The British advertising standards authority has banned an advert featuring a Dutch model because she is ‘too thin’.

The advert for Yves Saint Laurent features Kiki Willems, 18, an upcoming model who has worked for the French brand for the past two seasons. It appeared in the British version of Elle magazine.

The ASA said the pose and the ‘particular lighting effect in the ad drew particular focus to the model’s chest, where her rib cage was visible and appeared prominent, and to her legs, where her thighs and knees appeared a similar width’.

Describing the advert as irresponsible, the ASA said it ‘must not appear again in its current form’.

Yves Saint Laurent said they did not agree with the complainant’s view that the model was unhealthily thin, but did not provide a detailed response.