25 Days of the Unpopular: Normal-Sized Models

We've all heard the schpeel: a runway model's look is not what a normal, healthy woman should look like and we shouldn't be imitating them and their unhealthy habits to gain a better self-image and blah blah blah. But still, we all do that, don't we? I wish I had Cara Delevigne's or Candice Swanepoel's body, but they probably don't know the pleasure of eating Ben & Jerry's at 11 PM, so why bother, you know. The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was tonight, and while I was watching, I wondered "If these were plus-sized models, or just normal-sized models, would people still find it so intriguing?" And the answer is probably no, which I think is sad. However, I was quite surprised by the models in this year's show. In the past, the models have looked unfed and stick thin. All runway models look like this. But this year I noticed that the models weren't as thin as they usually are. They were still way smaller than the normal woman should be, but rather than looking unfed, they looked toned and fit. Rather than showing off their ribs, they showed off their abs. And there were a few models who actually had some hips, which is a step in the positive direction.

A few months ago, Whitney Thompson, the winner of the 10th cycle of America's Next Top Model, came to my school. She's a plus-sized model and she gave a presentation about the negative mental and physical health aspects of the modeling/fashion industry. She also shared with us some of the awful things modeling agencies and fashion designers have said about plus-sized models. I thought it was very interesting and I'm happy that someone like her is taking a stand on the issue. The Victoria's Secret models, who are called "angels", are some sort of delusional fantasy that many women try to imitate. They encompass what's unattainable for most females. It's a societal imbalance. We've been subconsciously told that this is what perfection is considered to be and if we can't look like it, then we aren't pretty or desirable. If these so called "angels" were plus-sized models, would you still try to imitate them? 

I was glad to see that the models in this year's show looked more healthy and fit. I think, and I hope, that it's the start of slowly progressing towards a more normal-sized modeling and fashion industry. I know that this topic has been repeated many-a-time and that I'm not being particularly creative with it, but I think it is something worth sharing! Like sorry I don't look like Kendall Jenner, but there's some cookies that need to be eaten.