Disclaimer: what I am about is no way judging or "skinny shaming," everyone is beautiful in their own way. I am just focusing on the beauty of the plus-sized community
When I was younger, I used to think of the term "plus" as an insult, and I would try my best to make sure I was skinny enough to not have to buy from the plus-size section of the store. But in the past couple years, the plus-size modeling community has made a huge breakthrough. We are now seeing plus size models everywhere.
As a child, I was told countless times "You really need to do something about those thighs," "Your butt is just so big, like how did it get so big?" The comments are just endless. It made me want to hide all my features of my body, I would wear baggy clothes to draw attention away from my body. There was no-no one in the fashion community that looked like me. I couldn't imagine seeing the clothes on tv on me because I was way bigger than the girl who was modeling them.
In 1992, Anna Nicole Smith became the first plus-size model used in a Guess campaign. Later, it became one of the most successful campaigns in Guesses history. Smith was also featured in Lane Bryant ads but was banned by newspapers such as Wall Street Journal for showing too much skin. Robyn Lawley is known for being the second plus-size model to cover Vogue France in June 2011 and the first plus-size model to be on the cover of Australian Vogue and GQ Australia.
Plus-size modeling has been around for quit sometime but why are some people seeing it in a negative light. Comments have been made such as, "These people are unhealthy," "Were just paying them to be fat." WRONG. It is completely okay to be whatever size you want and you shouldn't let someone tell you differently! Whether you are a 00 or 32, you are beautiful. We shouldn't have society in our face telling us that you need a certain size to be "normal."
2016 has been the ultimate breakthrough year when it comes to plus sized models. This year we had the first plus-size model, Ashley Graham, to cover "Sports Illustrated." How amazing is that! American Eagles Aerie came out with "Aeries Unretouched Campaign" where they do not do any photo shopping to any of the models to cover blemishes or to make them look thinner than they appear. Models such as Iskra Lawrence and Barbara "Barbie" Ferreira are huge role models of this brand.
This year, we were also introduced to the first ever plus-size male model to sign to a major agency, Zach Miko. Zach signed to IMG and has been Modeling for Target which is one of the U.S.'s biggest retaliers.
Iskra Lawrence is the new face of Aerie, she also is a National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) brand ambassador. She does not let any Photoshop her or let any Photoshop images of her onto her Instagram. In this day an age it's so easy to download an app and change the way your butt looks or make your stomach smaller, its so easy to make us look fake almost into someone we are not.
At the end of the day, these are the bodies we were born with, we should be proud of them. I know that that is a lot easier said than done, but it is our responsibility to take care of them and treat them with love.
