The organizers of the Pasarela Cibeles, Spain's biggest yearly fashion show, told five out of 69 models they were too thin to participate this year. In September 2005, the show had decided not to permit women whose body mass to height ratio was less than 18 percent to be in shows.

According to AP, Dr. Susana Monereo, of Madrid Getafe hospital's endocrinology and nutrition department, said three of the five models who were rejected were not spanish.

Monereo was responsible for assessing the models along with two other doctors.

She said one model who was told she could not take part had a ratio of 16, the equivalent of being 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing under 110 pounds.

Leonor Perez Pita, director of Pasarela Cibeles, said the models' low weights may have been due to their hectic work schedules - two had been in 25 shows in New York before they went to Madrid.

"It could be that they lost weight during that period," Pita said.

But no excuses were allowed - Pita said Madrid's show intended to send a message of "health and beauty."

"Five hundred people will see them here, but through television it'll make it six million, and a young girl may think it's a definition of beauty and may even make herself ill as a result," Pita said.