Plus size people & Modelling

 



For pretty much all of fashion’s history, the perfect modelling body was supposed to be lean and tall. It wasn’t until the last decade that plus-size modelling became acceptable in society, let alone be taken up and be promoted by fashion heavyweights. Activism has played a huge role in bringing plus-size people’s to mainstream modelling. Voices have been raised to make modelling more inclusive and diverse. Fashion shows have seen an increasing number of plus-sized people walk the ramp. From Ashley Graham on Vogue to Candice Huffine in New York Fashion Week to Paloma Elsesser, the fashion world has been accepting plus-size models into their community. While the west has been more or less accepting and including plus-size models into mainstream fashion industries, India lags far behind when it comes to diversity and equality in the modelling world. 

Plus-size models in India have a difficult route ahead of them. There have been limited efforts from the fashion and corporate world to welcome plus-size models in their coveted industry. Even when it comes to accepting plus-size people to their community, fashion houses have set beauty standards as to what classifies as “beautiful plus size”, which mostly refers to having a “pear” or “hourglass” shape. Large hips and breasts and flat stomachs are considered “beautiful” in the plus-sized modelling industry. While flat chest, flabby tummies, stretch marks and other figures are most often neglected as they don’t fit the beauty standards. Ninja Singh, the founder of Ninja’s Models and a supermodel herself, said that only women who look a particular way are cast in photoshoots and on the ramp. “They have to be not too big and relatively curvy. 

Designers do not want to make clothes for bigger girls. They have to have a flat stomach, a cinched waist and thick thighs. No real person can look like that. They have to undergo plastic surgeries and go on extreme diets to achieve that look. Having plus-size models as part of their community has become more of a PR stunt for most corporations and fashion houses to gain online presence and traction on their website, and to not be scrutinized by activists and media houses, all in the name of promoting inclusivity. Sakshi Sindwani, a prominent blogger and model, said that the modelling industry is not entirely diverse yet. “We are not showing the spectrum of bigger size plus-size models. People are of different shapes and sizes, and brands do not represent that. So you cannot take one plus-size model and call yourself inclusive.“ Neelakshi Singh, who runs the blog Plump to Pretty, had bulimia at an early age. “My confidence was extremely low, and I felt so ugly that I could not post any pictures of myself. So for the longest time, I had a close up of my eye as my display picture.“ Many times as a model, Neelakshi has had to carry her clothes for brand campaigns. “They will give me an M size dress and ask me to squeeze into it. It is a very toxic environment.“ Plus-size models are also discriminated against by advertisers and marketing brands. From beauty products to food products to clothes, a plus-size model is portrayed as a side character, or the main character’s “fat best friend”. After using the promoted product, they suddenly become thin and “beautiful”. This promotes the preconceived notion that being plus-sized is “ugly” and being thin is “beautiful”. Plus-size models are also prone to harassment and sexism as compared to their counterparts. 

There have been several instances wherein pictures have been used without the model's consent, with an inflow of sexist and bullying comments from both within society and the industry itself. This not only breaks their confidence but also takes a mental toll on them. Being overweight can also be caused due to weak metabolism, hormonal changes and thyroid. “Despite the energy a plus-size person exudes, they will be considered lethargic. There are so many women who have PCOS because of which they gain weight. However, that does not mean they are not healthy,” said Neha, a plus-size model. The Indian modelling and fashion industry have a long road ahead of itself when it comes to inclusivity and diversity. Plus-size models have faced their fair share of struggles when it comes to the fashion industry. Ultimately, it is up to society and the fashion powerhouses to provide a more inclusive and diverse atmosphere.

Written by: Hitansh Doshi

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