Robyn Lawley is going to be in this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition; and she is being labeled as a plus sized model. She is 6’ 2” and by varying accounts a size 12. The stunning model, Ashley Graham is also being featured in the issue, as a part of an ad campaign by Swimsuits for All. In the fashion industry where a size 6 is a very remote possibility for even a sample size, both of these ladies are considered plus size. This is where things get murky, because they’re GORGEOUS! There is no doubt about that, but instead of an over abundance of support for either, a celebration, and general admiration; many are choosing this as a time to get on their soapboxes and denounce the fashion industry for once again getting the “label” wrong. Here’s the thing, we know how the fashion industry works. It is not pretty, fair, or in many circles, kind. So why do we continue to go into an uproar, because their idea of beauty does not fit what many think it should be?
People who take up the charge to complain about women being labeled plus sized models will in the same Facebook post belittle and ridicule a woman for being skinny; calling her anorexic, bulimic, and make a host of other rude and defaming comments. When in actuality she may just be “skinny”. But somehow that is appropriate, because??? Because it is under the guise that young girls are being taught they must be skinny or that they are not beautiful if they are larger? But are you not also teaching a little girl that she is not pretty if she is small or too tall? Is it not ridiculous that you post things like real women have curves, as if a skinny woman is simply a figment of our imaginations? People quote the shady statistics they have found on some deep, dark corner of the internet about an eating disorder epidemic, but ignore the statistics that also point out the high numbers of obesity that run rampant in both children and adults. (And you can find out more about eating disorders here.)
What is at issue here is not the fashion industry. They are doing their job. But us on the other hand; for the most part, we do not work there and we are not models. We don’t have to significantly define ourselves or other women by any of these labels. Many times it is us that shoots the very bullet that kills confidence in young girls and ourselves. It is not an industry, a magazine, a TV show, or an actress; it is us. This is a teachable moment. One where you can sit down with a young girl, a young man, hell; sit down with yourself and say this is a beautiful “WOMAN”. That is the only label any of us need.
