit-out at the parents of the young models. One internet user remarked that using kids in fashion shows is "child abuse", while another begged: "Please look after your daughters".
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Some concerned social media users have slammed the brands use of young models for being "wrong", with many worrying that it leaves the child models at risk from online predators.
On the Hot As Hell official Instagram page, which has over 30,000 followers, the brand have been posting a snaps from the runway show.
One of the pictures, which shows three young girls in yellow swimsuits, racked up over 3,000 likes.
Dozens of commenters remarked the kids were "cute", while one Instagram user said that the girl will "be a hotty in a decade or so".
Despite the controversial decision to include child models, some internet users have defended the brand.
One Instagram user remarked: "My little sister would love to hang out with these girls on the runway!" Another simply said: "Amazing!!! Gorgeous girls!!"
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In a culture where human bodies are considered shameful and expected to be covered, even when it's impractical, like swimming, kids need bathing suits too. There is nothing wrong with any of these that are shown here.The only suggestion that it is sexualized is by people projecting their thoughts on them. And why do we make bikini style childrens bathing suits? Because we assign certain body parts to sexual excitement, and then force that adult interpretation on kids before they can even understand why, and then force those parts to be covered. That's projection, not protection. Of course in a fashion show there will be people commenting on how great they look, and the occasional commenter will say that they will, "be a hottie in 10 years". Why remove a child's rights to wear a pretty outfit? Why force them to cover up in hot weather? At what age did you stop letting your kids run around naked? Why?
Where I swim every year, clothing is optional. There is no rampant sexuality happening. Cameras are disallowed. People are respectful and its understood that you don't make sexual advances in that environment, or even approach those sorts of thoughts. And this is towards adults, it's not even a question that children are treated even more gently around a sensitive issue such as nudity, especially since they have to go back to a culture where nudity is considered taboo when they aren't at these sorts of places. The occasional compliment given on somebody else's body is done in earnest about health or fitness and not from a place of sexuality. Once you're in that environment, it's quite natural to take on a good attitude, especially once you get used to the feeling of exposure, you easily understand how to respect that feeling that others may have. Some people can't relax in that environment. It's a good test, because anybody who is uneasy with it obviously has uncontrolled urges related to about exposed bodies that they haven't dealt with. But, most people are not out of control animals. Parents quite freely bring their children and people of all ages have the option of wearing bathing suits or birthday suits. Leering is noticed and disrespectful behavior is on the radar. Because of this, behavior is great and problems generally don't happen. Anybody exhibiting any sort of warning signs are quickly dealt with and in extreme situations, like accusations of potential abusive behavior, asked to leave and ostracised completely from that environment. Only by hiding away bodies and making them some sort of sacred secret do people start to constantly sexualize the human body because it's turned into some exciting limited resource. This is folly. Acceptance of who we are and the courage to be *what* we are takes away all the twisted up frustration of living authentically and without shame. If you've never become comfortable being around nude people, or being nude yourself, you're always going to have strange emotional reactions to the display of bodies, and see their exposure as a threat to rational behavior, because you can't fathom bodies being just what they are without the sexuality being primary, and nudity is a trigger for your repressed natural feelings. I'd hazard a guess that this is to a large degree what creates pedophiles. The most forbidden of forbidden fruits. Sure there are some small percentages out there that don't have a conscience and are predators, but most of have real feelings, and the cause of twisted behavior is twisted repression and denial. That is how you create monsters. That is how children are sexualized by modern culture, not by the bathing suit, but by the culture that forces us all to wear one.