Plus Size Modeling News: Model Whitney Thompson Does Interview With Hello! Magazine; Says The Problem With The Industry Is ‘Plus Size Isn’t Plus Size
Plus size model Whitney Thompson has always been vocal about her feelings regarding the fashion industry as well as doing her part in trying to bring to light the issues of negative body image and eating disorders that happen often in the modeling world. She continues to campaign for a pro-healthy/fuller figured modeling industry.
She is the spokesperson for the National Eating Disorders Association and loves being a role model to young women. Whitney, who was the first plus model to win America’s Next Top Model, recently did an interview with Hello! Magazine where she expressed her thoughts on the industry, Karl Lagerfeld, eating disorders and body confidence.
Whitney told Hello! Magazine that she feels the industry has a long way to go in accepting healthier, fuller figures as beautiful. She said:
“Like I said, we’ve changed in some ways, but it’s almost become a ‘jump on the bandwagon’ kind of thing. It’s popular right now so a lot of people want to do it, but do I think Karl Lagerfeld is serious about loving plus size? No, absolutely not. He just wants the money.”
She goes on to say:
“I think we have to work on that, and the problem really is that plus size isn’t plus size. When Tyra Banks was a size six (UK size 10), she modeled for Calvin Klein. Now size six is considered a plus in the States but the average American woman is a size 14 (UK size 18) and we’re saying that if you’re half that size you’re still too far. That’s the problem – it’s not realistic.”
Whitney travels often to speak at universities and talk about body image within the industry. She told Hello! Magazine that she is very candid and honest to young women when she talks about being a model:
“I tell them about how it’s an illusion. The majority of runway models are under the age of sixteen. We’re putting girls on the runway who haven’t hit puberty yet because they’re naturally much thinner and we look at the girls and say “well I want to be like that”. Well of course you want to be that size but no matter how much you work out, you can’t take back puberty!”