When Vania Arthur was asked about mainstream modeling agencies and the fashion industry now using plus-size models in marketing campaigns, she was enthusiastic on a variety of fronts. Point Park students Nikki Kalafatis and Brendan Dazen like the realistic nature of this extensive move in that models will no longer be pressured into being under intense physical guidelines. Angela Thomas, also a Point Park student, thinks the move will encourage women of all ages to love their bodies and increase their self confidence.
These students are only a portion of the positive reaction to recent movements in the fashion and modeling industries where plus-size models are becoming front runners for magazine covers. “I think it is giving girls more of a voice,” said Thomas.
Mississippi born model, Tess Muster-Holliday, who 5’2″ tall and wears a size 22, was not only signed by MiLK Model Management, which is one of the biggest modeling agencies in Europe, but has already graced the cover of Vogue and has started a beauty campaign on Twitter called #effyourbeautystandards. Last year, Aerie completely stopped photoshopping models in their ads to show their natural beauty. Plus-sized model Ashley Graham became the first model at size 16 to grace the swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated.Â
Arthur, a freshman photojournalism major, believes the diversity is a way to encourage those who wish to enter into the industry. She says, “It will open up to more models who actually want to get into the industry… They will be able to think that they don’t really have to change themselves, the agency will accept them for who they really are.” Sophomore cinema major, Kalafatis, believes that anyone should be able to model if they want to; “I don’t exactly know the standards for which becoming a plus-size model are normal, but I think if they can work it, they can model. There should be no limit nor minimum for modeling, especially because those restrictions can crush a girl’s dream.”
A sophomore SAEM major, Dazen, was gratified to see more realistic women in fashion. “I am very happy of this! It’s great that they are including women of every shape and size.”Â
Thomas, who is also a sophomore SAEM major, believes this will finally promote confidence in women everywhere, “This is about promoting that all women are beautiful no matter your shape or size is.”
Kalafatis, when asked if we will begin to see more agencies and media outlets showcasing more plus-size models, she whole-heartedly agreed: “The media will definitely be encouraging of this because this is what this generation wants to see. Less discrimination, more acceptance. The media is going to share what the public is going to be interested in, and that’s just this.”Â