Featured in this article were Allegra Doherty, Emme, Mia Tyler, Natalie Laughlin, Tami Fitzhugh-Thompson, Audra Marie Perkins and Kate Dillon.

As I read the article I felt a twinge of pride and sorrow. I could not help but realize how much had changed in the industry both good and not so good.

It was great to see fuller figures being embraced in this spread as opposed to the spread that was featured in GLAMOUR Magazine a few months ago. While I absolutely applaud them for including some of today’s most beautiful and well known plus size models it’s clear the models in the 2001 spread look visibly bigger. 

I also found this quote interesting, “If a model lost too much weight, I’d have to let her go,” says Chris Hansen, an executive vice president at Lane Bryant, which hires only models size 14 and larger. ”

I’m pretty certain the biggest model Lane Bryant is using these days is a size 14 and the smallest being a size 10. I can’t help but wonder, what changed?

There are those that say we should just be happy they are using plus size models at all, yet other clothing retailers have been known to use models larger than a size 14 through numerous campaigns.

Ashley Stewart’s numerous campaigns with plus size model and actress Mia Amber are still  some of their consumers favorite to date. Had their sales been lowered by using a “bigger” model would they have also booked her as the face of the Butterfly Bra?

Ashley Stewart is not the only retailer to cross the size barrier. Other clothing companies like Igigi.com, Monif C, Sydney’s Closet, Biluzik and even Kmart have been using “curvier” models and peaking the publics interest.

While the plus size industry has come a long way since 2001, this article also shows how far we have to go. Only our voice and dollars will capture the attention of the powers that be.

If you could create your own spread for a magazine, what seven plus size models would you put together to create the best representation of the plus size modeling industry?

Related posts:

1. PLUS Model Magazine – Adequate Representation For Bigger Models?
2. Plus Size Model Leona Palmer Opens Up About The Modeling Industry
3. PLUS Model Magazine Welcomes Susan Georget Back Into The Plus Size Industry