Hey Lovelies!
Some of you may have already seen the vlog I posted today going over the first question for #AMOTY2018. There are seven in total and we don’t know which ones we’ll get asked so I have to be prepared to answer all of them. My problem so far has been knowing how much to say when I answer. So I’m going to take a little time and write out a bit of a longer answer than I gave in my vlog.
Q1: In the last few months a well known plus size model was featured on a cover of a mainstream magazine, do you believe this is a positive change to the modelling industry and what do you think mainstream audiences should take away from this?
So as I pointed out in my vlog I’m fairly certain this question is referring to Tess Holliday’s appearance on the cover of Cosmopolitan’s October 2018 issue. It’s a gorgeous photo and Tess Holliday has had such brilliant responses to all of her critics – I highly recommend checking her out.
Getting back to the question at hand: do I believe this is a positive change to the modelling industry?
Yes.
I think that the increase of visibility of plus size models (they’ve been around for a long time, we only just started to talk about them) is a great thing for the modelling industry. Moving away from the idea that slim/skinny is the standard feels right.
Now of course people will start the “health” debate and frankly I don’t want to talk about health because the people that go around commenting on plus size models don’t care about their health, they just use that as an excuse to be rude online.
Some people are thin and some people are fat and that’s ok. What Tess Holliday is trying to show us is that plus size models are just as valid as “regular” models. She’s not trying to promote extreme weight gain (did anyone actually think that was a thing?) all she wants to do is follow her dreams. Just like everybody else. The only difference is she’s plus size.
People will see her on the cover of Cosmopolitan and will realise that you can have a plus size model on the cover, will realise that people do actually look like that and that not everyone is 5″8 and a dress size UK 8-10…looking at you modelling agencies and casting calls.
It’s my opinion that the more mainstream media embraces plus size models (as well as all other diverse models) the better we as a society will become because we will be openly accepting everyone and celebrating everyone. There will be fewer people growing up hating their bodies because they’ve only ever been shown one type of body in media.
What do I think mainstream audiences should take away from this?
“Accepting” diversity isn’t enough. We need to actively celebrate our differences. Show the world that it’s not just talk and remind ourselves of the truth that is – actions speak louder than words.
And that’s some of my thoughts on the matter. I tried not to ramble too much haha but what do you think? How would you answer this question?
An Overview Of Blue 