Size 18 "Praised for Beautiful Body"

[SpicyMoth]

I don't really want this to become a thread about whether it's "okay" or not, or about whether the body positivity movement is good or bad because it almost doesn't matter at this point - at least not in terms of what I wanted to get your opinions on, I want to ideally keep this as light-hearted as possible!

Is it just me that has noticed plus sized models you see in the main stream ALSO have unattainable bodies/characteristics?
There's always been a lot of talk about unrealistic beauty standards and unattainable physiques in older school modelling understandably, but it feels like Plus Sized models aren't talked about as much as also featuring those things.

Like... Let's be real here, the majority of size 18's will not have this type of figure.

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/real-life/size-18-model-praised-beautiful-31256311?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=star_main&fbclid=IwAR1_4e0oUBOCTYu8QL622OaP_pFhP2rp55zBCmT_mQr_kD7NW2WwjNg7uVA

Where fat decides to put itself varies from woman to woman. I've been out and about in the real world, it's SO rare to come across someone with extra weight in literally all the "right" places in real life - And that of course not to say that they don't exist, just that having an absolutely perfect hourglass figure with no lumps or bumps or extra rolls/creases is not the norm in real life!

Has anyone else noticed this?

Note; I do have to give credit to some online retailers who do a good job of getting a wide range of shapes as well as sizes!

Is she is USA size 18? She young and pert. Pre kids I'd guess. My observation is that most people whatever they look like have had a partner of some sorts at some time so surely everyone is attractive in someone's eyes?

It's hard to tell what she'd look like standing up straight like a normal person with her pants in a normal position. A lot of influencers use such contorted poses they must look totally different in real life.

She’s never a size 18.

What is feminist about this question?

@SpicyMoth I am a plus sized model - (size 14/16). I've been a model most my life and used to be a size 6-8 when I first started out. It's nice to see the industry changing, as it used to be absolutely brutal! However I agree, we are still not quite where we need to be yet!

I'm a size18 (sometimes a 16) and look similar - but I definitely have much slimmer legs and hips - is she a US sized18?

That’s not a U.K. model that’s a Canadian model so she’s bigger than a U.K. 18.

yes, what’s the ‘feminist’ angle? Perhaps that even ‘plus size’ models are expected to conform to unrealistic fashion, beauty and advertising industry ‘ideals’ on body proportions etc?

Saw a ‘next top model’ episode where there were ‘plus sized’ contestants. The judges were explicit that body proportions in what the industry deemed desirable for that group of models were a key factor in getting work.

I know some plus size models, like Tess Holiday for example, had lipo on their face to remove extra fat there.

I agree - if you are that size, you are unlikely not to have a belly and second chin. I mean, its possible, but very rare. I have nothing against bellies and double chins, just saying that the representation is very unrealistic, the standard is still unattainable. Its like when the older ladies are always thin and with barely any wrinkles, looking stunning - yes, this is exactly like your ordinary 70 yo looks....

I’m an 18 in 40s and look like this. Slimmer on legs and hips actually but taller. Slightly smaller cup size but still pert. Flat profile stomach (when not doing IVF anyhow). Know quite a few with similar shapes so not sure what the point is?

In no way is this meant to be mean, but she looks much bigger than an 18.

The model's body is proportioned according to conventional ideals - ample breasts and bum, smaller waist - but on a much larger scale than is currently fashionable. As pps have noted, she is young and not saggy or wrinkled.

size 18? nope. not unless she is 5' tall.

It's interesting to juxtapose this to a conversation I listened to earlier when driving home from work about the impact being overweight has on health and the cost to the NHS in relation to this (they were focusing on dementia in this instance).

I would love the day to arrive when we stop focusing on the aesthetics of bodies and focussed on quality of life now and in the future.

I liken it, in some ways, to the gender shit..... expectations about what women wear, do for a job, how they behave etc. should not be determined by gendered expectations. The body shape and size we have should also not be determined by perceptions and norms about what is/isn't attractive but rather whether this reflect short, medium and long term positive health outcomes and quality of life.

I say all of this as someone who does not 'look good'. I am lumpy, pear shaped and have massive hips and legs. I am however, a weight and size that keeps my risk of cancer, diabetes, dementia etc at bay.

I am tall and wear a size 18 bottoms and size 14 tops. Most trousers, due to their style, don't fit by enormous legs and when they do, they are rarely long enough. The joy of being my age is that I have fewer and fewer shits to give about this. I want to be healthy, mobile and independent for as long as possible. This is a far more compelling goal than how others judge my size based on their ideas of what is appealing

Gosh, I'm a size 18 and much slimmer than that. Not a dissimilar shape though my thighs and legs are much more toned. But I have large breasts which look fab hiked up in a decent bra/bikini.

I am not sure, even from a feminist perspective we should praise a body that is carrying so much fat. From a feminist point of view it is absolutely right not to fatshame anyone, male or female. But from a health point of view I am not sure it is correct to celebrate a body that is going to be negatively impacted by being overweight. I am overweight and want to lose weight. Am absolutely over losing it for vanity reasons but for health reasons I would like to be slimmer.

It's good that 'real' women are being seen in fashion but what is actually beautiful about being over weight though? So many people carry too much weight and are potential health time bombs. That is shit for the indidual when they get older and have xyz conditions, some of which night have been prevented.
I know some health conditions and prescribed drugs can cause weight gain, but that is understanable but not the norm for the majority.

@Loopytiles @Spinet
"Perhaps that even ‘plus size’ models are expected to conform to unrealistic fashion, beauty and advertising industry ‘ideals’ on body proportions etc?"

Apologies, have been busy since posting, but yes that was the reason why I thought here was the best place to post - to my understanding it was feminism that was pushing for more inclusive body sizes in the beauty industry, but over time I noticed that the inclusivity only went as far as sizes, It sort of stops dead at shapes really - and I wondered if anyone else had noticed, and if so if they had any thoughts as to why that might be, if it's good/bad, if anything could or should be done, or if it's just a matter of time?

THIS, thank you, you've worded it far better than I could- This was more the angle I was trying to get at which is why I posted here rather than elsewhere!

To me at least beauty standards and feminism butt heads just as much as gender stereotypes do!

Wow - only 1 page and we're already at the fatphobic stage of the comments.

"what is actually beautiful about being over weight though?"
"she is huge!!!! never a 16 or 18! dont like that at all"

Sigh.

I don't think talking about what one woman's body looks like is feminist. But then I would rather that people's bodies were not praised or criticised generally as if they are objects rather than the vessel of a person. I realise I am very old fashioned in that though. I do think that praising anyone's body is weird tbh. Fancying it - fine, if reductive. Selling things with it - fine if you enjoy capitalism and its trappings. Saying 'this person should be praised for their body' - really odd when you think about it. It's just nothing is it.

@SpicyMoth Yep- I'm an 18, skinner than this lady but I've got a slight double chin and def got a belly- I am losing weight though as whilst I don't look bad for 61- it's given me some health annoyances

Surely all models have to conform to an unrealistic beauty standard whatever size they are.

Whether you’re a size 8 or 18 you will have to tick certain boxes for the industry I would have thought.

Have you seen some of the older women models? They’re in a narrow definition of beauty- mostly slim, still youthful looking, maybe not what your average woman of the same age looks like.

I’m fat, obese actually, it’s unhealthy and I’m ashamed. It’s not a good look and should be no more glamourised or considered ‘wonderful’ than a photo of a very underweight model.

I agree with @ApocalipstickNow

This applies to all models really, they take what they see as the “best” in all categories according to their narrow standards and promote those ones.

Just like not all slim women are not 5ft 10 with extremely long yet shapely legs, but yet many of their slim models will be.