Representation is, without a doubt, important. While the increase of acknowledgement and recognition of plus-size women is something to be celebrated, there are definitely a few issues that need to be addressed. No, the problem is not that it could lead to obesity. And no, it does not encourage an unhealthy lifestyle. If anything, it is a positive, healthy movement.
In 2014, Calvin Klein featured their “first plus-size model”, as described in Elle, causing some controversy. Many people started questioning whether the model, Myla Dalbesio, is actually plus size. At size 10, she definitely wasn’t the standard size 2 model, but she wasn’t the average plus size woman either. In fact, the average American woman falls between a size 12 to 14. Although having a “middle ground”, as Dalbesio described it, is definitely a step towards “true body diversity”, calling her a plus-size model reflects how absurd our perception of women’s bodies is. If we consider a smaller-than-average woman with an hourglass figure a “plus-size”, then where does that leave other women?
This brings me onto my next point. The hourglass figure. The coveted proportions which limit a spectrum of body shapes to just one. While plus-size models are refreshing to see and bring more size diversity to a world of straight size model, the exposure and attention still revolves around the same body type. We need more plus-size models (and models in general) who aren’t an hourglass. We need more models with cellulite and stretch marks. We need more PoC model. We need to celebrate women who come in different shapes, sizes and colors. We need more plus-size male models.
Ashley Neil Tipton, Project Runway’s first ever plus-size winner, presented the show’s first-ever plus-size collection. Tipton debuted her collection at New York Fashion Week, beating out three other finalists. Her collection was vibrant, flattering, fresh and beautiful. Quite often, plus-size collections are poorly done, expecting plus-size women to settle for anything that fits, rather than trying to create something that they would love and feel great in. They are often bland, limited and pushed back to the corners of stores carrying them. Yes, plus-size women have taste too. No, your potato sack-like shirtdress does not make the cut.
