You may have seen plus size model Clementine Desseaux on contemporary plus size fashion brand Eloquii’s website or as the face of UK plus size retailer Evans’ Spring 2014 campaign. She has modeled for Igigi, Anna Scholz and others. She was also our January 2013 cover model and voted one of the Hottest Bodies in the Plus Size Modeling Industry by us in our July 2013 issue.
Clementine is definitely one of the most sought after models in the industry and that is something she does not let go to her head. She’s a class act with such a sweet demeanor and that was evident in her recent interview with Refinery29.
The one question that stood out to us was when Clementine was asked, “What are your thoughts on the term ‘plus size’?”:
“It’s not a personal insult; it is a technical industry term used between clients and agents. We shouldn’t be afraid of it, and I am not. I am a model and will sell a product just as well as any other good model, regardless of measurements.”
We have discussed the term “plus size” many times on this blog and several models have given their thoughts on the term, some not so positive. Some don’t want to be called “plus size” and some models, like Clementine and Fluvia Lacerda, embrace the term. This is a conversation that will continue until the fashion industry makes some changes on what exactly “plus size” is within the modeling industry. Is it a size 8? Or should it start at a size 14? Currently, if you’re above a size 4, you’re considered too big for straight-size modeling but too small for plus size modeling. Many of those “in-between” models end up working on the plus side of the industry and this is where the term “plus size” has become vague.
Seeing a size 10/12 model in a fashion campaign geared towards those customers a size 14 and above leads to many of those customers saying that the model is not plus size. Refinery29 asked Clementine for her feelings on this as she has been told she is not “plus size”:
“In my field, you always feel pressure, no matter your size. Back in France, people thought I was too big to be on TV, and here I hear that I’m too small to represent the plus community. I’ve learned you can never please everyone, and the one person you should please and be true to is yourself.”
To read more of Clementine’s interview with Refinery29, click here.
To read past articles on the blog that discussed the controversy over the term “plus size”, click here.
What do you think about the term “plus size”? Please leave us a comment below and let us know.