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The idea that plus sized women modeling clothing is "not sexy enough" suggests that emitting sex appeal is the only concern at hand. What of confidence? What of consumer appeal? What of reaching out to the population of women who aren't "skinny enough", yet wish to feel equally validated by the media? You can bet a plus-size company using thin, waify models isn't going to garner much respect or capital from a plus-size woman.

From a business perspective, if you want to sell clothes, you'd better related to your customer on every possible level. Reach out to them, connect with them, and show them how your product will look on their specific body type. This cannot be achieved if a legit reflection of your target customer is utterly missing from your campaign.

Whether you consider runway or editorials, size double zero couture is modeled by tall, thin models. Why? Size double zero garments look good on them. It only makes sense that plus-size women should likewise model the clothing designed and marketed towards their consumer group.

It's a sensitive thing to discuss in a society where the only large woman depicted positively in fashion magazines is in a "before" photo of some weight loss advertisement. We are obsessed with makeovers, cosmetic surgery, miracle diets, and anything else that promises to push us an inch closer to that vague concept of physical perfection. Thus, the idea of showcasing something decidedly imperfect by society's standards sends a tremor through the crowd.

It is also unrealistic to approach this debate with the idea that supporting plus-size models means you're all for watching scantily clad morbidly obese women on the catwalk, or that intimate apparel advertisements should eliminate women with toned figures forever. These extreme images can be used to twist the debate, but they carry little weight in the scheme of practicality and reality.

The point is simply that a model should suit the garment, and the garment should suit the model - from swim wear to sportswear to evening wear and back again. This is not only a matter of psychological satisfaction for applicable plus-size consumers, but a mandatory strategy on the part of the clothing label.

It's a mistake to approach this as an overweight vs. skinny debate. There's no need to pin thin models as less worthy to walk the runway, just because they flatter the tiny samples whipped up for Fashion Week. If diversity and fairness is what we seek, then it is enough to support the employment of appropriate body types according to the clothing markets in question, one step at a time, so that the evolutionary acceptance of larger models can be realized by large and small alike.

Learn more about this author, Michelle Christina Larsen.
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