———–

Is it me, or has the term “plus-size model” been thrown around a lot recently? Usually in phrases like “Such-and-such magazine just put a plus-size model on its cover!” or “So-and-so just hired a plus-size model for such-and-such project!” I can’t tell whether the people involved are genuinely excited or just patting themselves on the back for being so modern and inclusive. (And by “inclusive,” I mean they hired Ashley Graham, as if she were the only woman with curves on planet.)

Let’s face it, folks: We shouldn’t be shocked when someone hires a so-called “plus-size model” for their magazine or music video or commercial or ad campaign or whatever. Beauty comes in many, many shapes and sizes and colors, and there’s something downright idiotic about labeling our models–people who are paid money to look attractive for photographers–based on their dress size. It’s even more idiotic because women’s dress sizes are notoriously arbitrary. They vary from company to company, and generally skew toward the small side. Almost as if clothing companies want every woman on Earth to remain perpetually body conscious. A model is a model. Let’s save the labels for the clothing.

Anyway. That was a bit of a rant, but I hope it was an entertaining one.

———–

Andrew Kaye (known in some circles as AK) is the creator of Ben & Winslow and other questionable comics, many of which can be found in his deviantART gallery and his Tumblr. He’s also the editor-in-chief of this magazine. Duh.