The world of plus-size modeling is changing, but for the women leading the movement, the road to self-love isn’t always easy.
From fighting societal stigmas to overcoming disabilities, four plus-size models shared their insights into the industry.
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Aly Avina, 30, from Virginia, regularly models for brands including Unique and Fabletics and earns an average of around $50,000 (£37,600) a year.
Fo Aly began her career in the fashion industry as a way to share body positive messages with other plus-size women.
“I wanted to reach plus-size women who were not yet satisfied with their appearance,” she explains.
Posting on social media helped her gain a following of over 200,000, but it also inevitably earned her negative reactions.
“There are always people who want to troll the plus-size community,” she said.
“It attracts people who want to tear you down. You’ll hear people say that you’re glorifying obesity just because you have a bigger body.”
However, Avina said she has “taken back the power” through her platform.
“If someone wants to call ‘fat’ negative, that’s their right. But I’m not going to take it as an insult if I’m called ‘fat,’ because that’s just who I am,” she said.
Despite the negativity, Avina emphasizes that body positivity is about accepting yourself, regardless of your size.
Her biggest challenge is ignoring the hate, but she has learned to develop a thick skin.
“You just have to stand up for yourself and not let it affect you,” she said.
Alex Aspasia, 30, a Florida-based Fashion Nova Curve and OnlyFans model, believes brands are still overlooking the larger sizes on the plus-size spectrum.
“I wear a size 24 (UK 28) and I feel like we still lack representation,” she explains.
“The average plus-size model body size is a size 14 or 16 (UK 18 or 20), which is fine, but there are also plus-size women who need representation.”
Aspasia began her journey in 2019 by posting her fashion and lifestyle on social media, inspired by other plus-size creators.
The 5 Best Body Positive Influencers to Follow
- @_nelly_london – Nelly has had a breast correction and has also shared her experiences with eating disorders. Her honesty and openness make her a great follower.
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But she is often accused of promoting obesity simply by existing in her body.
“I never said it was okay to be obese. I told people to love themselves and live authentically,” she said.
“Fatphobia seems to be on the rise again with things like Ozempic and diet culture, but I know people are just projecting their insecurities onto me.”
“I tell people it’s okay to live authentically and love yourself. The best way to go through life is to love yourself and be kind and spread positivity,” she added.
“And that has literally been my message from day one.”
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Ivy Davenport, 38, also from Florida, started modeling to help pay for her education and now owns HFG Multimedia.
“I started online plus size adult modeling to pay for my studies,” she explains.
After one video went viral, Davenport received hundreds of nasty messages, including: “You are disgusting,” “You don’t deserve to breathe,” and “Get away from the fridge.”
Although the nature of her work has caused controversy, Davenport remains indifferent to negative commentary.
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“There will always be people who say hateful things, but I just ignore it or laugh it off,” she said.
“Fat is not a dirty word, it’s a description.”
Through her work as a model, Davenport has developed a deep sense of self-acceptance.
“Through my modeling work I have learned to see beauty in everyone, regardless of size.
“It’s fun, especially in plus-size modeling, because it shines a light on people who might be overlooked in other settings.”
Dutchess Jones, 39, from Alabama, faces unique challenges as a curvy plus-size model, pushing the boundaries between traditionally slim models and larger BBW models.
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“I’m a size 12, so I’m neither skinny nor BBW. For me, it’s hard on both sides, because I’m neither,” she explained.
Jones, who models for emerging designers in the plus-size community, highlighted the lack of inclusive sizing among many designers.
“There are still many boutiques and designers who won’t sell clothes to people larger than a size 38 (UK 42),” she said.
“Many designers don’t want to invest in the fabric or use plus-size models.”
Despite the obstacles, Jones is hopeful about the future of plus-size modeling.
“Lately, the world has become more aware of the talent that plus-size models bring — the spunk, the energy, the talent. There’s more to come.”
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