Bigger Would Be Better On America’s Next Top Model

Amelia
wrote on May 19 2008 @ 04:25 pm: [report]

The thing that bugs me about this isn’t that I don’t think Whitney makes a totally fine winner for the show—it’s the fact that Tyra is just so friggin’ proud of herself for awarding a “big girl” with the title. Whitney isn’t big. She’s normal. referring to her as big on a teen magazine is upsetting. If this contest was about finding a truly high-fashion model who would appear in Vogue or something, I might be applauding a little harder, but being that Whitney’s first job is being on the cover of Seventeen, I think the whole “big girl” thing just feeds into the eating disorder mentality.

Elle
wrote on May 19 2008 @ 06:42 pm: [report]

Her dress size is a size 8, that means that her regular pants size is a lot larger.  My dress size is about two sizes smaller than my pants size and I would think that for Whitney it’s probably the same.  She most likely wears a 12 or larger in pants which would make her plus sized I think.  It’s about time they gave the Top Model prize to a healthy girl, but they should be careful of how they are portraying it in the media. 

Amelia
wrote on May 19 2008 @ 08:18 pm: [report]

I think the whole dress to pants ratio really depends on your actual hip/bust ratio. I wear the same size in dresses as I do in pants, but I know people who don’t. She’s pretty proportional top and bottom so I would be surprised if she’s an 8 in dresses and in her pants as well.

SizeWise
wrote on May 20 2008 @ 03:57 am: [report]

I agree that calling Whitney a plus size is sending out the wrong message. Young people have enough self esteem and body image related issues without this adding to the problem

LovesIt
wrote on May 20 2008 @ 07:14 am: [report]

@Elle.  Is she really a “healthy girl” if she was goaded into gaining weight beyond her natural size?  If she is naturally on the thinner side, she is really messing with her metabolism and putting unnecessary stress on her body and organs.

Honestly, I think she looks great either way and should just be whatever is natural.

fetchfox
wrote on May 21 2008 @ 08:04 pm: [report]

Her measurements are 36”-32”-43” (US) according to her profile at Elite.  http://www.elitemodel.com/details.aspx?navbtn=1&city=NY&modelid=311880&pic=002.jpg&subid=4668&mainsubid=4668&io=111&indx=2

That makes her larger than a size 8.  That makes her anywhere between a 10/12 in upscale casual to 14 upscale designer.  Which is all technically plus sized.  I think that it was irresponsible of ANTM to release an improper size.  They should stick to the “model standard” of height and measurements.  Dress sizes are not standard and vary far too much even within one designers own collection.

LovesIt
wrote on May 21 2008 @ 08:44 pm: [report]

I’m a bit confused here.  I see a size standardization on Wikipedia that sounds like what you’re describing, Fetchfox…. but I have a 31” bust and would be lost in a size 8.  So that chart doesn’t make sense to me.  Plus, then they link to a zero, which is almost the same measurements as the 8.

Can anyone explain this to me?  My curiosity is perked.  Plus, I personally do not think of 36” as “plus-size.”  Are we using UK measurements somewhere in here??

LovesIt
wrote on May 21 2008 @ 08:46 pm: [report]

Actually, I’m going to reply to myself and say I read it more carefully this time around (apparently we have drifted from those standards).  Where’s my edit button??  I still don’t understand 36” being “plus.”

Elle
wrote on May 21 2008 @ 08:56 pm: [report]

I checked out that Wikipedia entry and they are quoting UK sizes.  A 12 in UK is a size 4 in US, which is clearly not plus sized.  UK sizing drives me nuts.  I blew a gasket when H&M;changed their sizing to Euro sizes.  I didn’t understand how I had gone up an entire size in their clothing overnight until I caught on.

cedBlog
wrote on May 30 2008 @ 02:55 pm: [report]

Wow…thank god a normal sized woman won “America’s Next Top Model.” The public needs to start viewing normal sized woman as beautiful and healthy, not “plus sized.” We need a push for healthier models within the fashion industry in order to drive home the severe health risks associated with ‘size 0’. Our CED Blog gives updated information about eating disorders and how to defeat the epidemic that has been a constant challenge for many of us to combat within our society: http://eatingdisorder.org/blog/?p=16.

cedBlog
wrote on June 3 2008 @ 09:53 am: [report]

....and to tack onto my last comment, our CED Blog actually just posted a response about how the media is pigeon-holing Whitney as ‘plus-size.’ check out the entry and let me know what you think: http://eatingdisorder.org/blog/?p=40.