Skinniest Models in the World: Ioana Spangenberg, Isabelle Caro, Gemma Ward [SLIDESHOW]

When photos and videos of Romanian model Ioana Spangenberg surfaced this week, her wasted figure reignited the row over models who seem to starve themselves to fit industry standards that have little bearing on the reaL world.

Nicknamed the Human Hourglass, Spangenberg boasts a 20in waist - just 5in bigger than the circumference of a CD.

While the 30-year-old model claimed her Barbie-like 32-20-32 figure was natural and not the result of a starvation diet, campaigners said she reinforced negative body image stereotypes for women.

Those who remain unconvinced that she eats three square meals a day, including fatty foods such as crisps, pizza and kebabs, criticised her for promoting an unhealthy body image - and making lots of money in the process.

Although Spangenberg said she has tried to put on weight and does not suffer from an eating disorder, other models are literally killing themselves in order to stay skinny and "beautiful".

Even though there is now a ban on Size 0 models, many still manage to slip through the net and can be seen on runways and magazine covers.

International Business Times UK takes a look at just a few of the skinniest models, who have ditched their curves to be part of an industry that promotes exaggeratedly thin figures.

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Romanian model Ioana Spangenberg has a shockingly thin 20-inch waist, but denies suffering from eating disorders and insists she has tried to put on weight by eating three square meals a day, including fatty foods such as crisps, pizza and kebabs

Romanian-born Spangenberg, or the ‘Human Hourglass’, became an overnight hit after pictures of her incredible 20-inch waist began to circulate on the internet

Romanian-Canadian model Irina Lazareanu is 5’9” with a tiny 24.5-inch waist.

Andreea Stancu, another Romanian, stands at 5’11” and has a 23-inch waist. The blue-eyed beauty has also frequently been photographed with her ribs protruding through her back.

Australian model Gemma Ward reportedly took a break from modelling back in 2008 because of weight issues. She is 5'10", with a 24-inch waist.