by Stephanie L. Bryant

Created on: June 13, 2008   Last Updated: March 26, 2011

Should plus-size clothing be modeled by plus-size models? That is such a silly question. First of all, plus size models are just as, if not more, beautiful than the anorexic standard model the world praises.

Second, if the close are made for bigger women, isn't it only fair that they are modeled by the body type they are made for? What looks good on a skinny girl does not look the same on a plus size woman. It is false advertising. No respectable plus size woman wants to go to a store or a fashion show that announce that the line is for the full figured woman and see them being displayed by a stick figure.

Third, people who think otherwise are kidding themselves. Their discriminating narrow mindedness shows the decline of our society. Full figured ladies deserve a chance to model the clothes made for their body type just as much as bikini models deserve the chance to model, well, bikinis. Why on earth would anyone think that plus size should be modeled by a size 10? Also, could someone tell me when a size 10 is considered being plus? If that is the case then at a size 18, I must be GIGANTIC!

My point is that whatever clothes they are, they should be modeled by the people they were made for. Be it size 2 or size 22. No one should feel bad for what size they are. All women should feel beautiful, and when they are not represented appropriately in the fashion industry, they feel inadequate. Designers should realize that when a woman feels that you don't understand them and their bodies, they are less likely to buy your clothes and will buy from those who understand their figures and those who are secure enough in their company to have full figured people model their plus size line.

I commend companies like Lane Bryant and Catherine's who make beautiful clothes that are displayed on plus size manikins and on plus size models in their ads. Full figured is beautiful.

With a good portion of the population being a size 14 and up, it is about time that we be represented in the modeling world, from local shows, reality shows, all the way to fashion week.

Most importantly, showing that you don't have to be a size 0 shows girls and young women everywhere that they don't have to starve themselves to be beautiful. Having plus size models in the clothes that make their bodies look gorgeous will give them the self esteem to think that maybe one day they could be one of those models.

If having plus size models model their own clothes helps with women's self esteem and helps other plus size women break into the industry, how can that be wrong?

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