After years of songwriting for artists such as Eminem and Selena Gomez, as well as reaching 1 billion Spotify streams herself in 2018, Bebe Rexha has been nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammys 2019. Despite this success, Rexha took to Twitter to state that top designers are refusing to dress her for the award ceremony because, at a US size 8 (UK 12), she is ‘too big.’ In a video posted across her social media, Bebe states: ‘If you don’t like my fashion style or my music that’s one thing. But don’t say you can’t dress someone that isn’t a runway size.’
There have been outpourings of support for Rexha, particularly from renowned body positivity advocates, including Jameela Jamil, Tyra Banks and Leona Lewis, who are praising her for her honesty and branding the designers who snubbed her as ‘outrageous’ and ‘DUMB.’
And they’re right. Refusing to dress Bebe based purely on her size is not only damaging to the body image of real women, who average a size 16 in the UK, but also highlights the glaring sexism which still exists in the industry. As a talented, creative and inspiring woman for many, shouldn’t designers be prioritising this over her (frankly refreshingly healthy-looking) body?
Unfortunately, it is also not a rare occurrence for curvier stars to struggle finding designers to dress them. Rachel Bloom was told her body type was not slim enough for Gucci to consider dressing her, whilst comedy legend Melissa McCarthy was rejected by several designers ahead of the Oscars in 2012.
Ultimately, Bebe Rexha shunned the designers back, stating ‘I don’t want to wear your dresses…and my size 8 ass is still going to the Grammys.’ Their loss!