On Tuesday, November 11, TheGuardian.com posted an article titled “Calvin Klein ads featuring ‘plus size’ model Myla Dalbesio ignite online debate.” Dalbesio, currently featured in Calvin Klein’s underwear campaign, is a US size 10, and apparently also plus-sized. Anthony Higgins, director at MSA Models, has had over 15 years experience representing curvy women and says, “A plus sized model, in the past, was a size 10 to 12 – up to a size 18 for fashion. Now, they are calling a size 8 plus sized.” This comment alone brings up the chilling reality of the modeling industry as well as society’s notion of what the standard for beauty is.
While the controversy was directed at the designer himself, the actual tagline for the campaign was “Perfectly Fit,” and it placed Dalbesio alongside the straight size models with no distinction between who was straight sized and who was plus sized. Although she describes herself as “in between,” plus-sized modeling agencies place the label “plus sized” to anyone at a UK size 12 (US size 8) or over. Elle Magazine, which originally conducted this interview with her, also referred to her as a plus size model, prompting this wave of controversy.
The public has been asking why “normal” sized women can’t be used in high profile campaigns for years. This brings us to the question: why is it so weird for us to see a plus sized woman featured in a high profile catalog?
The use of “plus-sized” models, or “normal sized” as some would say, has been becoming more prominent in the fashion industry recently. Vogue Paris ran a plus-size edition in 2010 featuring some very high profile models. Even plus-sized clothing sales of size 14+ clothes exceeded $16 billion in the US in 2013, according to Forbes Magazine. Perhaps our notions of plus-sized will soon evolve as models like Myla come into the public eye. Is plus-sized finally being accepted by society?
In light of the controversy her interview in Elle ignited, Myla reacted with grace and left us with an inspiring message: “I love that after working in the fashion industry for nine years, I have finally found my place, right in the middle. Neither plus, nor straight size, I love that I can be recognized for what I am, a healthy size 10.” This is the message that we, as both college students and young women, should be sending to younger girls. It’s okay to not be a size 2. As long as you are healthy and confident, never let media or a label, such as “plus sized,” hinder you from missing out on the amazing things in life.