Plus Size Reality Check?

Wow, I really think some people in the fashion industry need a wakeup call…and as someone who LOVES the fashion industry, loves the runway, loves the print ad campaigns, and the makeup….This is ridiculous. I came across this article recently, and it’s a good article. It’s about a beautiful plus size model who did a photo shoot and her pictures were touched up so severely, that in her own words "I don't think it's an accurate portrayal of my body in any way. I'm a size 10, and that is more like a size 2." Of course there was a backlash and scandal ensued and she was accused of all sorts of things…But that is really not the point of this ramble......…did anyone catch the fact that a size 10 is a plus size model? Really?? Seriously? I must have missed that memo! (A size 14 is typically the starting size to plus sizes).

Lets go over some facts, shall we?

- The average American woman is 5'4", weighs 140 lbs, and wears a size 14 dress.

Let me re-state that. A SIZE 14 IS THE AVERAGE SIZE OF THE AMERICAN WOMAN.

- One-third of all American women wear a size 16 or larger.

- The “ideal” woman – portrayed by models, actresses and Miss America – is 5′7″, weighs 100 pounds and is classified as scarily underweight by WHO standards. (Just so you know, If you are 5’7 and 100lbs, you are a size 0 or 00, yes double 00’s exist)

- 75% of American women are dissatisfied with their appearance.
- 50% of American women are on a diet at any one time.

- Young girls are more afraid of becoming fat than they are of nuclear war, cancer, or losing their parents. (that's about as sad as you can get)

- 50% of 9-year-old girls and 80% of 10-year-old girls have dieted. (WOW)

- 90% of high school junior and senior women diet regularly, even though only between 10% and 15% are over the weight recommended by the standard height-weight charts.

- 1% of teenage girls, and 5% of college-age women become anorexic or bulimic.

- Anorexia has the highest mortality rate (up to 20%) of any psychiatric diagnosis.

So In saying that, I go back to….. Really? And people actually wonder why eating disorders are on the rise. Honestlyyyyy. Don’t get me wrong…I’m not saying this is a freebie to eat crappy, not exercise and be unhealthy, noooo way. I’m not saying the average size is right or wrong. What I am saying is that the fashion industry (particularly the plus size part of the industry in this instance) has it’s facts grossly skewed as to what is the actual size of most Americans.  The worst part is, it does nothing to help the self image and self worth of our little girls, and that my friends, is just plain out not cool. They are all beautiful.

xoxo,

Pixie