Plus-Size Models And The Spread Of Body Positivity

The fashion industry is guilty of establishing unrealistic standards of beauty which is why self-esteem and body confidence messages offered from this industry have largely fallen on deaf ears. To add to its perceived insincerity, for many years it seemed that the industry was passive to the issue, but with more and more influencers taking a stance on the matter, reevaluating its position and the outward articulation around body confidence become unavoidable. Diversity is not just a token word used by the industry. It has become a real practice with many plus-size models being loud and clear about self-love, self-confidence, and body positivity. 

One such powerful woman is Ashley Graham. Having the reputation of a top model, the road to her success has been 17 years long. She talks her bold message boisterous and clear. She is a genuine role model for the youth, teaching them to make their own mark in the world with positivity and persistence. She ultimately wishes to make people realize that beauty is more than skin deep. Graham is probably the most famous model/body activist right now and for all the right reasons. In 2016, she became the first size-sixteen model to appear on the cover of ‘Sports Illustrated’s’ swimsuit issue, but that was a goal she reached after years of struggle of building an online presence as a confident and bold woman. Her ultimate goal is to do away with labels like ‘plus-size’ completely. 

Tess Holiday is another iconic and inspirational plus-size model and the genius creator of the ‘effyourbeautystandards’ hashtag. She uses her platform to communicate self-love and confidence. She uses her platform to talk about the insults and criticism she receives for having her body shape and size, even with the world modernizing beyond imagination. She is fiercely determined to provide the younger generations with diverse role models. She wants the youth to have someone to look up to who makes them feel included. Her main goal is to make everyone feel included and beautiful in their own skin.

The fashion industry and society still have a long way to go when it comes to body inclusivity. Most prominent brands still use size-zero models for their fashion shows. However, we can only hope that with influencers like these we can only hope for a better future for everyone to feel safe and loved.