Black Plus-Size Models Are Underrepresented, Says Tasha Fierce

Jezebel.com:

Until the straight size world fully accepts their black models, plus size black models are unlikely to achieve any more success than their thin sisters. Unfortunately neither of these things seem likely to happen soon. We as plus size women are expected to be happy with what we're given, sighing "At least we're making some progress." Yet in the fashion world progress is so often followed by regress. We as fashion consumers and drivers of commerce need to continue to work to represent our diversity in the hopes that mainstream fashion will take notice, and that this won't just be another trend.

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Comments

[Balzac]

06:28 PM on 04/28/2010

Looking fine.

[T-Faz]

06:37 AM on 04/28/2010

If anyone has nude pics, please let me know

[ReformedRepublican]

12:47 AM on 04/28/2010

It is good to see plus sized models being used more frequently. Body image for young girls and for women is the cause of many problems. And, yes, we need to work on effective representation as well.

[rain33]

03:37 PM on 04/27/2010

tasha fierce is right about black plus-size models not being represented enough throughout our media circus meaning our television and magazines. i don''t mind the sizes 14-24 being represented but if you're over 14-24, your still a beautiful person regardless. i am a plus-size woman and i am proud of my figure so i would like to see more representation for once.

[The Albany Kid]

01:05 PM on 04/27/2010

Great piece!

Two issues, though: 1) Regarding the seven women in that Glamour spread, Ms. Fierce claimed that that there was only one woman of color....however, including Ashley Graham (recently of Lane Bryant fame), there were *two* women of color (Ms. Graham has been featured in Latina magazine); and 2) I believe that Ms. Fierce shoud have mentioned how prominent Black full-figured model Toccara Jones has become.

[copelli21]

01:47 PM on 04/27/2010

Prominent? Toccarra's largest layout was Black Vogue. I barely see her nowadays (aside from guest spots in ANTM) and certainly not in more mainstream or national magazines....and that woman is gorgeous.

The article by Tasha Fierce was right on point.

There are a couple of black full size models who get regular catalogue work...in plus sized clothing catalogues.

But even with the introduction of plus-sized models to the runway and in more mainstream mags, women of color are still pretty much invisible.

I give Crystal Ren her props for breaking into more mainstream fashion mags as a full-sized model, but where is her black counterpart? Her latina counterpart? Asian maybe? Any woman of color?

This brings us full circle to the problem of representation of women of color in fashion overall. It's great that the ACTUAL sizes of American women can be seen on runways, now can we get even more accurate and add some diversity to that image and get some color up in there, so the female population is truly represented in all its splendor?!

[The Albany Kid]

04:09 PM on 04/27/2010

I agree with all of your excellent points, copelli21....especially that there needs to be more ethnic / racial diversity in this new (and wonderful) plus-size trend. One plus-size model of color who is *way* underrated (IMHO) is Jordan Tesfay; I'd love to see her (and others, of course) get more exposure.

On a side note, I hope that the media start acknowledging Ashley Graham's Latina heritage....it would be so unfortunate for the masses to perceive as simply having a nice "suntan".

[SukiTheCat]

12:17 PM on 04/27/2010

since when did models become so darn important in society...

[TraceyES]

05:11 PM on 04/27/2010

Since mainstream American culture became so vapid that "USA Today" is considered "intelligent reading," and reality television shows that run on the Discovery channel are considered high-brow intellectual achievements.

[negirl]

11:46 AM on 04/27/2010

The Lane Bryant print ads are full of black Plus size models.

[DeePDX]

12:24 PM on 04/27/2010

That's the word negirl....print ads

And the print ads are for their commercial lines, like catalogues (sp).

The Lane Bryant ad that ran on ABC, which was pulled, featured a white model. Don't get me wrong, she's beautiful, however her being in the ad still demonstrates that their is a standard of beauty even at its most contrived of using a white plus sized model opposed to a black woman.

[Kenan Cross]

12:52 PM on 04/27/2010

Uh What?

The model in the Lane Bryant ad was LATINO! Not white! What were you looking at?