THINGS ARE changing in the fashion industry. More and more people are speaking out against Photoshop-manipulated magazine covers or editorial spreads. There are more companies embracing and advocating the beauty of diversity and most important of all, healthy beauty. There are more plus-size female models in the industry now but more in the print ad campaigns.
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| Plus-size model, Lizzi Miller in a photo published on the September 2009 issue of Glamour Magazine. |
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| A male plus-size model struts his stuff in an indie European style magazine. |
In the US, the average weight of a woman is 163 pounds or 74 kg based on 5' 3.8" or 163 cm average height (National Center for Health Statistics: NHANES III (1988-1994); HANES (1999- 2000)). So, that's pretty much the size of Queen Latifah or Brooke Elliot the actress who plays Jane Bingum on My Lifetime Channel's "Drop Dead Diva." The average weight of an American man, on the other hand, is 190 pounds or just think of Adam Sandler (based on average height of 5' 8.5" or 174 cm) according to the same sets of studies mentioned earlier.
This sure is a healthy sign and in this case, the Europeans are aggressively taking the lead.
In 2006, during the Madrid Fashion Week, the organizers and the Madrid City officials (official financial backer of the event) banned skinny models and allowed only those with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 18 that meant a 5ft 9 in (1.75m) tall model must weigh a minimum of 8st 11oz (56 kg) in order to walk the catwalk.
The most recent good news is VOGUE ITALIA's decision to put three (not just one!) amazingly beautiful plus-size models on their July 2011 cover. This is an aim to battle upfront the pro-anorexia messages being sent by some beauty and fashion establishments. And lo and behold, the cover doesn't shy away from fully showcasing and prominently celebrating the women's curves because they are flaunting their features in their underwear.
In full glory, plus-size models Tara Lynn, Candice Huffine, and Robyn Lawley in a cover photo by Steven Meisel for the "Real Beauties" July 2011 issue of Vogue Italia. |
Now, there's something to feel good about when women and/or men read publications that aren't afraid to go against the image alteration "standards" perpetuated by over-editorialized and over-glamorized out-of-touch-with-reality fashion ad campaigns. Why feel good? Because if you're an average-size American (based on the statistics and figures mentioned earlier) woman or man, then you won't feel alone or MARGINALIZED or even neglected.
The important thing is you're healthy, eating well (as in nutritious and delicious!), up and about, and feeling good. After all, it is really true and proven not just by scientific standards but by common sense that when you DO good, you'll FEEL good and then you'll LOOK good.
