The Women on Page 198: Glamour Continues Dialogue on Body Image
posted by: Ximena R. 23 days ago
Do you remember the woman on page 194?
Her bare-it-all image in Glamour magazine’s September issue stirred quite the buzz early this fall when it hit newstands. With thousands of comments and over a million page views on glamour.com the picture of "plus-size" model Lizzie Miller struck a cord with women across America.
Glamour editor-in-chief Cindi Leive was inundated with positive feedback on the picture and promised readers that Glamour was listening and "committed to celebrating all kinds of beauty." I was skeptical that Leive would hold true to her promise, but I was pleasantly surprised when I turned to page 198 of this month's issue and found not one but seven beautiful "plus-size" models starring back at me in a two-page spread – all au naturale.
The models – including now infamous Miller – have been assembled by Glamour to "continue the extraordinary dialogue on body image" that began with Miller's picture just a few months ago. In the article Glamour reaffirms its commitment to showcasing a wide range of body types – even despite the challenges presented by the fashion industry.
Did you know that samples of designer clothing are almost always cut to a size zero to four? Without sample size clothing in larger sizes, finding current fashionable clothing for "plus-size" models to wear is a difficult challenge. Fashion editors can't just buy "plus-size" models clothes from stores because those designs would be off the racks and impossible to purchase by the time magazines hit newsstands.
Fed up with the limiting sizes of sample clothes, British Vogue editor, Alexandra Shulman wrote an angry letter to scores of top designers in England and America. In the letter she accuses designers of supplying magazine’s with "minuscule" garments for photo shoots thus making them hire models with "jutting bones and no breasts or hips." Shulman continued, "We have now reached the point where many of the sample sizes don’t comfortably fit even the established star models." Having such a powerhouse of the fashion world pen such a letter is an important (and hopeful) step, but only time will tell the impact.
What I found refreshing in Glamour's article was the recognition that "plus-size models aren't all that 'plus.'" According to Glamour senior bookings editor, Jennifer Koehler, the sample-size problem means that any model larger than a size four will have trouble getting work because she won't fit in the clothes and a woman over a size 6 could be moved to the plus-size division. Jennie Runk, one of the "plus-size" models pictured in the article's two-page spread, even admits to wearing padding to fit the "plus-size" clothing she is given to model because she is too small.
The absence of sample clothing in larger sizes is prohibitive to magazines who want to book "plus-size" models and creates a high demand for thin models who fit the designs. In their continued support of portraying a wider range of body types, Glamour promises to support any designer who manufactures clothing that can be used on full-bodied models. The magazine also promises to not only give "plus-size" models work but the "same great work straight-size models get, partnering with top photographers, stylists, and makeup artists."
I was also pleased to see that this month Glamour pictured Scarlett Johansson – a celebrity who has advocated for a healthy body image frequently in the past – on the cover. Most recent she authored a blog on the Huffington Post in response to rumors that she crash dieted to lose 14lbs while training for an upcoming film. "I'm frustrated with the irresponsibility of tabloid media who sell the public ideas about what we should look like and how we should get there," Johansson said. "The press should be held accountable for the false ideals they sell to their readers regarding body image — that's the real weight of the issue."
So, what do you think? Is Glamour living up to its promises of celebrating "all kinds of beauty?" Are you encouraged by this month's issue? If so, what will it take to get other magazine's to follow suit? If not, what can Glamour and other women's magazine's do to portray a wider range of beauty?
It's important that we continue this discussion – loudly and passionately – so that real changes are made to escape the thin-beauty ideal we have all become so accustomed to.
What I'd like to see is the picture on page 198 on the cover and the women sporting today's latest fashion trends in clothes that fit and celebrate their bodies.
More from Glamour:
On the C.L.: Are you Ready to Start a Body Image Revolution? Oh, Wait – You Already Did!
Supermodels Who Aren't Superthin: Meet the Women Who Proudly Bared it All
Body-Confidence Secrets From Plus-Size Model Crystal Renn
More from Care2:
End The Fat Talk: Friends Don't Let Friends Talk Fat
Stylist Quits After Designer Decides to Showcase “Plus-Size” Models
Life Doesn't Have to Wait Until You Are Skinny: Plus-Size Model Crystal Renn Reveals All in New Book
The Woman on Page 194: Plus-Size Model Bares All For Glamour
Read more: womens rights, plus-size model, body image, crystal renn, lizzie miller, glamour magazine, fashion industry
comments
"I think that the only thing that is still sad about these articles is that they are calling these women "plus sized", when in actuality, this is the average size of women in the U.S.."
Because the average size of U.S. women is considered "plus-size" while the average "plus-size" is considered obese.
"Although the French will probably be slow to take this up, they seem to prefer the sickly skeletal look."
The French actually imposed a rule that made it illegal to put any kind of material that promoted anorexia or bulimia or any kind of self-loathing. And in Italy they're prefering healthier-looking models over the dead-looking ones.
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I think that the only thing that is still sad about these articles is that they are calling these women "plus sized", when in actuality, this is the average size of women in the U.S.. But it is wonderful that people are starting to realize that there are beautiful women out there that are not a size 2.
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Were those plus size women in the picture? 'cause they were hot.
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Ain't it grand! Beautiful picture of beautiful women. Amazing that we're almost to the end of 2009 and we're still dealing with stereotypical crap of:
1. Women get FAT - Men become PORTLY
2. Women look OLD - Men look DISTINGUISHED
3. Older men with a younger woman are admired.
4. Older women w/ younger men are robbing the
cradle or the male has a mother complex.
We've definitely made progress, but scratch the surface and it's all still there. LOL
Good job, Glamour - give us more!
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I love this beautiful image. Real women with real body shapes.
Although the French will probably be slow to take this up, they seem to prefer the sickly skeletal look.
These women are glowing with good health. Well done!
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I guess this is one of the most beautiful pictures I ever seen because is natural, is real!! We women are real, not a stick or a zombie. ;) Congrats!!!
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What a beautiful, glowing photo. These healthy women in the prime of their lives show us how to really be beautiful!
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Absolutely brilliant!
I think the fact these women ARE nude enhances the attempt by Glamour to portray the 'average' woman's body to society; we can see the natural curves which define the majority, unlike the airbrushed models who typically are featured.
Let's hope this isn't a '1 off' and other forms of media pick up on the fact we can be beautiful no matter our size.
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"I like the notion of putting "real women" into photo shoots, however, I would prefer it if the women would be clothed.....why make them into sex objects...doesn't that defeat the whole point?"
Who said they were being turned into sex objects? Not every nude photo is about objectification or sex.
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Yes, this is more how real women should look. A healthy weight for one woman may not be a healthy weight for another woman. We should not be stick skinny, but on the other hand, not be obese either. Both are unhealthy, and bad role models for our young girls.
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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
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