Can the real “plus size model” please stand up? Plus size modeling was one of the most innovative avenues for women of different sizes to showcase in the modeling industry. As early as the 1940′s, the United States began using plus size models for their clothing lines. In recent decades plus size models have become inundated with the question and criticism of are they really plus size models?

This question originating from the modeling industry now coming from plus size models. Some are being told that they are not big enough to use the title “plus size”. This type of antagonistic behavior has aspiring models in a rut. While speaking to an aspiring plus size model out of anonymity, “I did not go to an audition because I felt that I wasn’t going to be big enough”.

Courtesy of Lucas Pictures

The 5’9 model, who at her smallest was size 10/11 and at her largest a size 18, told me she felt too small at size 10/11 and unhealthy at size 18. She states she would have to starve herself to satisfy the “run of mill” print model ads and is most comfortable at size 12. As a young model growing up she had no one to look at as an aspiration and was told to drop 25 to 30 pounds. Today this woman feels she has to be a large woman to be accepted by her model counterparts and says “there is no place for you”. In the spectrum of this highly sought after arena the client will eventually be the judge of the look for their campaign.

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