Plus-Size Models in The Modelling Industry
Plus-Size models, Discrimination, and a Lack of Diversity in the Industry
Why does each runway model look like a carbon copy of one another? For years, runway models have looked identical to one another and there has been no differentiation between them. There has been a certain amount of extremely skinny women who have no differentiation between them. The lack of diversity in this industry is unacceptable, fashion designers must be more inclusive of all sizes and stop discriminating certain people based on their appearances.
The modeling industry is so fiercely non-inclusive that it drives young models to potentially develop bad habits that can affect their overall physical and mental health. Young plus-size models who are naturally born a bigger size, or who aren’t stick thin are given little to no chance in the modeling industry. Pratiksha Singh, author, was overweight growing up but she dreamt of becoming a runway model. She ended up seeing an advertisement for something called Lakme Fashion Week. (para. 4) She ended up applying and progressed until the third round when she was disqualified. She ended up seeing her photos in newspapers across India and when she saw that, it inspired her to keep going. She thought that there was no diversity on the runway which also inspired her to keep going and pursue her dreams even further. Designers have improved the models that they have put on the runway in past years and have added more plus-size models to their shows but it is still not where it should be.
There should have never been a standard to begin with. In the spring of 2016, 422 models were featured in a fashion show, yet only six plus size models made an appearance. To make matters worse, these fashion shows were directed at the plus-size market yet almost no plus-size models were included. In the UK alone, size 16 is considered to be the average dress size as 45% of women there are a size 16 or more. (para. 2) Everyone should have been included to do something they love instead of pushed to feel rejected and outcasted. Singh describes to us as readers how the fashion and modeling industry is making some small progressions towards being more inclusive with different kinds of people. Although it is a work in progress, the industry definitely is not there yet and needs to keep striving to do better and create more equality for all. (para. 6) This evidence shows a real-life example in the modeling industry and portrays how models are affected by the treatment that they receive and what this can do to a real-life person with emotions. I believe it will inspire some young individuals who possibly have the same goals and aspirations as the author did but believe they can’t do it because of their appearance. I also very much appreciate this article because it is not often that you hear or see about plus-size models in the media or in advertisements. I completely agree with the things that Pratiksha Singh had to say in her article. It is very good that the modeling industry is becoming more inclusive but I also agree with the fact that it is nowhere close to where it should be.
Furthermore, Lauren Chan was overweight growing up as a child, similar to Pratiksha Singh in the previous example. She also, had dreamt of walking a runway and becoming a model. Her friends and family supported her of course but never truly believed that Lauren would fulfill this dream because of her size. When Lauren became older she started working in the fashion industry and ended up in plus-size modeling. All of a sudden, Lauren was working alongside some of the most famous plus-size models in the industry. She walked in a fashion show with Ashley Graham and other famous models. Although she fulfilled her childhood dream, Lauren did not continue down the modeling path although she did stay in that field of work. She became a fashion editor and still to this day keeps a close eye on the industry. (para. 2) In the article she wrote, she explained that fashion designers make the sample size a size two because it conserves funds and uses less of the materials that they have. If the designers used bigger sizes as sample sizes it would cost them more and they would run out of resources faster. Although it may be cost effective, it is not inclusive. This method of creating sample sizes as a size two is very discriminatory to plus-size models and everyone else in between. There are so many different shapes and sizes that belong on the runway not just size two women. Chan described how the designers later on after their shows create more sizes depending on how many were purchased and of what sizes were purchased. I believe this evidence would affect many people in the fashion community because if more people were aware of it then it would happen less and more individuals would be included. Some designers starting out may not have the funds to be able to create larger sample sizes because they have to have to reveal an entire collection, but if this is the case, these designers should make less articles of clothing if they knew that they can’t afford to be inclusive to everyone. Designers who only make a sample size two are not being inclusive of all body types, therefor it is very discriminatory and leads young people to believe that they have to change their appearances to be able to do something they love. Creating a sample size two makes people feel this way because This is not admissible, and needs to be changed immediately. This has a negative effect on peoples mental and physical health overall because it will make young models think that there is something wrong with them if they do not look a certain way which can lead them to develop depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and overall deteriorate the health of a person.
The plus-size modeling industry is very hard to get into and be taken seriously in because of the lack of people in it. Author, Debra D. Bass, wrote “For model, size matters Jennie Runk added weight to become a plus-sized fashion model” which details the life and modeling career of her daughter Jennie Runk. Jennie was a young girl who like the others, aspired to become a runway model. She was an average, healthy sized girl who was not extremely skinny nor large. Jennie ended up contacting a modeling agency and they told her that if she wanted to become a model that she would have to make the choice of either becoming a runway model and losing weight or gaining weight to become a plus-size model. (para. 6) Jennie ended up choosing to gain weight and to become a plus-size model which was a big relief to the people who cared for her. (para. 7) Bass also mentions how unorthodox it still is in this day and age to feature a stomach roll in a magazine. Many critics were shocked and upset when they saw a young girl posing with a stomach roll for a large magazine. Bass also revealed several key points about body image and how this industry can harm a young individuals self-image. Many outsiders do not see this part of the fashion industry either and think that it is very glamourous when in actual fact it is a very hard job for these people to keep up with as it is more than a job but becomes a lifestyle. If more people became aware of what happened behind the scenes it could be more normalized for people of different sizes to be themselves and be happy as themselves in their careers as models. Not to mention, Daphne Howland, author of “The plus-size era is over before it began” depicts how even stylish women or women who can afford to spend money on beautiful clothing are unable to buy them because of their size.
She explains how one third of women in America consider themselves to be plus-size and also how 34% of teens in the U.S. purchased plus-size clothing in 2015 while in 2012 only 19% purchased. The amount of teen girls and women who are purchasing plus-size clothing are increasing by the year and it is completely unjust to single them out and not allow them to have their style or be able to buy the clothing they want to because of their size. It is also mentioned how men’s clothing does not have sizing standards and I believe that it should be the same for women. Why are there specific sizing standards such as petite, junior, and plus-size that categorize women when they should be able to wear whatever they want regardless of the size? The market for plus-size fashion models still remains very unfair and separated from runway models. There are still plus-size sections in stores and at this point in time there in no need for that. (Michael Felice, para. 17)
The fashion industry over the years has become very cutthroat and non-inclusive of many different kinds of people. It has promoted a very unhealthy lifestyle for years now amongst young women who are trying to pursue a career that they love. The modeling industry has negative effects on the mental and physical aspects of the young individuals who partake in it. Everyone can be included and welcomed into this industry if more people become aware of the negative affects it has along with how disrespectful and cruel it is to single out certain people because of the way they look.
