Plus-Size

Most of you have heard about the controversy surrounding plus-sized model Robyn Lawley, strutting around in a bikini and being absolutely gorgeous, but also being a PLUS-sized model who wears a size 8. Of course the internet has decided that this is unacceptable and is bashing Cosmo (who originally posted the photo) and the fashion industry in general for their take on what is plus-sized.

Well, news flash, people of the internet-this isn't a new concept by any means. The fashion industry has labeled "8" as plus-sized for years.

And before you start hating on, me let me make it absolutely clear that I don't agree with the standard but it's the way it's been for as long as I can remember.

It isn't really that hard to pinpoint when exactly things changed, go back to the Marilyn Monroe era and you'll see what I mean. Marilyn was the epitome of sexiness and beauty and back then her look was the industry standard. Unfortunately that ended in the early 60s with her death.

Not long after her death a new model became the sensation, enter Lesly Hornby aka Twiggy. A pretty face on a young boys body, what could be better? Nothing. After that it was out with the old and in with the new. And now woman (and men) had an ideal, something to achieve.

With eating disorders running rampet in society it's no surprise that people want things to change. In fact, many magazines (I'm looking at you, Australian Vogue) have implemented rules on just how thin is "too thin" to be in their magazine. And sites are banning (or at least attempting to ban) pictures of skeletal women. And watching the Victoria's Secret fashion show in December, I didn't think those models looked sickly or were too thin, they looked fit. They weren't malnourished as far as I could tell. The VS models actually go through some intense workouts to get in shape (look them up on YouTube and see what I mean) not unlike the rigor of Crossfit-just different. (And I just said it was intense like Crossfit not actually anything like it so, Fitties, don't start bashing me)

This is not to say that if I saw Robyn walking down the street I would look at her and think she's fat or too big, because she isn't, she's beautiful as are women of all shapes and sizes. However, the people of the internet did get one thing right, we do need to change the standards and what people think looks good. Unfortunately, there are more people and more money spent on shoving this "Twiggy Ideal" down everybody's throats daily, than there are crusaders trying to change this perception. We need more people to help do away with labels and learn to accept people from size 00 on up. 

And until that happens Robyn will stay in the plus-sized category, whether you agree or not.