Do you believe there has been a slight upswing in the use of heavier models (both in advertising and fashion)?
It won’t last.
Here’s why.Dove has made quite a go using “normal women” as part of its advertising campaign for real beauty. Glamour magazine has done its share of showcasing “normal” bodies (as opposed to overly thin women).
However, recent research has uncovered what – I believe – many of us may suspect. The research involved women of various weights viewing different ads (that included models) with self-esteem being carefully monitored.
Using heavier models to promote products leaves many women feeling worse about themselves.
We found that overweight consumers demonstrated lower self-esteem – and therefore probably less enthusiasm about buying products – after exposure to any size models in ads (versus ads with no models. (source)
Note: after exposure to any models.
The outcome for normal BMI women was not much better,
if they viewed a moderately thin model, they felt similar and good; if they saw a moderately heavy model, they worried they were similar and overweight.
Don’t expect to see too many more heavier models in advertising…
Unless of course advertisers follow the researchers horribly manipulative suggestion:
For example, if a normal-size woman sees moderately heavy images in ads for weight-loss products, she might feel overweight and be more inclined to buy a diet plan or gym membership. The same premise could apply to using heavy images in public service announcements aimed at fighting the obesity epidemic.
Who really gives a flying **** about models? Most of the clothes they show off are hideously ugly that I wouldn’t be caught dead in.
I think you are wrong bigger models won’t last though.People WANT to see others who looks like themselves.If the majority is bigger,then thing models have an expiration date!
I think skinny models will always be the norm. They are excellent human clothes hangers that showcase clothing well. Clothing companies do not want a real woman’s body modeling their clothing, it would never come out looking perfect. I wish people would realize that models are just models, that’s it! They are not meant to represent reality, they are just in magazines and TV and runways to sell products!
Beautiful models will always make us women and men feel like crap because we can never achieve the ideal.
Now, let’s not forget that some women really are “thick,” just like some men are built like linebackers and others thin and wiry. Thick woman can be in perfect health and not be pencil thin.
Show me a commercial with a healthy, well-fed woman … I don’t mean fat, I mean glowing with health because she’s eating enough and not anorexic, and that can be either thick or thin. Glowing health is what I want to see in a model. Size isn’t the issue.
And then my kids have friends dying from starving themselves!
Well, 2/3 of Americans are overweight or obese. We want the remaining 1/3 to feel good about not fitting in with the majority. so why not exploit them as models?
AWESOME
Wrong. Look at this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/23/crystal-renns-plus-size-s_n_400947.html
Tell me looks more confident, mature, sexy, and healthy.
Sara what makes someone good looking? heavy or skinny? thats ridiculous there are plenty of bigger women with great complextions and beautiful faces, i personally would rather see a model with meat on her than a human hanger, it wouldnt put as much pressure on these models that stick thin, and give women who are not stick thin to pursue a passion they might have.
I have said this before on this site, if people see a certain image over and over again (thin models) with overt or implied labels of “proper” attached to them, then anything else they see is going to be viewed as negative.
Will the beauty diversity movement stop? I don’t know but it has already been taken into other directions…
“Butch” Ellen Degeneres is a Covergirl cosmetics spokesmodel.
I agree with whatever you said. I think “heavy” models are usually not as good-looking as the usual skinny supermodels.
However, fitness models always inspire me to be a better person. I don’t think we should promote fat women to be the ‘norm’. I think people should take responsibility for their own body and own up to themselves if they’re fat because they eat too much. None of this big-boned crap.
Awesome.
Although it sounds counterintuitive, I do see the logic involved in this. I know that when I see overweight models or ones that are slightly plus-sized being defined as a “real woman”, I feel depressed. As in, the magazine obviously feels that the majority of women reading the magazine are obviously chubby. I end up thinking that I am slightly pudgy just because I’m reading that particular magazine.
The models that make me feel the best about myself are the fitness models that are lean and toned, with muscular curves. They have bodies that I feel I can aspire to and they make me feel like my body must be similar to that because I’m reading that particular magazine. Don’t know if that makes sense or not, but it’s my impression of it.
I think that although women feel a lot of anxiety about seeing models, fashion magazines etc., the majority of women want to see this stuff.
I do not think that women are victims, but are drawing these things into their experience.
I would say that when you are stressed about seeing visions of beauty perhaps it is because you desire wanting to be “beauty” itself and the apparent lack of it for yourself is very painful. If you say “no” to this beauty for yourself, you are saying “yes” to something else.
I understand. This is not intended to offend, but to inspire thought.
They should just use kittens and puppies to sell products. I would definitely buy something if there was a kitten sitting next to it.
The only reason why people feel “worse” is because they’ve been taught to feel bad about themselves by the thin craze that has dominated for so long.
Anywho, makes sense. If it’s this ingrained into society, people aren’t going to change that easily anyways.
It’s not about the images…It’s how you choose to look at them and feel about them…