What Is Plus Size?
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

What Is Plus Size?

The spectrum is very broad.

67
What Is Plus Size?
lovelace-media

There has been much discussion lately on the topic of plus sized models and what exactly that entails. Beautiful women like Ashely Graham and Myla Delbesio have been called "plus size," and it has sparked quite the debate over how much range this title encompasses.

Your average Victoria's Secret model is roughly 6 feet tall, with a long torso and legs for days. Usually they weigh in at an average of 120 pounds. While they definitely carry a model body (model as in an example to follow or imitate), they are also built with a certain frame.

It is nearly impossible to look like Behati Prinsloo when you were born short and curvy. It's just not in the cards for you. But that does not mean you don't have a gorgeous body in your own right and that you can't serve as a model for similar body types.

To hear this body was referred to as "plus size" is more than appalling. Myla looks lean, healthy and subtly sexy. There is not an inch of fat visible here.

Nor here. Yet somehow she makes the list. We should all be floored and dissapointed by this, seeing as a greater portion of people are striving to attain a body like hers. This is an exemplary body, and it is an achievable goal.

Ashley Graham was seen gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine, donning a not-so-ideal bikini body. Being thicker, Ashley at least comes off as solid and can be an inspiration for girls who are bigger boned. This image empowered many women and promoted the concept of "self love." Ashley proves that while we are not all built like VS Angels, we can still carry bodies we are proud of.

Tess Holliday, is also considered a plus size model.

While a part of me is compelled to respect her confidence, another part of me is perplexed. We should all respect our bodies enough to make fitness a priority and keep our overall health in mind, especially if your body is your work.

Obesity should never be glamorized. This sends a terrible message of complacency and she should in no way be placed in the same category as the women above.

The Dove "Real Beauty" campaign and the #aeriereal movement are all about embracing the body you were born with. They work to combat the overuse of airbrushing and the unfair set of standards set by media and society. These are campaigns we can get behind. They hold messages that allign with reality and set a precedent we can all reasonably follow.

Many celebrities, even ones who do not identify as models, have been scrutinized for their weight. Comedian Amy Schumer was placed in a "special edition" plus size issue of Glamour magazine for being a size 6/8. Schumer responded by saying "We don't need these labels", noting that a size 16 is considered pus size in America and that calling her such sends a bad message to young girls.

The term "plus size" has been so loosely thrown around that its hard to decipher. This term has caused a lot of harm, but it is clearly a sham. We should all look to be more critical, seeing as the scope is far too broad to hold any true meaning. Don't let a title or a label fool you, and don't let it alter the way you see yourself or others. We are all perfectly imperfect, and we should fully embrace that.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

45364
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

28703
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

953236
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

160132
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments