Plus-Size Models

I saw this on the news the other night, and thought it was awesome. The first size 16 model to make it to the finals of the Miss England. Personally, I think she is absolutely gorgeous.
I wanna know what you guys think.
Do you think that it's good that there is a realistic sized model in this competition? (I live in Australia, so I only know bits bout it).
Do you think its good how she is helping break the skinny model stereotype?
And yeah, just your thoughts on it =]
I posted a link to the article if you wanna read more, or if you don't really know what its about.

The Article Here

And I'm pretty sufre it fits here... yer. I wasn't positive but I think it would be good to have a discussion on it =]

I watched this last night too.
I have to say, its good that a 'bigger' model made it.
She was quite beautiful, too.

I think that women would appreciate seeing someone their actual weight, not just a skinny blonde, modelling something.

I think this is great.
Not everyone in the world is going to be a size 0!
Maybe this is what pop culture needs, to see realistic expectations of a person's weight.

I agree wtih everyone above. She is quite pretty and very well represents average sized people and not the standar stick thin model.

i think its a good thing that they have a normal size model
i just hope shes not pressured into all the modeling stuff like anerexia and belimia,that would be horrible, to finally have some order in the world and then have it killed because the poor women was pressured

I am probably going to be scolded by everyone for this, but here goes:

I totally aggree that, it is really great that larger girls are out there saying 'you are beautiful, no matter what size you are'
However, The size 16 model in question, says she is curvy, but in all honesty, she is just over weight.

yes, id agree that she is definately a more realisitc representation. she isnt that much over weight. she looks fairly good. she's definately not fat.
the article does mention the models who died from anorexia.

and the thing that confuses me, is that society is saying "you cant be overweight. its bad for you and etc. but you cant be too skinny cos thats bad for you." and then they say that we have to be inbetween, and give a perfec/exact weight that people should be for their height and age, and then try to get accross to us that no-one is perfect and that we should embrace what we have. (a little side tracked, i know. lol) but they are ontradicting themselves!

also, i just wanna say, im so happy that she made it that far. i admit, im over weight, and seeing that a girl who is overweight is confident enough to 1. model and 2. model in a bikini totally gives me a bit more confidence, and makes me feel a little bit better

squiggly.:

Also, what about the countless numbers of models who are underweight? Is that any different?

That's the thing, being over weight can be as dangerous as being under weight.
And Although it's healthier for people to see a more real representation, like the model in question, I still don't think being under, or over weight should be glamourised.

a thousand apologies:

I agree with Simple And Clean. Yes, it is refreshing to see a more "real shaped" model.

However, she is not at a healthy weight, and I feel it gives off the same impression as overly skinny models do - that's it's okkay to be that weight. While it may be healthier that being too skinnuy, it's still not ideal and shouldn't be glamourised. They will be seen as role models and it will become almost acceptable to be this weight, and it's not healthy.

how do you know that she is not at a healthy weight though?
i mean, sure, she is a little bit overweight, but she may eat healthily and exercise regularly, but not have a fast metabolism. she may be fairly healthy, you never know. my friend is a size 16. she is probably around that size, and she is pretty healthy. she exercises (plays a lot of sports) and eats fairly healthily. she is a very healthy person, and has no problems from the weight she is.
i dont think she heaps overweight. and i agree. most models i see are no-where near a normal size. they are all skinny or too skinny. ive never seen models that are a normal, healthy weight.

Marilyn Monroe was a size 16, and she is considered by many to be the ideal in feminine beauty.

Women are by our very nature supposed to be curvy. We have a waistline because the bones of our hips are made to spread to accomodate pregnancy and childbirth. Often in forensic investigations it is the hipbones which tell the researcher whether it is a female or male specimen. Our breasts are meant to nourish a child. A woman with no waistline and no breasts is unnatural.

Besides, with vanity sizing, no one actually knows what size they are anymore. I bought 6 pairs of shorts and pants last weekend ranging in size from 12 to 18. Laid on a bed, one on top of the other, they all have the same waistline and the same measurements in the hips. So what am I? A 12? An 18? Or a size in the middle? I have underpants that are a size 9, but labeled XXL right next to the 9. It's ridiculous.

I don't understand why it is such a big deal now, that a woman of average size is considered plus-size next to her waifish counterparts.

Actually, I'm fairly sure Monroe was a size 12... Which today would still qualify her as plus-sized.

I have seen this story... I think it's great that this young woman is doing this. While she does appear to be somewhat overweight, as far as I can tell, she is not dangerously so and looks like she's probably pretty fit. (She looks better in a bikini than I do, for one thing, and I'm a size 8.)

I'm Going To Agree With Most Of You On This One.
I Personally Thnk That The Lady Who Got Through To The Miss World Finals Is Gorgeous!

I Think She's Getting It WAY Too Hard From The Media. I Mean, First They Bash Paris Hilton And Co For Being TOO Skinny. (I Admittidly Agree With Them!)
But When A Size 16 Model Comes Along- They Call Her A Bad Role- Model.
Even Though She Eats Healthily And Does Exercise.
She's Also Very Happy About Her Body, Whcih Most People Aren't.
To Me, That's A Good And Positive Role Model.

I think it's absolutely awesome that a larger model made it into the finals. She is a very beautiful person, seems very humble, and sends out a good message to young girls and teens. It's awesome that she won and I really hope she wins.....

Radio Saturday:

Actually, I'm fairly sure Monroe was a size 12... Which today would still qualify her as plus-sized.

Was she? I couldn't remember. I knew she was average then, but would be considered plus-size today. Thanks for the correction, because I use that example often.

Also, and I wish I could remember the source, but I did my college thesis on "The Role of Advertising On Women's Negative Self-Image and Gender Stereotypes" and one of my sources then stated that the average size of the American woman was a 14 -- again, still considered plus-size. I will point out, however, that I wrote this thesis in 1998, my junior year of college, so I am sure it may have changed and gone up to a 16 by now with the obesity rates having gone up in the US over the last decade. I'm sure I still have the thesis in a box somewhere with the copious footnotes, but it's probably in storage.

amyy.vengeance:

a thousand apologies:

I agree with Simple And Clean. Yes, it is refreshing to see a more "real shaped" model.

However, she is not at a healthy weight, and I feel it gives off the same impression as overly skinny models do - that's it's okkay to be that weight. While it may be healthier that being too skinnuy, it's still not ideal and shouldn't be glamourised. They will be seen as role models and it will become almost acceptable to be this weight, and it's not healthy.

how do you know that she is not at a healthy weight though?
i mean, sure, she is a little bit overweight, but she may eat healthily and exercise regularly, but not have a fast metabolism. she may be fairly healthy, you never know. my friend is a size 16. she is probably around that size, and she is pretty healthy. she exercises (plays a lot of sports) and eats fairly healthily. she is a very healthy person, and has no problems from the weight she is.
i dont think she heaps overweight. and i agree. most models i see are no-where near a normal size. they are all skinny or too skinny. ive never seen models that are a normal, healthy weight.

I remember reading her BMI was like 27, when it should be 20, and I know that the BMI isn't always particuarly accurate, but the weight that she is is not a healthy one.
Not to sound like a complete cow or anything. "/