Not AGAIN! Twitter in a huff over Calvin Klein’s first ‘Plus-Size’ model
The size of models in the media is always a controversial topic, so it’s little wonder Coronation Street actress Catherine Tyldesley caused a stir yesterday when she questioned the meaning of ‘plus-size’ in an angry tweet.
Using an image from a Calvin Klein campaign, the soap star tweeted: “Tell me this is a joke?? PLUS size?!?! Congrats on giving another generation of girls eating disorders.”
The photo features 29-year-old American model Myla Dalbesio who – at a UK size 10 – was called plus-sized by Elle magazine in a 2014 interview.
Tell me this is a joke??PLUS size?!?! Congrats on giving another generation of girls eating disorders/insecurities pic.twitter.com/Al7QbxuraZ
— Catherine Tyldesley (@Cath_Tyldesley) June 22, 2016
When that article was released almost two years ago people began referring to Myla as Calvin Klein’s first plus-sized model – despite the fact CK had never actually used the term to describe the American beauty.
The reactions to the soap star’s tweet were as expected – a lot of unhappy people wondering why on earth the former pageant winner would be called plus-sized.
But the model in question has now come out on social media to clarify that she is not actually considered plus-sized by her agency and to explain that things are changing in the industry.
@Cath_Tyldesley @chowsheperd awful that she would be labeled plus size. No wonder society wise we are screwed up when it come to body image
— MJD (@MJDeg39) June 22, 2016
@Cath_Tyldesley This is horrendous! Do they not understand how fragile young girls are?? aarrghhh gets me mad
— Julie Marsh (@mrsdazo) June 22, 2016
She wrote: “I am not plus size. I have never been plus size. Which is confusing, I understand, because for the first 8 years of my modeling career, that is the segment of the industry that I worked in.”
“Why is that? Because 10 years ago, when I started modeling, no "straight size" board would sign anyone above a size 2-4 (and even size 4 was pushing it). Working under that label was the only way I could work.”
“Luckily, things have changed in that regard. I am happily on the main board at @nextmodels, which does not distinguish any difference in size or shape of it's models, just represents them as they are, without labels.”
The model – who also works as a photographer and writer – finished by asking women to quit body-shaming and be kinder to one another.
“But I also think it is important for women that are my size to see themselves represented. Let's not begrudge them (or me) for that.”
“Can we all just work on understanding each other? Body shaming, whether it be too fat, too skinny, too athletic, etc. is unfair for all. We all want to be healthy, we all want to be beautiful, we all want to belong.”
"I DESERVE TO BE REPRESENTED AND YOU DO TOO. We all do. And we all can be, if we start encouraging and supporting one another instead of picking each other apart."
