Global advertising, magazine covers, and taking centre stage at New York Fashion Week. The finest plus size models aren’t just amassing massive social media followings; they’re also catching the attention of the mainstream fashion business and upsetting narrow beauty standards along the way.
Palomar Elsser, Barbie Linhares Ferreira, and Hayley Hasselhoff are taking on the media in every capacity, from fashion to cinema and television, becoming role models alongside their day jobs as fashion models, in order to create a more inclusive and representative fashion industry. The models on our list are a terrific source for fashion suggestions and body confidence inspiration, demonstrating that style and success have no size restrictions.
Here are our top plus-size models, in no particular order.
Ashley Graham:
Ashley Graham, one of the world’s most recognised and successful plus size models, began her career at the age of 12 in 2001 and has since earned international recognition.
Ashley is a passionate champion for body positivity and a change agent in the industry, even delivering a TED talk in 2015 titled Plus size? She was more my size, challenging the industry’s outmoded conventions.
Ashley, who describes herself as a model, mogul, and mama, continues to dominate the modelling world, continuously boosting her Instagram following where she publishes a combination of behind-the-scenes from sessions and family life.
TESS HOLLIDAY:
Tess Holliday was deemed to be too short and too large by the business, but the industry was wrong. Tess was 15 when she tried out for modelling for the first time at an open casting call. Standing at 5 feet 3 inches tall and wearing a US size 16 (UK 18/20). Tess was deemed to be unsuitable for print advertisements or catalogue work.
Unfazed, Tess launched the Instagram hashtag #effyourbeautystandards in 2013, as a social protest against the world’s beauty standards and to promote body positivity. Tess was the best-kept secret of a burgeoning plus-size fashion scene.
Tess’s prominence and reputation grew mostly online, through social media and plus size fashion or ‘fat-shion’ blogs, and in 2014, the world first heard about Tess Holliday.
Tess Holliday rose to prominence after quitting her day job and featured in the viral film #everyBODYisflawless.
Denise Bidot:
Denise Bidot, who was born in Miami, was motivated to become a model by her Puerto Rican mother. Whereas her mother struggled to find success because of her voluptuous form, Denise has become one of the world’s most recognised plus-sized models, featuring in ads for Forever21, Levi’s, and Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty.
Denise travelled to California at the age of 18 to pursue a career in acting, but while working as a make-up artist, she was approached by a photographer who urged her to try modelling. Denise was the first plus-size model to walk for two straight-sized companies during New York Fashion Week in 2014.
Barbie Linhares Ferreira:
Barbie Ferreira, who was born in the New York borough of Queens, began her modelling career as a teen by uploading images of herself to an American Apparel open casting call.
Moving on to acting, you might recognise Barbie as Kat Hernandez in Euphoria. Barbie is passionate about body positivity and confronting body shamers in the media, and she utilises her platform to advocate for body diversity.
Hayley Hasselhoff:
Hayley is best known as the daughter of Knight Rider and Baywatch hero David Hasselhoff, but she has established her own acting and modelling career.
Hayley Hasselhoff began modelling at the age of 14 in 2007 and has since modelled for and partnered with a variety of fashion brands. She is a strong advocate for body positivity and frequently speaks on self-acceptance and confidence in one’s own skin. Hayley also has an acting career, having starred as Amber in the ABC Family sitcom Huge.
Iskra Lawrence:
Iskra is a British model best recognised as the global face of the lingerie brand Aerie. Iskra is one of the most recognised and well-liked curvy models in the world, with millions of Instagram followers and a devoted following of young women who thrive on her positive perspective and advocacy of self-love.
While Iskra is best known for her work with Aerie, she has also been in advertisements for labels such as Marina Rinaldi and American Eagle Outfitters.
Kate Wasley:
Kate Wasley is a body positive campaigner, curve model, and social media influencer from Australia. Kate’s big break came in 2018, when she got a coveted spot in the 2018 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, which marked the beginning of her modelling career. In addition, Kate co-founded Any Body Co. with Sports Illustrated model Georgia Gibbs, a body positivity campaign.
Head to Kate’s social handles for a wonderful dose of wardrobe inspiration, as she shares a mix of work and her personal life, and the model-influencer also links to a slew of her trendy buys, making it easy to shop her look.
Paloma Elesser:
Paloma Elsesser, who was born in the United Kingdom, rose to prominence after being discovered by internationally known make-up artist Pat McGrath, who chose the plus-size model as the first face of her cosmetics line. Paloma, now 29, was found at the age of 27 and has enjoyed a rapid climb to stardom in the fashion world.
She became a vocal advocate for inclusivity in the fashion business, challenging traditional beauty standards with her 400-thousand-plus Instagram followers.
During Paris Fashion Week 2023, Paloma charged down the Mugler runway after closing the Marni show in Tokyo.
Precious Lee:
Precious Lee, a true trailblazer, is a model, actor, writer, and activist. Precious, who is represented by IMG, one of the top modelling agencies, uses her public platform and prominence to promote racial and size diversity in the media, including fashion, television, and film.
Precious is still a major brand in plus size modelling, but she is also a big name in fashion and beauty modelling. Precious is working with some of the industry’s greatest names and generating some serious ripples, bagging some huge campaigns for key customers.
Brielle Anyea:
Brielle has quickly become a household name and shows no signs of slowing down. Brielle, a Top 67 finalist for the 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Search, is a model, influencer, and body positive campaigner who strives to end colorism and promote true diversity in the fashion industry.
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