The Model Body
Posted on: June 3rd, 2015
Tess Holliday, a plus-size model, has garnered considerable attention from the mainstream media lately. She graced the cover of People Magazine with the headline: “The World’s First Size 22 Supermodel! From Bullied Teen to Plus-Size Star.” Holliday is part of a fairly recent trend that has fashion companies hiring plus-size models to showcase their clothing in all types of advertising – even on catwalks. Holliday captured headlines because she signed with two major modeling agencies: Milk Model Management and Bella Model Management.
“Plus-size” modeling first entered the vernacular about thirty-five years ago, and has been a slow but steadily growing trend ever since. Models above size ten are generally considered plus-size by the industry. Early on, top fashion brands put plus-size models on magazine covers as gimmicks to generate positive PR and then went right back to using size 0-4 models in their advertising. However, the population changed in recent decades, with more and more people becoming heavier to a point where fashion brands couldn’t ignore the market opportunity. Today a growing number of brands are expanding their size offering to include larger individuals.
We are moving in a positive, more inclusive direction, but unfortunately 0-4 size models still have a dominant presence in the media.
These images perpetuate the “thin ideal” in our culture, severely limiting our acceptance of different body types. The prevailing attitude is that all of us should be thin and there’s something wrong with us if we’re not. This distorted social norm can be particularly damaging to those on a path to developing or already suffering from eating disorders. These individuals are prone to high levels of social anxiety, self-consciousness and body dysphoria, so they already have profound feelings of shame that they’re not measuring up. And to make matters worse they’re often the victims of teasing.
Teasing may seem harmless, but research shows it’s a common catalyst for self-destructive behavior, including the adoption of unhealthy, unsustainable diets. When the diet inevitably fails, the disappointment can lead to full-blown disorders, including anorexia, bulimia and binge eating.
The “thin ideal” images that saturate the media have enormous power. For many, they can set up an unhealthy relationship with food and for some they can trigger eating disorders, which can have devastating consequences in people’s lives.
If you’re struggling with food issues and suspect you may have an eating disorder please contact Maureen Kritzer-Lange Psychotherapy. With our help you can break the destructive cycle and create balance in your life. Call 973-313-1691 or email info@maureenkritzerlange.com
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