When many people think of the word “model”, they think of skinny size zeros, but in 2021, that definition has expanded way beyond this stereotype. Curvy girls are dominating the fashion scene, and that’s partially thanks to these body-positive models in the industry who advocate for visibility and representation, while reminding us that being (and loving) ourselves is the most empowering thing we can do.
Barbie Ferreira
Maybe you recognize this beauty and her fierce brows from Euphoria, but she’s been making waves way before she was an actress. This advocate of body positive girls starred in an Aerie campaign that was totally unretouched. On her role in Euphoria, she told Them magazine she felt that she won the lottery, “Because you don’t get fat girl roles where you’re allowed to explore sexuality, where you’re not just the tragic, dowdy, chubby girl.”
Tess Holliday
The haters will always tell Tess that she needs to lose weight, but she couldn’t care less what you have to say. She’s coined the now-viral IG hashtag #EffYourBeautyStandards, which was founded after strangers left mean comments on her own account. Tess is the perfect person to teach you how to deal with a toxic social media environment, and wants you to know that your personal joy is in your control. As she puts it: “Because of my weight, they don’t see my happiness.”
Ashley Graham
Ashley Graham is one of the pioneers of the body positive movement, and today, she’s a world-famous model who has broken out of the “plus size” box. She was the first plus size model to get on the cover of a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and has also broken boundaries with her lingerie line for plus-size brand Addition Elle. She also showed up as an inspiration coach on MTV’s show Made, teaching an aspiring plus-size model how to make it.
La’Tecia Thomas
Thomas is known for her YouTune videos where she does clothing hauls, as well as discussing how she entered the modeling world as a plus-size queen. Her chats also cover the very important topic of self-love with quotes like “It’s okay to love yourself no matter what your size is.” She’s voluptuous and loving every inch of herself, so why shouldn’t you?
Liza Golden
You may have recognized this model yeas ago when she was rail thin. She was most famous for eating 500 calories a day to hold onto that lean runway body. But Liza Golden decided to turn her life around after fainting and being told she had “fat” thighs. As a result, she reclaimed her body, her eating, and her mindset. She’s now a healthy weight and spreading the good word on accepting your body and nourishing it accordingly.
Charli Howard
Howard was only a size 2 when an agency told her that she was too large to model for them. Instead of internalizing that and starving herself for approval, Howard responded by posting a public letter to them and calling out this problematic behavior. Now, she dedicates her work to accepting bodies, not just in social media posts but in various projects and books that she’s written.
Iskra Lawrence
This blond beauty is all about getting rid of retouched photos for good. She regularly posts on how her body is made smaller and her skin has cellulite airbrushed out with Photoshop. You might recognize her from Aerie campaigns, where she doesn’t allow for any retouching. Her famous IG hashtag is #everyBODYisbeautiful, and she’s been a champion for reducing heavily altered photos.
Emily Bador
Emily Bador doesn’t only have an extremely clever IG handle (@darthbador) but she’s been through the wringer when it comes to modeling. Regarding working in the modeling world, she once stated that she hated herself, even at her thinnest. Today, you can find her celebrating soft bellies and encouraging self acceptance with herself, and her followers.
Neha Parulkar
Neha wants you to know that she’s so much more than her weight, and that you are too. This Indian model fights traditional beauty norms to encourage a more inclusive community, using her IG platform to spread love and body positivity. On Insta, she calls herself “50% Buddha, 50% Beyonce.”
Winnie Harlow
More of a skin positivity icon than a plus size positivity symbol, Winnie Harlow first came on the scene in ANTM as the unique butterfly with vitiligo she is. Harlow’s skin condition has helped make the fashion world more inclusive and diverse.
Jillian Mercado
Mercado is an activist and Latin model who happens to have muscular dystrophy, strutting the runway in her wheelchair. She’s booked a ton of high profile modeling gigs and has been a vocal part of the disabled community. She also founded an online database called Black Disabled Creatives.
